The Green Mile Symbolism Essay - 1787 Words

The film, The Green Mile, portrays several deep religious themes through symbolism to portray the main character John Coffey. The ideas of Christianity are shown through several of these underlying themes. The cross and God are the key religious symbols portrayed throughout this movie. Some of the main themes I will talk about are capital punishment, racism and Christianity symbols. Also, I will describe ways cinematography is used in the film; some examples are cross cutting, flashback, three shot and close-up. Plot Summary The main prison guard, Paul Edgecomb, has a very serious bladder infection during the movie that distracts him from the outside world. Paul possesses a faith in God and everyday watches inmates enter Death Row. When†¦show more content†¦Before electrocution the primary methods of capital punishment were hanging, firing squad and gas chambers (Dow, 2000). The era of The Green Mile takes place in the 1930s, but Louisiana did not begin to use the electric chair until around 1940. Studies show that King made an error on the timespan in his book (Arbeiter, 2015). Texas was the first state to use lethal injections on prisoners on death row in 1977, and is now the only type of capital punishment used (Dow, 2000). During this time, African Americans experienced prejudice towards them and were not given an equal chance. This statistic will help the audience understand the segregation occurring in this movie; during the early 1930’s about 50% of the Southern towns were African American and the people did not have the right to vote (Dieter, 1998). African Americans were not allowed to marry whites at the time or even date in public. This movie opens with police officers screaming at John Coffey and pointing guns at him. This is the first example of racism shown in the movie. It was found that in 1983 Philadelphia, as well as other states, African Americans were more likely to get the death penalty. Research also shows that 38% of African Americans were given the death penalty over other ethnic groups that committed the same crimes (Dieter, 1998). Even after all this, John Coffey is still the definition of compassion. He has a huge heart full of grace and sorrow. He wants to see moreShow M oreRelatedHenry Lawson Essay + 1 Related Text1316 Words   |  6 Pages2010 HSC Essay Question Compare the ways the distinctively visual is created in Lawson’s short stories and one other related text of your own choosing. In your answer, make detailed references to at least two short stories set for study. Composers in everyday situations use distinctively visuals through the use of elaborate techniques and complex word choice. These visuals are vivid and very clear; so it helps the responder visualise the text and therefore relate to the texts and also deepenRead MoreA Plo Summary of Looking For Alaska by John Green537 Words   |  2 PagesPlot Summary: Miles Halter moves from Florida home to go to Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama. Miles’ roommate, Chip The Colonel Martin gives Miles a nickname of his own Pudge. The Colonel introduces him to Alaska Young who Pudge has a crush on. Pudges love for Alaska grow as the novel progresses, but she is dating a college student. She constantly flirts with him throughout the whole book. While they’re talking, Alaska tells everyone that her mother died of a brain aneurysmRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay1529 Words   |  7 PagesGreat Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel that is swimming with several types of symbolisms and motifs. Each element helps expand the plot of the storyline and in turn, helps us better analyze the main characters and their thoughts and feelings. The main symbols that will be analyzed in this essay are the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg and the eyes of ‘Owl Eyes’, the symbolization of the green light and the other colors referenced, and locations like the Valley of Ashes, East and West EggRead MoreCulture of Bangladesh2895 Words   |  12 Pagesof West Bengal, the province of Bengal in British India. With the partition of India in 1947, it became the Pakistani province of East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan), one of five provinces of Pakistan, separated from the other four by 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of Indian terr itory. In 1971 it became the independent country of Bangladesh, with its capital at Dhaka. ï‚â€" Main culture of the country: ïÆ'Ëœ Hierarchy †¢ Bangladesh is a hierarchical society. †¢ People are respected because of their ageRead MoreThe Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordechai Richler1969 Words   |  8 PagesMordecai Richler(January 27, 1931 – July 3, 2001) was a Canadian author, screenwriter and essayist. He wrote a lot essays about the Jewish community in Canada, and about nationalism as practised by Canadian anglophones and the francophone Quà ©bà ©cois in addition to his fiction. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1959) was one of his best works. Like Duddy in the novel, Mordecai Richler came to Canada as a Jewish immigrant during the times when English was the only official language in Canada (evenRead MoreStructuralism and Interpretation Ernest Hemingways Cat in Ther Ain9284 Words   |  38 Pageshow the linguistic mediation of a story determines its meaning and effect. This is a kind of criticism in which Anglo-American tradition is comparatively strong, because of the close-reading techniques developed by the New Criticism. Mark Shorers essays (1948) and (1949) are classic statements of this approach. The stylistics that developed out of Romance Philology, represented at its best by Spitzer and Auerbach, also belongs in this category. When I wrote my first book of criticism, Language ofRead MoreMilitary Cadences Essay3960 Words   |  16 Pagesmilitary atmosphere. Example: Early one morning in the pouring rain, First Sergeant said it was time for pain, He said, Grab your rock and follow me! Its time we do some rough P.T.! We jogged nine miles and then ran three, The First Sergeants yelling,Follow me! Then we walked two miles and ran eight! Oh, Airborne P.T. sure is great! Subculture The article Audiences a study of subcultures, defines a subculture as an individuals social experience and cultural activities, shapedRead More Pop Cultural Elements of Military Cadences Essay3833 Words   |  16 Pagesmilitary atmosphere. Example: Early one morning in the pouring rain, First Sergeant said it was time for pain, He said, Grab your rock and follow me! Its time we do some rough P.T.! We jogged nine miles and then ran three, The First Sergeants yelling,Follow me! Then we walked two miles and ran eight! Oh, Airborne P.T. sure is great! Subculture The article â€Å"Audiences† a study of subcultures, defines a subculture as an individual’s social experience and cultural activities, shapedRead MoreEudora Welty a Worn Path12166 Words   |  49 Pagesinformation on these eNotes please visit: http://www.enotes.com/worn−path/copyright Table of Contents 1. A Worn Path: Introduction 2. Eudora Welty Biography 3. Summary 4. Characters 5. Themes 6. Style 7. Historical Context 8. Critical Overview 9. Essays and Criticism 10. Compare and Contrast 11. Topics for Further Study 12. Media Adaptations 13. What Do I Read Next? 14. Bibliography and Further Reading 15. Copyright Introduction Eudora Weltys A Worn Path, first published in Atlantic MonthlyRead MoreEudora Welty a Worn Path12173 Words   |  49 Pagesinformation on these eNotes please visit: http://www.enotes.com/worn−path/copyright Table of Contents 1. A Worn Path: Introduction 2. Eudora Welty Biography 3. Summary 4. Characters 5. Themes 6. Style 7. Historical Context 8. Critical Overview 9. Essays and Criticism 10. Compare and Contrast 11. Topics for Further Study 12. Media Adaptations 13. What Do I Read Next? 14. Bibliography and Further Reading 15. Copyright Introduction Eudora Weltys A Worn Path, first published in Atlantic Monthly