The Green Mile Analytical Paragraph (AHL Week 2)

As I discussed in my analytical paragraph last week, much of Stephen King's The Green Mile focuses on the story of John Coffey, a death row inmate. Before he arrives at the prison, Paul and his colleagues talk a lot about Coffey. Standing almost seven-foot-tall and two hundred fifty pounds, it is no surprise that Coffey is the center of discussion and speculation. Through his research, Paul found out that after raping two girls, Coffey had killed them by smashing their heads together with his bare hands. Although Paul had not met Coffey yet, he made the assumption Coffey was as aggressive and dangerous as it gets. In fact, while discussing with colleagues, Paul compared him to a gorilla. When Coffee first arrives at the prison, however, Paul is shocked to learn about his true personality. The first thing that Coffey asks Paul is, "Do you leave a light on after bedtime?" He explains that he "gets a little scared in the dark sometimes" (King 19). Paul had portrayed Coffey as a beast, yet, mentally, he is extremely weak. This creates a really interesting depth to the character of John Coffey. It turns out that this "scary giant" is less like a gorilla, and more like a puppy. Everything that we, the reader, had learned about Coffey during the first part of the book turned out to be a misinterpretation. This further complicates our perspective of Coffey. Are we allowed to feel sympathetic for Coffey and his fears despite the heinous crime he committed?