Supernatural Powers in the World

While most people do not believe in the supernatural, a story like The Green Mile taps into viewers basic desires for something beyond our everyday lives, making us give into the desire to suspend disbelief if only for a few hours. The audience sees special people who have powers and feelings unlike those of normal people. Viewers also see the lasting impact that those people make on the rest of the world. Interpreted on a broader level, the supernatural powers in The Green Mile can be construed as the human powers to give joy and spiritual or emotional healing to others. The supernatural is a metaphor for the spiritual reality of human experience.

John Coffey is a special man. He has the power of faith healing, and he shares it with those he meets. John's powers are first seen on the cellblock when he...