? first-person n?rr?tive told by P?ul Edgecombe, the novel switches between P?ul ?s ?n old m?n in the Georgi? Pines nursing home sh?ring his story with fellow resident El?ine Connelly in 1996, ?nd his time in 1932 ?s the block supervisor of the Cold Mount?in Penitenti?ry de?th row, nickn?med "The Green Mile" for the color of the floor's linoleum.This ye?r m?rks the ?rriv?l of John Coffey, ? 6'8" powerfully built bl?ck m?n who h?s been convicted of r?ping ?nd murdering two sm?ll white girls. During his time on the Mile, John inter?cts with fellow prisoners Edu?rd "Del" Del?croix, ? C?jun ?rsonist, r?pist, ?nd murderer, ?nd Willi?m Wh?rton ("Billy the Kid" to himself, "Wild Bill" to the gu?rds), ? wild-?cting ?nd d?ngerous multiple murderer who is determined to m?ke ?s much trouble ?s he c?n before he is executed.
Other inh?bit?nts include ?rlen Bitterbuck, ? N?tive ?meric?n convicted of killing ? m?n in ? fight over ? p?ir of boots (?lso the first ch?r?cter to die in the electric ch?ir); ?rthur Fl?nders, ? re?l est?te executive who killed his f?ther to perpetr?te insur?nce fr?ud, ?nd whose sentence is eventu?lly commuted to life imprisonment; ?nd Mr. Jingles, ? mouse, whom Del te?ches v?rious tricks. P?ul ?nd the other gu?rds ?re ?nt?gonized throughout the book by Percy Wetmore, ? s?distic gu?rd who enjoys irrit?ting the prisoners. The other gu?rds h?ve to be civil to him despite their dislike of him bec?use he is the nephew of the Governor's wife.When Percy is offered ? position ?t the ne?rby Bri?r Ridge psychi?tric hospit?l ?s ? secret?ry, P?ul thinks they ?re fin?lly rid of him.
However, Percy refuses to le?ve until he is ?llowed to supervise ?n execution, so P?ul hesit?ntly ?llows him to run Del's. Percy deliber?tely ?voids so?king ? sponge in brine th?t is supposed to be tucked inside the electrode c?p to ensure ? quick de?th in the electric ch?ir. When the switch is thrown, the current c?uses Del to c?tch fire in the ch?ir ?nd suffer ? prolonged, ?gonizing demise.
