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This article's content is marked as Mature The page John Coffey contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature articles are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | Please, boss. Don't put that thing on my face. Don't put me in the dark. I'm afraid of the dark. | „ |
| ~ John Coffey's last words and his most famous quote |
| “ | I'm tired, boss. Tired of being on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. I'm tired of never having me a buddy to be with, to tell me where we's going to, coming from, or why. Mostly, I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world every day. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head, all the time... Can you understand? | „ |
| ~ John Coffey to Paul |
| “ | He killed them with their love. That's how it is every day all over the world. | „ |
| ~ John Coffey shortly before getting electrocuted and his bid farewell to Paul |
John Coffey is the deuteragonist of the 1996 Stephen King book The Green Mile and its 1999 film adaptation of the same name.
He is a gigantic, muscular prisoner in the Cold Mountain Penitentiary who was falsely convicted of sexually harassing and murdering two young girls, a crime that was actually committed by fellow prisoner William "Wild Bill" Wharton. Despite his intimidating figure, he actually has no intention in senselessly harming someone else in any way; in fact, he has healing powers which are helpful enough to solve someone's medical condition, even through revival.
He was played by the late Michael Clarke Duncan, who also played Balthazar in The Scorpion King, and Tug in Disney’s Brother Bear.
Biography[]
In 1935, John Coffey was imprisoned in the Cold Mountain Penitentiary in Louisiana, framed for the rape and murder of two young white girls, which was a crime he did not commit. But he's really polite, cordial, and emotional. He also has powers of light and good, the ability to heal others, using it on Paul Edgecomb to cure his bladder infection, and Melinda Moore, the tumor infected wife of Warden Hal Moores, head of the death row prison. John Coffey's explanation of his powers is that he "took it back".
Towards the end, Wild Bill, another incarcerated criminal, grabs John Coffey's arm with futility and John Coffey sees that Wild Bill is actually responsible for the rape and killing of the two girls. When corrupt prison guard Percy Wetmore gets released from his punishment, John Coffey seizes him and regurgitates Paul's bladder infection and Melinda's brain tumor into him, making him permanently catatonic, and Percy shoots and kills Wild Bill. John Coffey shows Paul the truth.
After Percy is admitted into Briar Ridge Mental Hospital as a patient, Paul asks John Coffey what he wants him to do and John Coffey explains to Paul that he wants to be executed and die so he can finally rest in peace from the cruelty and pain of the world. But he does want to watch a movie before he dies, which he does.
During John Coffey's execution, he requests to not have the hood on him because he is afraid of the dark, and the guards allow him to remain unhooded. Everyone who knows the reality of John Coffey cries as his execution goes underway, with whatever divine power that he carried causing an overcharge that bursts all of the lights. Sadly, John Coffey dies, but Paul and the other guards vow to never forget him and honor his kindness forever, and they try to take solace that he would be in Heaven where he will finally be appreciated by everyone.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Healing: John Coffey has the power to take away diseases (Such as Melinda's brain tumor and Paul's urinary infection), but either must take them on himself or transfer it to another person.
- Resurrection: John Coffey possesses the power to reverse death if he does in a time shortly after death occurs.
- Mind Reading: John Coffey possesses mind reading through touching, where he can see a person's past if he lays his hands on him/her.
- Longevity Bestowal: John Coffey possesses an energy that, if transmitted to someone, he can give them an extremely long lifespan.
- Massive Strength: John Coffey is an extremely large, strong and powerful man, standing at least 7 feet and weighing 400 lbs; his strength far exceeds an average human.
- Empathic Senses: John Coffey is able to feel the emotions of other people, which can cause him pain when they are feelings of malice, hatred, and suffering, but feelings of kindness and love provide him with comfort. The simultaneously tragic and heartwarming example being the audience for his execution - who believe he is guilty - with their contempt feeling like hot needles, but the affection and admiration from the guards - who know the truth - being soothing enough to counter the agony.
Trivia[]
- John Coffey is partly inspired by George Stinney, a black-American boy who was executed on the convictions of two white-American girls' murders. It's been widely believed he's innocent and conviction was wrongfully motivated by racism.
- John Coffey has a hulking physical body similar to the descriptions that were said of the Greek mythology hero Herakles (Hercules).
- His compassion is ironically what got him incarcerated, as he was attempting to revive the murdered girls when he was discovered, but with the racist attitudes of Louisiana in the era of 1935, he was instantly assumed guilty.
External Links[]
- John Coffey on the Pure Good Wiki
- John Coffey on the Stephen King Wiki
