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The Chamber: A Look Into The Novel And Film

The Chamber: A Look Into the Novel and Film


Dan Cano
Mrs. Ficarrota
English 10 Honors
9 December 1996

Stories about crime prove to be a strong part of America's entertainment in
this day. In The Chamber, John Grisham writes about a Klansman who is convicted
of murder and a grandson who tries to save his grandfather is on death row. This
story is now a major motion picture. This story carries a strong emotional
following to it because it both questions and supports the death penalty in
different ways. Grisham shows this when he writes: " ‘ I've hurt a lot of people,
Adam, and I haven't always stopped to think about it. But when you have a date
with the grim reaper, you think about the damage you've done.' " The messages
about the death penalty are brought about in different ways in the film and in
the novel. Although the novel and film adaptation of The Chamber have some
significant differences, the plot and character perspectives are used to convey
a political message about the death penalty. (378)
The various characters in The Chamber have different traits and
backgrounds that affect their perspectives on certain issues. Sam Cayhall is
one of the main characters in the story whose background is filled with hate
because of his connection with the Klan. "The second member of the team was a
Klansman by the name of Sam Cayhall," "The FBI knew that Cayhall's father had
been a Klansman, . . . " (Grisham 2-3). Sam, who is brought up under the
influence of the Ku Klux Klan, uses "politically incorrect" terms for other
minorities when he talks with Adam Cayhall in death row. " ‘ You Jew boys never
quit, do you?' ", " ‘ How many nigger partners do you have?' " " ‘ Just great.
The Jew bastards have sent a greenhorn to save me. I've known for a long time
that they secretly wanted me dead, now this proves it. I killed some Jews, now
they want to kill me. I was right all along.' " (Grisham 77-78). These
statements reflect Sam Cayhall's intense...