The Green Mile by Stephen King: An Unforgettable Journey Through Life and Death

The Green Mile by Stephen King is an engrossing investigation of justice, humanity, and the paranormal. This 1996 book takes readers on a heartbreaking journey through the guards’ and death row inmates’ lives, entwined with significant moral quandaries and supernatural occurrences. This exceptional novel is summarised in an engrossing chapter-by-chapter fashion, and is then thoughtfully reviewed.

Section 1: The Dead Girls
Chapters One and Two
An old guy in a nursing home named Paul Edgecombe talks about his 1932 experience as a prison guard on Death Row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. John Coffey, a large Black guy convicted of raping and killing the Detterick twins, two young White girls, arrives at the start of the story. Paul is moved by Coffey’s kind manner and the melancholy atmosphere around him. Coffey appears almost infantile in his fear of the dark, despite his terrifying height.

Sections 3–4

Paul talks about his co-worker's, including the gentle and kind-hearted Brutus “Brutal” Howell, the cowardly and vicious Percy Wetmore, the easy-going Harry Terwilliger, and another guard, Dean Stanton. When Eduard “Del” Delacroix, a Cajun man convicted of several crimes, is sentenced to die, Percy treats him exceptionally cruelly. The group’s unity is strained, and Percy’s acts try their patience.

Chapters 5 and 6
Paul has a serious urinary tract infection, which makes it more difficult to manage the high-stress atmosphere. He starts to notice something unusual about Coffey in the midst of his misery, and one night she invites Paul to come closer. Paul’s infection is mysteriously healed when Coffey touches him. Paul, taken aback and perplexed, begins to wonder about Coffey’s innocence and the extent of his powers.

Part II: The Mouse on the Mile

Chapter 7–8
A mouse named Mr. Jingles emerges on the Mile and instantly befriends Del, who teaches the mouse tricks. Mr. Jingles becomes a source of optimism for both the condemned men and the guards, providing a minor but substantial distraction from the dismal reality of Death Row.

Chapter 9–10
Paul becomes more conflicted regarding Coffey’s innocence. He talks to his wife, Jan, about his concerns. Paul also learns more about Coffey’s background, including his apparent lack of schooling and the unusual circumstances surrounding his crime. Paul’s belief in Coffey’s innocence grows as he learns more.

Chapter 11–12
Percy’s cruelty intensifies. He violently steps on Mr. Jingles, seriously wounding the mouse. In a miraculous moment. Coffey heals Mr. Jingles, demonstrating to Paul that she possesses supernatural abilities. Percy is chastised but continues unrepentant, his acts motivated by deep animosity and a desire for power.

Part III: Coffey’s Hands
Chapter 13–14
Paul becomes fascinated with discovering the truth behind Coffey’s crime. He examines the night the Detterick twins were murdered, revealing contradictions in the case. He interviews the Dettericks and discovers that Coffey was found holding the deceased females, but there was no evidence of a struggle or violence from him.

Chapter 15–16
John Coffey’s mending talents continue to perplex and impress Paul and the other guards. When Melinda Moores, the warden’s wife, becomes critically ill with a brain tumour, Paul makes a dangerous decision. He persuades his colleagues to assist him in smuggling Coffey out of prison so that Melinda can be healed.

Chapter 17–18
The plan is executed precisely. Coffey heals Melinda by pulling the ailment into himself and then expelling it. The turnaround is amazing, and Melinda totally recovers. The guards are amazed and moved by Coffey’s kindness and strength.

Part 4: The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix

Chapter 19–20
Del’s execution is looming. Percy, motivated by his sadistic instincts, intentionally sabotages the execution by failing to wet the sponge used to carry electricity. This leads to Del’s painful and drawn-out death, during which he suffers greatly. The incident traumatises the guards and fuels their hate of Percy.

Chapter 21–22
Paul confronts Percy over his conduct. Percy arrogantly declares his intention to transfer to a mental facility, leveraging his political ties. This enrages the guards, but they feel powerless to stop him. The morale of the Mile plummets, and Paul is forced to deal with the ramifications of Percy’s ruthlessness.

Part 5: Night Journey.
Chapter 23–24
Paul’s inquiry into Coffey’s case led him to the conclusion that another inmate, William “Wild Bill” Wharton, could be the genuine murderer of the Detterick twins. Wharton, a psychopath with a history of violent acts, had encountered Coffey on the night of the murders. Paul’s suspicions are verified when Coffey reveals a vision depicting Wharton’s guilt.

Chapter 25–26.
Paul and his colleagues devise a scheme to push Percy out of prison by confronting him with Coffey’s skills. They successfully confine Percy in a cell with Wharton, who attacks him. Coffey seizes the opportunity to transfer Wharton’s wickedness onto Percy, who then shoots Wharton. The event drives Percy insane, but he remains devoted to the The same psychiatric facility where he intended to transfer.

Part 6: Coffey on the Mile.
Chapter 27–28
Despite Paul’s efforts to save him, Coffey’s execution has been arranged. Paul is tormented by the unfairness but unable to stop it. Coffey senses Paul’s misery and assures him that he is ready to die, tired of the grief and suffering caused by his empathic abilities.

Chapter 29–30
The day of Coffey’s execution comes. The guards, deeply distressed, perform their duty. Coffey’s final wish is to watch a movie, which Paul and Brutal arrange for him. Coffey’s peaceful and forgiving character in his final hours has a profound impact on everyone present. His execution is conducted with serious dignity, and his death has a tremendous impact on Paul and the others.

Epilogue
Paul returns to the nursing home and muses on the happenings at Cold Mountain. He admits that he is almost a century old, a result of Coffey’s healing touch. Paul is tormented by thoughts of his wife and friends, and he mourns their loss. Mr. Jingles, who lived an extraordinarily long life, is still with him, serving as a reminder of the miracles and tragedies they encountered together. Paul’s story exemplifies the amazing occurrences on the Green Mile, where justice, mercy, and the supernatural mingled in indelible ways.

Review of Stephen King’s The Green Mile
Stephen King’s The Green Mile is a brilliant blend of supernatural mystery and human drama set against the grim setting of a 1930s death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. Through the eyes of Paul Edgecumbe, the head guard, King investigates themes of justice, mercy, and the intricacies of human nature.

The film “The Green Mile” has a powerful emotional impact. The injustices suffered by John Coffey, Delacroix’s awful fate, and Paul and his fellow guards’ internal battles all elicit strong emotional responses. The novel’s climax and denouement are both devastating and thoughtful.