Character Analysis and Comparison: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and Shawshank Redemption
‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and ‘Shawshank Redemption’ Comparative Essay.
Essay question 1: “Compare how Kesey and Darabont explore the constant battle between hope and oppression?”
Kesey and Darabont explore the constant battle between hope and oppression, a prominent theme throughout One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Shawshank Redemption, respectively. Both utilise a wide range of techniques, such as messianic imagery, symbols, and a size-motif developing the influence of power. The battle between hope and oppression is constant throughout the two texts by each author, in unique ways and different perspectives, through which the audience gains the understanding that hope and oppression come hand in hand with life.
Darabont and Kesey use messianic imagery to display conflicts between hope and oppression. Darabont portrays Andy as a humble Christ figure who “…had a quiet way about him,” and strolled like he had “an invisible coat that would shield him from this place [Shawshank prison]” suggesting the same modest traits of Jesus. Darabont uses this religious allusion to foreshadow that hope will prevail; Andy’s hope never fades, “…there is something inside that they can’t get to…Hope.” Darabont used a birds-eye-view shot to place the audience in a God-like position when Andy escaped; with his hands outstretched as if to say, ‘thank you God,’ emphasising his hope for success and being ‘reborn’, like Jesus, into freedom. In contrast to Darabont, Kesey uses messianic imagery to convey oppression prevailing. McMurphy states that he is “not a saint or a martyr.” Unlike Darabont’s portrayal of Andy as a sombre and modest Christ figure, Kesey portrays McMurphy as loud and confident but puts on a façade for the sake of others, asking “Do I get a crown of thorns?” when faced with electro-shock therapy and insisting “that it wasn’t hurting him,” telling the others that “all they was doin’ was chargin’ his battery for him.” Kesey portrays him as ‘self-sacrificial’,
Essay question 1: “Compare how Kesey and Darabont explore the constant battle between hope and oppression?”
Kesey and Darabont explore the constant battle between hope and oppression, a prominent theme throughout One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Shawshank Redemption, respectively. Both utilise a wide range of techniques, such as messianic imagery, symbols, and a size-motif developing the influence of power. The battle between hope and oppression is constant throughout the two texts by each author, in unique ways and different perspectives, through which the audience gains the understanding that hope and oppression come hand in hand with life.
Darabont and Kesey use messianic imagery to display conflicts between hope and oppression. Darabont portrays Andy as a humble Christ figure who “…had a quiet way about him,” and strolled like he had “an invisible coat that would shield him from this place [Shawshank prison]” suggesting the same modest traits of Jesus. Darabont uses this religious allusion to foreshadow that hope will prevail; Andy’s hope never fades, “…there is something inside that they can’t get to…Hope.” Darabont used a birds-eye-view shot to place the audience in a God-like position when Andy escaped; with his hands outstretched as if to say, ‘thank you God,’ emphasising his hope for success and being ‘reborn’, like Jesus, into freedom. In contrast to Darabont, Kesey uses messianic imagery to convey oppression prevailing. McMurphy states that he is “not a saint or a martyr.” Unlike Darabont’s portrayal of Andy as a sombre and modest Christ figure, Kesey portrays McMurphy as loud and confident but puts on a façade for the sake of others, asking “Do I get a crown of thorns?” when faced with electro-shock therapy and insisting “that it wasn’t hurting him,” telling the others that “all they was doin’ was chargin’ his battery for him.” Kesey portrays him as ‘self-sacrificial’,