The Conflict Between Percy and the Other Guards

Percy Wetmore's arrogance and cruelty create constant tension with Paul, Brutal, and the others, leading to a final confrontation.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Percy's Early Conflicts

A Bad Fit The First Clashes Percy refuses to follow procedures. He beats Delacroix on arrival. Paul reprimands him, but Percy threatens to use his connections. The Mouse Incident Percy tries to kill the mouse. The other guards are disgusted. Dean warns him, but Percy ignores advice. Growing Resentment The guards resent Percy's attitude. They know he is dangerous, but they cannot remove him.

The Confrontation After Delacroix's Execution

The Tunnel Showdown The Botched Execution Percy's sabotage causes Delacroix's horrific death. The guards are furious. The Threat Paul and Brutal confront Percy in the tunnel. They force him to promise to transfer. Percy is scared but defiant. The Cover-Up The guards agree to lie about the execution. The conflict is temporarily resolved, but Percy's resentment festers.

Percy's Final Defeat

The Kiss of Madness Coffey's Revenge John Coffey transfers the tumor to Percy, driving him insane. Percy shoots Wharton and becomes catatonic. The End of the Conflict Percy is removed to Briar Ridge. The guards are relieved but guilty. The conflict ends not with justice but with tragedy. The Lesson Percy's fate shows that cruelty begets cruelty. The system that protected him ultimately destroyed him.

Early 1932

Night of October 24-25, 1932

Later that same night