The Chamber A Look Into The Novel

The Chamber: A Look Into The Novel And Film Essay, Research Paper

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 hate for others which is derived from

his young upbringing in the Ku Klux Klan. Sam’s background as a Klansman is told

by Grisham using Sam telling Adam about generations of Klan activity:

” `Why did you become a Klansman.’

`Because my father was in the Klan.’

`Why did he become a Klansman.’

`Because his father was in the Klan.’

`Great. Three generations.’

`Four, I think. Colonel Jacob Cayhall fought with Nathan Bedford

Forrest in the war, and family legend has it that he was one of the early

members of the Klan. He was my great-grandfather.’ ” (123).

Adam Cayhall is a young motivated lawyer who is driven to save his

grandfather, Sam, because he wants to find out about his family history as well

as about his grandfather. John Grisham shows Adam’s desire to defend his

grandfather and get him out of being executed:

” `I’ve studied his entire file.’ ” ” . I’m intrigued by the case.

I’ve watched it for years, read everything written about the man. You asked me

earlier why I chose Kravitz & Bane. Well, the truth is that I wanted to work on

the Cayhall case, and I think this firm has handled it pro bono for, what, eight

years now.’ ” (28). Adam’s desire to learn more about his family through

defending Sam is strong. ” .I’m your grandson. Therefore, I’m allowed to ask

questions about your past.’ ” (Grisham 123). Adam uses his family to relate to

Sam. The author shows this when he quotes Adam saying,

” `On behalf of my family, such as it is-my mother who refuses to

discuss Sam; my

sister who only whispers his name; my aunt in Memphis who has

disowned the name Cayhall-and on behalf of my late father, I would like to say

thanks to you and to this firm for what you’ve done. I admire you greatly.’ ”

(45).

Lee is Sam Cayhall’s granddaughter; she has trouble getting rid of the

painful memory that is her father. Lee becomes an alcoholic to deal with her

pain of being the daughter of Sam Cayhall. Her pain surfaces again when Adam

comes down to try to save Sam and the case becomes news again. Grisham tells

about Lee’s problem with alcohol in many ways. ” .All right, dammit. So I’m an

alcoholic. Who can blame me.’ ” (302). ” .No you won’t, Lee. You’re not

drinking any more tonight. Tomorrow I’ll take you to the doctor, and we’ll get

some help.’ ” (304). Lee is Sam’s daughter, and therefore she had to live with

the memory that her father was a murderer.

The plot and characters have some differences between themselves in the

novel and the film. The melodramatic film takes away from the novel’s

descriptive plot. The first major difference I noticed was in the level of

detail. The novel seemed to be much more descriptive than the film. The film

basically focused on the relationships between the characters which lef

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