Pathetic Fallacy: The Green Mile by Stephen King

Magic is a powerful tool, used in various fictitious settings, by peculiar characters, which if fallen into the right or wrong hands can be used to construct or destruct. Within the novel The Green Mile, written by Stephen King, John Coffey uses his powers to create pathetic fallacy and control nature, stressing the wickedness and decency of certain characters. Various supernatural appearances remind the appointed that they were put on the earth to make a change for the better. Animals with human-like features, are set as symbols to emphasize goodness on earth. Pathos is created for all characters, even individuals with mighty power, to show without contribution from many, change in this world is impossible. Magic is often used by John Coffey to aid the needs of helpless characters and to show that there must be change in this morally decaying world. Individuals with strong amounts of power use their forceful tool of magic against evil, for the bettering of this world.

John Coffey uses his strong powers to represent the emotions around serious situations, pathetic fallacy. On the night of Delacroix’s, a hated man’s execution, there has been severe thunderstorms, the weather continues to get worse and climaxes at the point of Delacroix’s death in the electric chair. The weather represents the tension and urgency of people wanting the French man dead. As the guards wait for Delacroix to be strapped in ‘Old Sparky’, “Lightning spills through the room’s one window/ Thunder bangs overhead, and now the rain begins to pour down harder.” (284/294) The weather closely matches the tension within the execution room which isn’t a random coincidence, a man with great power surely altered Mother Nature’s plans and revealed how evil of a man D...

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The dominate tool of Magic is ultimately used to build up goodness, for the better of this world, contradicting all evil. Pathetic fallacy is used when the weather and animals correspond to the current mood and situation, which are completely controlled by Coffey. Encounters with past acquaintances are reminders of the evil that continue to lurk the earth, however reminders that a charge for good on earth must be made. Personification of animals is used to teach small but important lessons about decency. Pathos proves that even characters of great power can be manipulated, and that for good overpower evil, good must contribute in numbers. With the aid of magic, Coffey is able to spread morality. With the use of magic by distinctive characters, makes for a typical fantasy novel

Works Cited

King, Stephen. The Green Mile. New York: Pocket Books, 1996. Print.