I'm excited. I've finally had an academic forum except a paper proposal on a Stephen King novel. The theme of the conference is "All in a Day's Work," and I plan to speak about the ethics of employment as presented in The Green Mile. A key passage of course is when Brutal asks how he will account to God for executing John Coffey. "What am I supposed to say? It was my job?" But I also want to look at the compromises the characters make with Percy's behavior because reporting him could put them "on the bread line."
I have a general idea of what I want to point out (good thing, since the conference is in just under 3 weeks), but I'm looking for ideas from other readers, too. (And I'll credit your remark if I use it, especially if I'm able to develop this into a printable article.)
One thing I'm wondering is how the sadistic orderly fits into this theme. Does he? Is he a sort of divine retribution against Paul for having tolerated Percy (what goes around comes around), or does he have a very different (and unrelated) role in the book?
I welcome feedback here. Thanks in advance.
I have a general idea of what I want to point out (good thing, since the conference is in just under 3 weeks), but I'm looking for ideas from other readers, too. (And I'll credit your remark if I use it, especially if I'm able to develop this into a printable article.)
One thing I'm wondering is how the sadistic orderly fits into this theme. Does he? Is he a sort of divine retribution against Paul for having tolerated Percy (what goes around comes around), or does he have a very different (and unrelated) role in the book?
I welcome feedback here. Thanks in advance.