Percy is portrayed as a mean and abusive character in The Green Mile for several reasons. Firstly, his sense of entitlement and superiority due to his family’s political connections fuels his arrogance and mistreatment of others. Being the nephew of the governor, Percy believes that he is above the rules and can do whatever he pleases without facing any consequences.
Percy’s position as a guard on death row also grants him a certain level of power and authority over the inmates. This power dynamic further amplifies his abusive behavior, as he takes pleasure in exerting control and dominance over those he deems beneath him. He uses his position to assert his superiority and belittle others, deriving satisfaction from their suffering.
Another factor contributing to Percy’s mean-spiritedness is his lack of empathy. He seems to lack the ability to understand or relate to the emotions and experiences of others. This lack of empathy allows him to disregard the well-being and dignity of the prisoners, as he only sees them as objects to be controlled and manipulated.
Furthermore, Percy’s mean behavior can also be attributed to his insecurity and need for validation. Despite his privileged background, he feels the need to constantly prove himself and assert his authority. He often engages in acts of cruelty and abuse to demonstrate his power and gain recognition from his superiors. This need for validation drives him to go to great lengths to assert his dominance, even at the expense of others’ well-being.
Percy’s mean-spiritedness is also fueled by his cowardice. He enjoys the feeling of control and power he gets from mistreating the prisoners, as it allows him to feel strong and superior. However, deep down, he is a weak and insecure individual who uses his position to compensate for his own inadequacies.
It is important to note that Percy’s behavior stands in stark contrast to the other guards in the story. While the majority of the guards exhibit compassion and empathy towards the inmates, Percy stands out as an exception. His mean-spiritedness serves as a foil to highlight the humanity and decency of the other characters, emphasizing the stark contrast between good and evil.
Percy’s mean behavior in The Green Mile can be attributed to his sense of entitlement, abuse of power, lack of empathy, need for validation, and underlying insecurity. His character serves as a reminder of the potential for cruelty and abuse when individuals are granted unchecked power and fail to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of others.