The Green Mile

This work is a modern interpretation of a distant biblical story: an innocent person suffers for the sins of others, blatant injustice takes over the world, and the one who is better than everyone else dies. The initials of the main character, J.C., are no coincidence. This parallel is presented vividly and emotionally. The guards’ cowardice resembles Pontius Pilate’s cowardice. They understand that an innocent, good man will be killed, but they make no attempt to stop it. Each guard fears for his job, his well-being, and his life. None of them wants to take risks.
There are also touching moments in the book that can tear at the emotional reader’s soul—for example, the killing of a little mouse, which had been a joy for the prisoners. The book describes in detail torture, prison life, and the psychology of death row inmates. After all, this is Stephen King—“The King of Horrors.”
But the main hero—mighty Black man John Coffey—fills the prison world with light. This big, kind strongman could surely have escaped, easily dealing with the guards. But he doesn’t. He goes obediently to the electric chair…