There were two great things Andy did for this friends and other inmates in prison that I think meant alot for them. Even if it only was for a second, he gave them the feeling that they weren’t in prison. All locked up. He got beer for his friends when they worked at the roof. But even bigger.. even though he knew he would get in trouble for it, he locked himself in and played one opera song over the loud speakers. Even if it only was for a couple of minutes every man inside of Shawshank enjoyed it and it gave them a bit of hope.
As I wrote earlier, Red was the first man Andy really talk to after he arrived to prison. At first it was only buisness, but that grow to something so much larger. They thaught each other about life. Andy gave Red a true friend inside of prison. But he also gave him something to hope for, by telling him about the hidden box beneath the tree. That motivate Red not to give up after his escape. It helped him to survive the rest of his time in prison and gave him something to do once he got out. You could say Andy saved Red from meeting the same fate as their friend Brooks did.
Andy gave Red a invitation to join him in Mexico but he gave him something so much bigger also. He gave him a lesson in life, hope and determination and that really kept him alive on the inside and outside. Andy and Reds relationship made me sure about one thing, you really can find true friendship that lasts for a lifetime everywhere, even inside of the darkest place of them all.
Red:
Red can get people whatever they need. That makes him a very popular person inside the prison, but despite that I don’t get the feeling that Red abuse his power. Red gives the inmates what they need to be happy. Cigarettes, candy, even a little rock pick.
I think Red and Andys relationship is some kind of fatherly. Red is the old man who has spent most of his life in prison and knows everybody. Andy is the small new guy who doesn’t know anything.