The Green Mile

The Green Mile

by

Stephen King

The Green Mile: Part 2: Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Paul describes Georgia Pines, the nursing home where he is spending his old age. While he considers it a relatively pleasant, cruelty-free place, Paul explains that, like the Green Mile, the nursing home implicitly kills its residents. In addition, one of the workers, Brad Dolan, reminds Paul of Percy. Brad is stupid, enjoys being mean, and calls Paul “Paulie” despite Paul’s pleas for him to stop. Paul explains that, in the nursing home, he is busy writing down his memories of the year 1932, using John Coffey’s arrival as his central landmark.
Paul compares Georgia Pines to the Green Mile, suggesting that everyone is bound to suffer through the ordeal of death and that one’s guilt or innocence does not impact how painful or painless one’s last days will be. Ordinary life can be strikingly similar to life in prison. Cruelty proves to arise in all places, as Brad shows capable of the same cruelty as Percy was.
Themes
Death and the Death Penalty Theme Icon
Love, Compassion, and Healing Theme Icon