文学《肖申克的救赎》中“希望”与“救赎”的现实意义研究

I摘要电影《肖申克的救赎》是根据美国作家史蒂芬·金的小说《丽塔·海华丝与肖申克的救赎》改编而成，它讲述了一名年轻的银行家安迪被指控在雨夜谋杀了自己妻子，由于法官和陪审团的误判，安迪蒙冤入狱。在狱中他并没有放弃希望，而是在智慧和不懈努力下完成了自我救赎。希望与救赎本身对立词，本文将阐明希望与救赎如何相辅相成。在现代社会也有不公的事，本文将呈现在历经社会黑暗面时，如何坚持希望的力量，同时完成自我救赎。该篇论文第一部分首先对作者的成长背景进行了简单介绍，其次对作品的创作背景进行了分析，最后介绍了作品的主要内容。第二部分深度分析了作品中希望的具体内涵，并通过不同人物的结局来进行剖析。第三部分解释了救赎和制度化的内涵，并分析了作品中被制度化的角色是如何获得自我救赎的。关键词：《肖申克的救赎》；希望；救赎；制度化

contentsTOC\o"1-2"\h\u23399Abstract 11434摘要 2317381.Introduction 339422.AnOverviewofTheShawshankRedemption 5125892.1AbouttheAuthor 5145022.2TheBackgroundofWritingtheWork 764022.3TheMainContentofTheShawshankRedemption 871753.ABriefAnalysisofHopeinTheShawshankRedemption 10198043.1Brooks:DisillusionmentofHope 10220543.2Red:RegainofHope 11167963.3Andy:EternityofHope 1364444.ABriefAnalysisofRedemptioninTheShawshankRedemption 145944.1TheConnotationofRedemptionandInstitutionalization 15323374.2TheRepresentativeProtagonistsofRedemption 173890Conclusion 183175Acknowledgments 192539Bibliography 21

TheRealisticMeaningof"Hope"and"Redemption"inTheShawshankRedemption1.IntroductionThefilmtoldthestoryofAndy,abankvicepresidentwhowassentencedtolifeinprisonforbeingwronglyaccusedofkillinghiswife.DuringhisfirstmonthatShawshankPrison,hekepthisdistancefromeveryoneandwatchedthesituation.Later,heaskedRedtohelphimbuyasmallhammer,andbeganhislongnineteen-yearprisonlife.From1947to1966,Andy'sjobrangedfromlaundrytothelibrary,tohelpingpeoplefiletaxes.HealsotaughtTommytoreadandhelpedother"colleagues"gethighschooldiplomas.Hekepthimselfverybusyandkepthimselfdifferentfromotherinmates.AsRedsaidlater,somepeopleweredestinedtobreakoutofthecageandflewtowheretheyweresupposedtogo.Inanefforttoimprovetheprison'slibrary,AndywroteaweeklylettertotheStateCouncil,andsixyearslaterwassentbytheStateCouncilwith$200andafewboxesofusedbooks.Hestartedwritingtwolettersaweekuntilthestatelegislatureagreedtoallocate$500ayeartosupportlibraryconstruction.Thelibrarywasgettingbiggerandbigger,thebookswerearrangedindifferentcategories,thedesksandchairswerecleanandtidy,andmusiccanbelistenedto,sothattheprisonerscanliveasfreepeopleaspossible.Andyusedhisexpertisetohelpthewardenlaundermoney,andhecreatedaStevenwholivedonlyonpaper.Andyhadbeenplanningtoescapefromprisonforalongtime,startingwiththefirstposterhebought,butitwasTommy'smurderthatreallypromptedhisdecisiontoescape.Onarainynightwithlightningandthunder,heescapedtheprisonwithSteven’smaterials,throughnarrowtunnels,crawledthroughstinkysewers,andwadedthroughrivers.HetransformedintoSteven,tookalltheillegalincomeofthewarden,cametoSmallislandinMexico,andboughtaboat.Finally,helivedthelifehewanted.Fromtheplotpointofview,thisfilmisactuallyaninspirationalfilmofsmallbeerwhosilentlyinsistonachievingsuccess.However,thedifferenceisthatthisfilmbehavesquiterealistically.FromAndy'smicro-expressionaboutthereasonforRed'simprisonment,fromthesweatonBrooks'facewhenhewokeupinthemiddleofthenight,fromthewarden'spalefacebeforehisarrest,fromthesweatstainsonRed'sbodyashewalkedthroughthelongjungle,eachoftheseperformancetechniquesareveryreal,andthedetailsareinplace.Comparedwiththeexpressiontechniquesofotherfilms,therearenocoolstunts,onlyblandtechniquesareused.Theissueofhopeandredemptioninthefilm—TheShawshankRedemptionhasbeenwidelydiscussedathomeandabroad.Mostoftheworldwidecriticsstudythefilmfromtheperspectiveofthetheme,artisticfeatures,andnarrativemethods.Thisthesiswillanalyzethenovelfromtheperspectiveofhopeandredemption,whichhascertainacademicresearchvalue.ThethesisfirstlyintroducestheauthorStephenKing,thewritingbackgroundandmaincontentofhisworkTheShawshankRedemption.Nextpartbrieflyexplainsthespecificmeaningofhopeandredemption,thenusesalargenumberofcasestoanalyzethedifferentprotagonistsin"TheShawshankRedemption".Finally,thisthesisuseanalysistostudythemeaningofhopeandredemptionexpressedbytheauthor.2.AnOverviewofTheShawshankRedemptionThemovieTheShawshankRedemptionisadaptedfrom"RitaHayworthAndShawshankRedemption"includedinStephenKing's"DifferentSeasons",andisdirectedbyFrank.Thethemeexpressedinthisworkishopeandredemption.Itshowspeople'sfearoftimepassingandenvironmentaltransformationthroughthespecialbackgroundofprison,whichisacompulsorydeprivationoflibertyandhighlyemphasisondiscipline.Thisisundoubtedlyagreatworkwhichbreaksthroughtherestrictionsintheprison-themedfilmandcapturesthehumantouchandwarmfeelingthatisrareinthesimilarworks.Eventhoughthefilmlostinthe1994Oscars,itisstillaclassic.Atleastthisisamovieyouwillimpossibletoforgetafterwatchingit.Thewholefilmbringstopeopletheeverlastingsincerefriendship,theindomitablesoulforgingandtheendlessfireofdestiny.Thefilmpresentsthewholestoryinathird-perspectivenarrativeway,guidingreaderstoperceivethehopeandredemptioninit.2.1AbouttheAuthorThenovellaTheShawshankRedemptionisthemasterpieceofStephenEdwinKing.StephenEdwinKing,theAmericanwriter,directorandactor，isknownforhishorrornovelsandwasoncehailedasthe"masterofmodernhorrorfiction"bytheNewYorkTimes.TheLifetimeAchievementAwardandtheWorldFantasyLiteratureAwardintheNationalBookAwardsoftheUnitedStateswerealsoachievedbyhim.[1]OnSeptember21,1947,StephenEdwinKingwasborninPortland,Maine.Whenhewastwoyearsold,hisfatherranawayfromhomesuddenlyandneverreturned,thushismotherworkedhardtomanagethefamily.Duetopoorfamilycircumstances,StephenEdwinKinghadnojoyinhischildhood.Attheageoffourteen,hefoundaboxintheatticofhishome,whichcontainedsomehorrornovelshisfatherhadcollected.Fromthenon,hebecameobsessedwithhorrornovelsanddeterminedtobecomeahorrornovelwriter.Learningatmiddleschool,hestartedtocontributearticlestomagazinesandfoundedasmallsatirenewspaper.AsacollegestudentattheUniversityofMaine,hewasoneofthechiefwritersoftheschooljournal.Aftergraduation,heworkedinacarrepairshopduringthedayandwrotehorrornovelsatnight.AlthoughbecomingamiddleschoolEnglishteacherlaterdidnotreducehisenthusiasmofwriting.However,theharshrealityliesahead,hisworksduringthisperiodarenotyetwellreceivedbypeople,sofinancialconstraintswasacommonthing.In1969,StephenEdwinKingattendedtheDepartmentofEnglishattheUniversityofMaineandreceivedaBachelorofArtsin1970.In1974,thethirdhorrornovelCarriebecameabestseller,thushebegantogetoutofeconomicdilemma.HemovedbacktoMainein1975andcompletedthefourthnovelTheStand,afterwhichStephenEdwinKingsettledinMaineforalongtime.In2003,StephenEdwinKingwontheU.S.NationalBookAward.Apartfromthat,hisnovelshavealsoformedawiderangeofculturalinfluencesthroughalargenumberofadaptationsoffilmandtelevisiondramas.StephenEdwinKingusedthethemeof"destroy"asthecoreofstoryinalargenumberofhishorrorworks.Throughtheappearanceofhorror,King’sworkshowstheconcernfortheessenceofhumannature,andatthesametimerevealstheworryingrealityinAmericansociety.MostofKing'snovelsareactuallyanxietiesaboutreality.Inmostofhisworks,hedescribedthecollapseanddestroyofhumanbeingsbecauseoftheirownsins.Especiallyinmodernsociety,humanbeingsaregraduallyalienatedintheirlonelyanddepressedemotions,resultinginaseriesofabnormalbehaviorsandabnormalsocialphenomena.ThroughStephenEdwinKing'sguidance,peoplecaneasilycrosstheboundariesofrationality,penetratethesafeappearanceofreality,andenterthebottomofthesoul.Readerscanexperiencetheirownhopesandfearsfromtheseordinaryandtypicallittlecharacters,andevenfollowtheprotagonisttofightagainstinexplicablepressureandfear.ThereasonwhyKing'sworksarehighlyregardedismainlybecauseofitsuniquenessindescribinghorror,sciencefictionandfantasticstories.Thiskindofentertainmentworkstoalargeextentcatertothepublic'sthrill-seekingpsychology.2.2TheBackgroundofWritingtheWorkThemovie"TheRedemptionofShawshank"releasedin1994wasoriginallyproducedfrom"RitaHayworthandtheRedemptionofShawshankPrison"in"FourSeasons".[2]Thisworkdescribesthestoryofafriendshipbetweenayoungbankerwhowasimprisonedforthemurderofhiswifeandloverandajack-of-all-tradesinprisonwhowasabletocirculateallkindsofcontraband.Untilnow,thismovieisstillthemostpopularclassicinthehistoryofmovies.Thebackgroundofthestoryisthatinthe1930s,politicalcorruptionintheUnitedStateshadextendedtobusinessmenandevenreachedprisons.Atthebeginningofthisfiction,theyoungbankerAndywassentencedtolifeimprisonmentforthemurderofhiswifeandlover.Duetothecorruptionoftheprison,Andy’smisjudgedcasehasnotbeenresolved.Instead,hesufferedbothphysicalandpsychologicaltortureinShawshankPrison.However,Andywasnotdestroyedbythetragicfate.Aftermorethan20yearsofcontinuousself-motivationandstubbornstruggle,hefinallycrawlingoutofthelongdirtypipeatathunderstormnight,Completedself-salvation.Sincethelate1960sandtheearly1970s,thedevelopmentofAmericanliteratureseemstohavereachedabottleneck.[3]Althoughthewriterscontinuedtotrytoinnovate,theworksthatcanbereadseemtobelessandless.Atsuchatime,StephenEdwinKingpresentedthenovel"TheShawshankRedemption"thatwaseye-catchingandallowedreaderstoreadfrombeginningtoend,andevenwantedtoreaditagain,whichisreallythought-provoking.Afterthe20thcentury,thedestructionofthelivingenvironmentandthespreadofdiseasecausedbytheWorldWarIIhavedispelledtheconceptsofrationality,belief,andmoralitythatpeoplehavealwaysheld.Peoplebegantohavedoubtsabouthumannature,andfeltanxiousandpessimisticaboutthefuturefate.Undersuchabackground,manymodernistwriterswhoarecommittedtoexpressingthesubjectivespiritualworldofhumanbeingsweremostlytrappedinapessimisticworldofselfandcannotextricatethemselves.However,StephenEdwinKing’srationality,hope,andself-salvationconceptsconveyedinTheShawshankRedemptionhavetoarousepeople'sattentionandreflection.Meanwhile,choosingprisonasthebackgroundofthestoryalsohasitsuniquemeaning.Sincethe19thcentury,novelswithprisonsasthebackgroundhaveemergedinendlessly,buttherearefewworkslikeStephenEdwinKingthatdescribedtheprisonlifeindetailandanalyzedthegoodandevilofhumannaturefromit.Thisisoneofthereasonswhythisworkispopularamongreadersandfansformanyyears.[4]2.3TheMainContentofTheShawshankRedemptionThestorytookplaceintheUnitedStatesinthe1940s.Atthattime,theUnitedStateshadjusteasedfromWorldWarII,butmanysocialsystemswereincomplete.Forexample,inthetaxationsystemmentionedinthefilm,lawyersandthegovernmentabusedtheirpowerforprofit.Thestoryunfoldedinsuchanenvironment,anditalsoreflectedtheshortcomingsofthisera.In1947,Andy,abanker,wantedtokillhiswifeandherloverafterbeingdrunkbecausehiswifehadanextramaritalaffair,buthedidn'tdoit.Coincidentally,someoneshothiswifeandherloveratthatnight.ButAndywaschargedwithmurderandsentencedtolifeimprisonment,whichmeanthewillspendtherestofhislifeintheShawshankprison.Redwassentencedtolifeimprisonmentformurderin1927,andseveralparoleswereunsuccessful.Redwasan"authoritativefigure"intheShawshankPrison.Aslongasyoucanaffordtopay,hecangetalmostanythingyouwant.Wheneveranewprisonerarrived,everyonebetonwhowillcryinthefirstnight.RedthoughtthattheweakAndywoulddefinitelycry,butAndy'ssilencecausedhimtolosetwocigarettes.Andywasaveryknowledgeablepersonwithawiderangeofhobbies.Helikedgeologyandstone.Reasonably,heaskedRedtohelphimgetastonehammer.ThroughthiscooperationRedandAndygotacquaintedwitheachother.Overtime,AndyoftenaskedRedtohelphimgetgoods,includingpostersofcelebrities.Theprisonhadanopportunitytogotoworkoutdoors.RedmadeAndyandotherpartnersselectedthroughtherelationship.ItwasthelaboratthistimethatinitiallychangedAndy'spositionintheprison.GuardCaptainhadaninheritance,buthewasstrugglingtopaytaxes.AndytoldtheGuardCaptainthathehasawaytogettheinheritancewithouttaxing.Thepaymentwastoinvitetheprisonerswhoworkedoutdoorstoeachofthemthreebottlesofbeer.Fromthenon,manyprisonofficialswhichofcourseincludedNorton,thechiefofficer,cametoAndyfortaxandotherbankingissues.Subsequently,Andywassenttoworkasalibrarianintheprison.AfterAndyarrivedatthelibrary,hedecidedtoexpandthelibraryandkeptsendingletterstothestatetoobtainfunding.Atfirst,Andy'sletterhadnoecho,andthenthestatecouldn'tbearAndy'scontinuousmailing,andfinallyallocatedseveralhundreddollarstoAndyanddonatedsomeoldbooksandsundries.ThisallowedAndytoseethedawnofhopeandsendlettersmorepersistently.WithAndy'sunremittingefforts,thestatefinallydecidedtograntShawshankPrisonanannualsubsidyof$800,andAndyusedittobuyvariouskindsofoldbooksandrecords.Thesmallstorageroomwastransformedintothebestlibraryintheprison.Andyalsohelpedtheprisonersgetacollegedegree,aswellashelpingthewardentolaundermoneyandothermatters.AfterAndyspent19yearspeacefully,aguynamedTommywenttojailfortheft.Coincidentally,heknewthetruthaboutthedeathofAndy’swifeandherlover.[5]Andyfoundthewardenexcitedly,hopingthatwardencanhelphimreversethecase.Thewardendidn'thelphim,lockedhiminasmalldarkroomforamonthandmurderedTommywhoknewthetruth.ThewardendeceivedAndywiththereasonthatTommywaskilledbytheguardsbecauseheescapedfromprison,butAndyknewthatTommywaskilled.Andythoroughlyunderstoodthataslongasthewardenwasstillthere,hewouldnevergoout.Hecouldonlygooutonhisown.Duringtherollcallonemorning,Andywasmissing!Goneinthesmallcell!Wheneveryonewaspuzzled,thewardenaccidentallyhittheposteronthewallandfoundahugeholeinthewall.Andyescapedfromprison!Howdidheescapefromprison?Afterturningoffthelights,heputimportantthingsinawaterproofbag,tiedhimselfwitharope,climbedthewallthathadbeendugfor19years,andescapedfromthesewerthatwashalfafootfullofsewage.Heescapedtheprisonthatdidn’tbelongtohim.ThewardenfinallycommittedsuicideintheconfusionofhowAndybroughthimdown.WhenRedwasreleasedonparole,hefoundthegiftleftbyAndy,astackof50dollarsandaletter.Thelettersaidthathopeshouldexist,andaskedRedtogotoMexicotofindAndy.RedovercamethepsychologicalcrisisafterparoleandfoundAndy.Thetwofriendseventuallymet.3.ABriefAnalysisofHopeinTheShawshankRedemptionTheShawshankPrisonisahopelessplace,becausehopeisenclosedbyhighwalls.Theprisonisfullofdarkcolors,thetoweringwalls,graysky,indifferenteyes,suffocatingnight,everythingarounditissodepressingthatpeoplecan’tbreathe.Hopeseemsuselessintheprison.AsAndysaid:"Hopeisadangerousthing,hopecandrivepeoplecrazy,itisuselesshere".Ofcourse,hopeisadangerousthing,butitisalsoapreciousthing.Finally,Andycompleteshisownredemptioninthisfainthope,andthemostimportantthinginthisprocessisthedesireforfreedom.Nomatterwhatkindofadversityyouarein,howbiganunexpectedblowyouare,youcanbedepressed,butyoucan'tsink,youcanindulge,butyoucan'tdegenerate.Depressionandindulgencehaveacleartimelimit,andthereisalsoarecoveryperiod.Youcanspendaperiodoftimeadjustingyourself,thinking,andthenaccumulatingstrengthtostandupagain.Anddegeneratingandsinkingmeanbreakingthroughthebottomlineandlosinghope.Whatishope?Hopeisakindofimaginationandpursuitofmankindforthefuture,andayearningforallthegoodthingsintheworld.ThispartwillanalyzethehopeoftheShawshankPrisonthroughthreeaspects:thedisillusionmentofBrooks'hope,theregainingofRed'shope,andtheeternalofAndy’shope.3.1Brooks:DisillusionmentofHopeWhenAndyfirstenteredtheShawshankprisonin1947,Brookshadlivedwithinthehighwallsfor50years.Timeflies,Andyreachedtohisdecliningyears.hedidn'tknowthattheothersideofthehighwallhadundergoneearth-shakingchanges.Whenhefirstappearedinthisfilm,heaskedtheprotagonistAndyforabuginAndy'srice,notforhimtoeat,butforhiscrow.Thiscrowwaspickedupbyhim.Ifhedidn’tprotectthiscrow,itmaydie.Later,thecrowbecamehisbestfriend,andnameditJack.TheShawshankPrisonislikehishome.Brooksneverneedtothinkaboutthepastorthefuture,justlivedarepetitiveandreassuringlifeeveryday.BrookswasreleasedonparoleinthefiftiethyearoftheShawshankprison.Butwhatispuzzlingisthatafterreceivingthenoticeofhissuccessfulparole,hekidnappedafriendwithaknife,andevensaidthathewantedtokillhim.Stayingheretoolong,Brookshadnostrengthtoacceptmorenewthings.WecanallunderstandthathebelongtotheShawshankprison.Brooksstaredatthepistolsinthestoreinadaze,wonderinghowhecouldreturntohiscomfortable"home".WhenBrookslefttheShawshank,hereleasedthecrowhehadsavedbythewindow,andthecrowflewintotheblueskywithoutlookingback.Inthefilm,Brooksworeablacksuitandblendedintothedarkness,leavingonlyabeamoflightoutsidethewindowhittinghisface.Thisbeamoflightsymbolizedfreedom,butforBrooks,itwasmorelikearealtrial.Forothersintheprison,gettingoutofprisonishope.ButforBrooks,whohasbeenseverelyinstitutionalized,hishopeistostayinhisfamiliarenvironment.AlthoughBrooksisphysicallyoutsidetheprison,hisspiritisstillintheprison.Inprison,Brooksisarespectedelderwithastablejob.[6]However,afterreturningtothesociety,Brookswasignoredbecausehecouldn'tkeepupwiththerhythmofsociety.Theworldischangingsoquicklythatheisdizzyanddazzled.NoonetoldBrookstowatchthetrafficlightswhencrossingtheroad,becausetherewerenosuchthingsfiftyyearsago.Brookslivesveryhardeveryday,wantingtointegrateintosociety.Butthewholeworldwasstuckinabusystate,andnoonehadtimetohelphimadapttotherhythmofsociety.Hestartedtomisshisfriends,andeventhoughtaboutreturningtoprisonagain.Hishopewasdisillusionedonthedayofparole.Hejusttookoutaknife,stoodonthechairstaggeringly,andengravedontheroofbeam,whereheendedhislife.BrooksisnotasknowledgeableasAndy,notassmartashim,norasstrongashim.Brooksisjustanordinaryperson,hefaceshisweaknessandweakness.Theendofhimselfishislastredemption.BrooksandCrowarebothfree.Brooksleftthehighwall,andthecrowflewoutofShawshank,butBrooks,whoappearedtobefree,wasexploitedbytheinstitutionalization.Brooks'hopeonlifefinallydisillusionedwiththephrase"Brookswashere"onthehotelwall.3.2Red:RegainofHopeRedwhohavebeeninprisonfor40years,thesecondmaleinthefilm,havebeendeeplyaffectedbyinstitutionalizationeither.Inprison,hecanhelpotherpeoplegetanythingtheywant,includingAndy'sposters,andthehammerswhichwereallboughtfromhim.Therefore,RedhadmoreopportunitiestocontactwithAndy.RedbecamegoodfriendwithAndy,andregainedhopefromthisfriendship.ThepursuitoffreedomisRed'shope.Duringthelastthirtyyearsinprison,hisgreatesthopewastobereleased.Inthefirsttwoparoles,Redwasverydistressedinfrontoftheparoleauditors.Heseemedtobeapersonwhoreallyregrettedhismistakes.Butintheperspectiveofparoleauditors,theyhavebecomeaccustomedtothebehaviorofcontritionshownbythoseprisoners.Whethertherewassincereremorseornot,paroleauditorscanalreadyknowataglance.Therefore,duringthefirsttwosessions,Reddidnotgetapprovalfromtheparoleauditor.Afterrepeatedfailures,Redhaslostthehopeofgettingparole.Inthethirdtime,Reddidnotexpresshisregretsasmuchaspossible,butsaidsomethingviolently.Ironically,aftersayingthisparagraph,Red'sparolewasfinallypassed.Redwasfinallyfree,butthelongprisonlifemadehiminstitutionalizedprofoundly.WhenRedwasreleasedonparole,hewasarrangedtogotothesupermarkettoputonandlivedinthehousewhereBrooksoncelived.Themostterrifiedthingisthathesimplycan'tadapttotheoutsidelifewithoutanyrelativesorfriends."FortyyearsI'vebeenaskingpermissiontopiss.Ican'tsqueezeadropwithoutsay-so."Thisjustthetipoftheicebergamonghismanyadjustments.Helookedattheitemsinthestreetshopwindowandwantedtocommitacrimeeveryday,sothathecouldbreaktheparoleregulationsandreturntoShawshankPrisontoendthisdisturbinglife.Inprison,heisanomnipotentbusinessman,withagroupoffriendswhocantalktohim,whichisacomfortableenvironmentforhim.Inoutsideworld,hebecamethelowest-levelsupermarketpacker.Everydayhecommunicatedwithpeoplewasonlytoreportgoingtothebathroom.Theoutsideworldwasstrangeandlonelytohim.LikeBrooks,Redisfulloffearoftheunknownworld,andeventhoughtofendinghislifelikeBrooks.ButwhenhefoundtheletterthatAndyhadlefthim,hopewaspickedupagain.Andywrotethat:"Hopeisagoodthing,maybethebestofthings，nogoodthingseverdies."ItwasthisletterthatmadeRedregainedhishopes.Reddidn'tgaveuponhimself,butembarkedonanewjourneytofindAndy.Hewantedtomeethisoldfriends,talkandlaughtogether,andenjoyafreelife.ThereisadetailinthefilmthatAndygaveRedaharmonica,butRedpickeditupandputitdown.Thoseyounginterestsandhopeshavebeenlostfortoolong,leavinghimnowheretopickitup.WithoutAndy,Red'sendingislikelytobethesameasthatofBrooks.Andy'sescapefromprisonandthedescriptionofthegoodlifemadeRedsheartmoved,finallybravelyviolatedtheparoleregulationsandregainedhislife.3.3Andy:EternityofHopeAlthoughhopeiselusiveinprison,therearealwaysoneortwoheroeswhostillhavehope.Andywasthatherowhosavedhimselfandotherswiththeeternalhopeinhisheart.Ifyoudrawacurvediagramforlife,Andy'slineattheageof30hascliff-likeupsanddowns.Onemomentago,hewasthevicepresidentofabank,anabsolutesuccess;thenextsecond,hewasinvolvedinthemurderofhiswife'sdeathandwasframedasamurderer.Suddendoombrokeeverything,andafterGodreshuffledthecards,hewasreincarnatedinShawshankprisonin1948,likeababy.Inprison,onlythosewhohavealwayshadahardfisthavetherighttospeak.Undersuperficialcognition,allbehaviorhasflattenedintoviolence.Andywasoncecaughtin"violence"andnearlydied.Shortlyafterbeingimprisoned,hewastargetedbytheperverted"threesisters"anddraggedintoahuttobebeatenorhumiliated.Everytime,hetrieddesperatelytoresist,butnewwoundsalwaysovershadowedtheoldones.ThisincidentmadehisfriendRedunderstoodthatAndyisnotauselessrookie,hehashisownprinciplesandbottomlines.Heprovedtoeveryonethathopeiseternalthroughconstantchange.Andygotbeerforhisfriendsinexchangeforhelpingtheprisonalarmtaxwhenherepairedtheroof,justtogivetheinmatesamomentofhappiness.Hearbitrarilyusedtheprison'sradiotoplaythealbum"TheMarriageofFigaro",whichmadeeveryonefeelthelong-lostbeauty.Forsixyearsinarow,hewroteweeklyletterstothestategovernmenttoapplyforfees,andfinallysucceededinexpandingthelibraryandchangingthewayinmatesspendtheirtime.HegaveRedaharmonica,hopingthathislifewouldbesomethingnew.SecretlymailedexampapersforTommywhenhegaveuphisstudies.AndytoldRedtofindsomethingthatburiedthebigoaktreewhenhedecidedtoescapefromprison.Andywasthehopeandsowedtheseedsofhopetoeveryonearoundhim.IttookAndy19yearstoescapefromprisonstepbystep.EverybodyinShawshankwaslookingforsomethingtodo,whileAndybuiltaprisonlibrary.Prisonwasnotafairytaleworldwhichhadsomuchkindnessandpurity.EverythingthathappenedtoAndywasfinallyshakenoffbyhimassteppingstonesontheground,helpinghimstepbysteptodigthroughthestonewalloftheprisonandclimboverthestinkyditchtowardsfreedom.ThebiggestdifferencebetweenAndyandRedwasthatAndy'scultivationmadehimtohavehope.Aslongashopewasexisted,everythingwaspossible.Andyhadfirmbeliefandaneternalyearningforfreedom.Whetheritwastheharshlivingenvironmentinprison,thementaltortureofloneliness,orthepassingoftime,henevergaveuphisbeliefinthepursuitoffreedom.Infact,thefilmisnotabouthowsophisticatedhislayoutisandhowsmartheis,butaboutthecourageandpatiencethatapersoncanburstoutinordertolivefreelyandtobringhopetopeople.Maybeyoucanimprisonmybody,butyoucan'tputchainsonmysoul.UnlikeBrooksandRed,Andyisfullofhope.Andyconsideredprisonlifeonlyasakindof"suffering"redemption,notreallife.Reallifeisintheoutside.4.ABriefAnalysisofRedemptioninTheShawshankRedemptionTheShawshankRedemptiontellsthestoryofabeliefthatsaveshope.Itencouragespeopletostrivefordignity,andaslongasthereisfaith,thereishopeformankind.Thes