Shawshank and Society

Rating: Null/10 (3 March 2003)

`The Shawshank Redemption' is a dramatic representation of how prison life affects one inmate, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins). In turn, how Andy uses resourcefulness and determination to affect a small group of what becomes his closest friends, and ultimately how this affects the entire prison. Sentenced for a crime he didn't commit and determined to survive in an unfriendly and unnatural environment, this white collared young man seeks the aid of Ellis `Red' Redding (Morgan Freeman), a man who can get stuff. Red is thrown off by the natural coldness of Andy and considers him a bit of an enigma. Nonetheless, Red sticks with the young man and mentors him through his first years. The combination of Andy's resourceful nature and the will to survive gives him a chance to use his financial savvy to get gain with the inmates and the guards. This single event turns in to a continuous flow of opportunities. This would land Andy and his crew in some of the easy time ever spent in Shawshank. Having proven his worth with the guards, he would begin to do business with one of the most corruptible men in the prison, Warden Norton (Bob Gunton). This would give Andy the opportunities he would need to create a new environment in Shawshank. By gaining as much trust as an inmate could, Andy is able to learn the system better than even the Warden himself . Andy is given the opportunity to build a library and educate the uneducated inmates of the prison. The warden never expected any of it to work, but when it does, he is there to receive the accolades. In the end, Andy knows who is responsible for the success of Shawshank, and this determination gives him his freedom. The struggle between Andy and Norton can be used as symbolism in our everyday lives. The battle between employee and employer, student and teacher, or child and parent, can find relation to this story. The representations given in this film are all very comparable to those in which we find in our lives everyday. This is what makes the film so interesting to the audience. From the opening scene to the very last, I am held captive by this film. There could not be a better group of actors to fill the roles and the setting is always perfect for the scene. This is a movie we can watch over and over and always learn something new. This film teaches resourcefulness, patience, perseverance, and determination. Andy Dufresne will go down in history as a teacher of men and a beacon of hope.