Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is an inspiring story about Andy Dufreine and his efforts to maintain hope and his own survival. The film begins with the story of Andy Dufresne, a young vice president of a prestigious Portland bank, is wrongfully convicted of killing his wife and her lover. He is then sent to a jail where he learns the lessons about life from a few of the inmates, which eventually leads to him being a part of a corrupt scheme to launder money for the warden. But after nineteen years, Andy manages to tunnel out of the prison and to freedom. While it appears simple on the surface, The Shawshank Redemption gives a deeper meaning in prison life for Andy. The title, The Shawshank Redemption, initially has an appeal to it. Redemption is to free from what distresses or harm. With this knowledge that redemption means to be free, and Shawshank is the name of the prison Andy is sent to. With this knowledge, we can ask ourselves how a prison can provide redemption. The title later gains its full meaning towards the end of the movie. Andy Dufresne is redeemed through his experience at the prison. He learns about life there, while teaching others as well. He is redeemed through his second chance at life after his escape from the prison; hence redemption. A major theme of the film may be the power of hope. Hope, more than anything else, drives the inmates at Shawshank and gives them the will to live. Andy’s determination to maintain his sense of self-worth and escapes keeps him from dying of frustration and anger towards his false incarceration. Initially, he remains passive and reserved towards the other inmates. Only stretching out when he sees an opportunity to be useful. Andy sets about making hope a reality in the form of the agonizing progress he makes each year tunneling his way through his concrete wall. Red notes that Tommy William’s testimony that could prove Andy innocence was like a key unlocking a cage. That cage, in Andy’s mind, is like hope that drives him towards freedom and redemption. The hope reinvigorates Andy after several years in the Shawshank library. The letter sent by Andy to Red states that “hope is a good thing,” which in the end is all that Red has left once he has received his probation. Red’s decision to go to Mexico to find Andy is proof of Red’s redemption and hope. This is, however, not from his redemption as the life of an ex-con, but from his current state in mind. From hope and with no reason to embrace life or the future, Red’s closing words shows that hope is a difficult concept to sustain both inside and outside the prison. A movie is controlled by ideas and techniques that are engulfed in almost every aspect of the film. In The Shawshank Redemption, there are three main ideas and techniques that carry the film. Walls, for example, are the first things that trap Andy. One being a wall between him and his wife as she is having an affair. The other is actual walls that barricades Andy inside the Shawshank prison. Within Andy’s cell, the names of the previous inmates are carved onto the walls. This acts as a reminder to Andy of his incarceration. Another is his first night as Shawshank, he finds that he is going to be spending his time in the prison, after being wrongfully accused and he has to make the best out of it. The names on the walls also give Andy the idea about getting out of the prison through the wall. The walls of the old library are cracked and warn. This is similar to the mental state of many of the prisoners, especially Brooks. He, as well as other prisoners, hated the walls initially. However, it later became their home and their sanctuary. Eventually, they became to depend on the walls for protection. Their lives in the prison become cracked and worn. At times, these walls do provide strength. For example, Andy leans against the wall as he is talking about his dreams for Mexico. These walls give him the strength to go through with his plan conducted over several years. The movie, The Shawshank Redemption, uses many different techniques to convey a deeper meaning than the surface story. From simply the title, closer analysis can reveal to the viewers, the full effect of the plot. You gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the hardship that occurs throughout the movie. A deeper meaning is understood and therefore more can be taken from it. Overall, The Shawshank Redemption is a moving story about an innocent man achieving redemption in the prison. Almost all aspects of the film was perfect in demonstrating the plot and the hardship experienced by Andy and the inmates. Symbolism within the technical aspect of the film provides a deeper understanding for the film.