Film Analysis Of The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption takes place during the Treatment Era (1945-1967) stage of development in the history of U.S. prisons (Schmalleger, 2015). The main character, Andy Dufresne is sentenced to life imprisonment in Maine for killing his adulterous wife and her lover in 1947. He ultimately escapes from Shawshank Prison in 1966. The movie portrays Andy trying to keep his dignity and self-worth after he is placed in a demoralizing position. Ultimately, the main theme of the movie is of Andy Dufresne retaining his integrity while in prison, where integrity is usually not present. This film also provides an excellent example of how people can feel free, even while in prison. The reverse can also be said about how people can feel captive,

They lose control over their day-to-day aspects of living. What they have lost is what most people outside of prison have taken for granted. This is highlighted in the scene where Andy plays opera over the loudspeakers. Also, the character of Red has the constant habit of asking his boss to use the bathroom, even though he has been paroled. Red states during a narrative that since his parole, he finds it difficult to urinate unless he feels that he has permission to do so. The adaptation to imprisonment is almost always difficult and, at times, creates habits of thinking and acting that can be dysfunctional in periods of post-prison adjustment. Yet, the psychological effects of incarceration vary from individual to individual and are often reversible. To be sure, then, not everyone who is incarcerated is disabled or psychologically harmed by it. But few people are completely unchanged or unscathed by the experience. At the very least, prison is painful, and incarcerated persons often suffer long-term consequences from having been subjected to pain, deprivation, and extremely atypical patterns and norms of living and interacting with others (Haney, 2001). The Shawshank Redemption is an excellent film and portrays prison life as realistically as possible. It delves into the prison sub-culture and highlights the brutal aspects within. To keep one’s dignity is hard enough in life, but even more tenacious in prison. This film’s focal point is hope and how it is a necessary feeling in order to overcome