1、The Shawshank Redemption,Themes,Chicago Sun-Times film reviewer Roger Ebert suggests that the integrity of Andy Dufresne is an important theme in the story line, especially in prison, where integrity is lacking. The Shawshank Redemption is an allegory for maintaining ones feeling of self worth when

2、placed in a hopeless position. Angus C. Larcombe suggests that the film provides a great illustration of how characters can be free, even in prison, or unfree, even in freedom, based on ones outlook in life.,Plot,Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption

3、through acts of common decency.,Plot,Andy Dufresne is a young and successful banker whose life changes drastically when he is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. Set in the 1940s, the film shows how Andy, with the help of his friend Red, the prison

4、entrepreneur, turns out to be a most unconventional prisoner.,Cast,Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne: the main character of the film.,Cast,Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd Red Redding: the other main character and the films narrator.,Cast,Bob Gunton as Warden Samuel Norton: the head of Shawshank State Prison

5、 and the primary antagonist.,Cast,James Whitmore as Brooks Hatlen: The prison librarian/trustee and one of the oldest convicts at Shawshank.,Winter,Stephen Edwin King,Institutionalism A Theme developed in Shawshank Redemption,Convicted criminals are sent to prison to be rehabilitated so that one day

6、 they will no longer pose a threat to citizens on the outside.,This is not the case at Shawsank Prison,Its system strives to eliminate the tiniest of hope of freedom from their prisoners. Shawshanks system in action is shown through the character Brooks.,Shawshank, in Reality, is a Place of Permenan

7、t Confinment, and Institutionalism,Brooks Institutionalized,Early on in the movie Brooks, a prisoner in the jail for over 50 years, discovers he will soon be set free. Brooks is horrified, and attacks an inmate in hopes his act of violence will revoke his parole. “Its the only way theyll let me stay

8、!”,Reds Words About Brooks,“These walls are funnyfirst you hate them, then you get used to them, then you depend on themthats institutionalized.” “They send you hear for life, thats exactly what they take, the part that counts anyway.” “In here hes somebody, out there hes nobody.” Brooks has been in

9、 prison too long to know how to function on the outside world.,Brooks on the Outside,The Shawshank Redemption films a montage to show viewers Brooks experience as a free man. Narration Medium shot on bus Work He has trouble sleeping Long Shot of Crossing Street Buying Gun “Send me home.” Long shot i

10、n park Close-up of hands,Institutionalism: Brookss Demise,Brooks commits suicide because he is unable to cope with life outside of prison. As he is preparing for his death viewers see a close-up of his face smiling through the railings of the ceilings pillar. This signifies that Brooks was a happy m

11、an in prison. He does not like his freedom. He commits suicide to escape it.,Reds Comments,When Red and Andy hear the news of Brookss death Reds reaction is, “He should have died in here.” Brooks should have died at home,The Force of Institutionalism: The Warden and the Prison System,The Warden pres

12、ents the image of a religious man who would like to see his inmates rehabilitated by the power of God Cross-stitch Bible In reality the Warden is an evil, corrupt man who could not care less about his prisoners. Bible and cross-stitch used to hide true personna. Uses inmates as slave labor for his w

13、ork program. Does not allow Andy to leave prison, and kills Billy the only person who could testify to Andys innocence.,The parole board is an example of how Shawshanks prison system is a force of institutionalism. Reds parole hearings Routieness of his answers “Yes sirwithout a doubtno danger to so

14、ciety here” Close-up of “Rejected Stamp” Viewers can see the cold-blooded murderer in Red no longer exists. They know he is a changed man, a good man, but yet the parole continues to deny him the freedom he deserves.,Andy: A Force Working Against Institutionism,Andy hangs on to the life he lived bef

15、ore he was sent to prison. Montage of taxes for guards Andy has hope. He spreads it throughout prison by playing music Montage of prisoners listening to record player Giving the Harmonica to Red Instrument of music Andy gives this to Red after his parole is rejected Andy tries to give Red hope so he

16、 can avoid the same fate as Brookss Red will not play it for Andy Later on when he is alone in cell gives it one small whistle,Andy confronts Warden on his policies of institutionalism when he rejects his plea for a new trial. Calls him “Obtuse” His actions are deliberate. He wants to keep Andy in prison. Andy escapes from prison. Spends 20 years digging a tunnel Crawls through septic pipe Arial shot when reaches the outside.,“Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying”,Andy recognizes the