Robert McGee Character Analysis in The Green Mile

Deputy Sheriff Rob McGee is a competent, responsible man who generally fills in for Homer Cribus’s responsibilities. Capable of leadership in moments of danger and stress, he leads the search party that ultimately finds the bodies of the Detterick twins. He demonstrates his commitment to his job when he decides to investigate William Wharton’s potential involvement in the murder of the Detterick twins after talking with Paul Edgecombe. While he returns visibly distressed, convinced of Coffey’s innocence, his commitment to truth and justice nevertheless proves limited, as he reproaches Paul for seeking to uncover the truth. In the end, he proves complicit in supporting the racist legal system when he confirms that a black man’s case would never be reopened.

Robert McGee Character Timeline in The Green Mile

The timeline below shows where the character Robert McGee appears in The Green Mile. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Behind them, they begin to hear the sounds of the search party that Deputy Robert McGee has put together much faster (Paul says) than the sheriff ever could have. As the... (full context)

...of losing them to a violent psychopath. Frightened, the men reload their guns and Deputy McGee leads the group of stunned men onward, while still making sure that Klaus Detterick is... (full context)

Deputy McGee steps forward to talk to Coffey, who still has tears rolling steadily down his face.... (full context)

When McGee asks John Coffey what happened, Coffey, tears still running down his face, replies: “I couldn’t... (full context)

Love, Compassion, and Healing Theme Icon

...twins. He explains that the Dettericks’ dog had been fed with sausages and that Deputy McGee found a wrapped lunch in Coffey’s pocket, from which it was later supposed Coffey had... (full context)

The next day, Paul drives to Trapingus County to speak to Deputy McGee. While McGee seems reluctant and almost furious when he listens to what Paul has to... (full context)

...then relates his trip to Trapingus County, where he told the entire truth to Rob McGee. When McGee came back from his visit to the Dettericks, he was clearly convinced of... (full context)

...be impossible to prove Coffey’s innocence, Janice suggests a variety of options. She says Deputy McGee could try to convince Sheriff Cribus, or that Paul himself could go, or that the... (full context)

...at the execution, including Homer Cribus and Klaus and Marjorie Detterick—although, like Hal Moores, Deputy McGee is absent. As John and the guards walk toward the chair, Marjorie spits on the... (full context)