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Essay / The Theme of Inmates Struggling While Awaiting Execution in the Green Line You would think that there would be a complete lack of compassion in "Human Zoo", but in The Green Mile, that's not necessarily the case. Initially, it may seem like a typical prison film, but the magical realism, strong theme of compassion, and classic struggle between good and evil are what propel the main characters and their actions in this film. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayJohn Coffey, an inmate accused of murdering two little girls, possesses a unique power in that he can look into the heart people through touch and the ability to transfer any affliction they may have into it and expel it in the form of dust or flies. However, Coffey is a simple man who, despite his gargantuan size, is actually very shy. Coffey and his powers quickly become one of the driving forces behind the characters in The Green Mile. Coffey's sense of compassion is so strong that he even feels the pain of an inmate when he is killed in the electric chair several hundred yards away. Most of the inmates, with the exception of the sadistic "Wild Bill" Wharton, are lovable rascals despite being on death row. Coffey shows compassion towards the suffering Paul Edgecombe, the main character and prison guard, and instantly relieves him of a urinary tract infection. Edgecombe even gives Coffey a gift of cornbread as a thank you for his healing touch. Further illustrating his compassionate nature, Coffey asks Paul to share cornbread with the other roommate: Eduard Delacroix. On the other side of this spectrum, Percy Wetmore, an inexplicably sadistic guard, repeatedly abuses prisoners. He hits Delacroix's knuckles with his baton simply because Delacroix is looking at him badly. Percy also spontaneously tramples Mr. Jingles, Delacroix's pet mouse. There was never a real reason to describe Percy's attitude: he just seems sadistic and enjoys the power he wields over the inmates. Percy continues his malicious acts when it comes time to execute Delacroix. Wetmore sabotages the electric chair so that the arsonist does not die quickly – quite the contrary. It takes almost 4 minutes for Delacroix to slowly die from the powerful electric current. By showing a distinct lack of compassion, Percy gets his just reward at the end of the film. "Wild Bill" Wharton, the man who actually committed Coffey's supposed crime, is borderline insane and pulls malicious pranks for laughs. Whether it's peeing on one guard's shoe or spitting a huge mouthful of half-eaten mooncake onto another, Wharton simply has no respect for anyone. In fact, his truly depraved nature is revealed when Coffey reveals to Edgecombe that Wharton murdered the two little girls Coffey tried to save. A line is drawn between characters who show compassion and those who do not. From here, we can easily see who is good and who is just plain bad in The Green Mile. Coffey saves the warden's wife from a fatal brain tumor with his powers, and because he is such a cruel guard, Coffey transfers him to Percy. Somehow, Coffey also influences the newly catatonic Percy to come forward and shoot "Wild Bill" Wharton in cold blood. He had no feeling of compassion during his.
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