Institutionalism: How Frank Darabont Represents this Theme

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Recommended: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption introduction

INTRODUCTION
The cinematic rendition of Rita Heyworth and The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King: The Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont, brings many different emotionally connecting themes e.g. Redemption, Innocence, dehumanisation. Though these themes are quite confronting and thought-provoking themes, possibly one of the most significant themes in this film is the consistent representation of the idea of Institutionalism. Darabont explores the perspective that being so accustomed to the situation inside an intuition that the inmates aren’t able to re-assimilate to normal life in society once released from prison. This theme is brought out in the film through a number or characters, in particular: Brooks Hatlen, Tommy and of course the inseparable duo, Ellis ‘Red’ Redding and Andy Dufresne. All of these characters at times display the meaning and understanding of the term institutionalism and how it can have diverse effects on different people with different states-of-mind and different persona’s.
BROOKS HATLEN
Brooks Hatlen is an obvious example of institutionalism in the film. After a large term in Shawshank prison, Brooks is released on bail to a local town. He then commences to work at the local supermarket whilst staying in a hostel. During his time in the prison, Brooks was able to occupy himself by running the almost non-existent prison library. When Andy is assigned to the library Brooks displays a keen knowledge about the way the library runs. He also re-introduces Andy to a young rook bird he named Jake. Andy’s first connection with Jake was in the mess where Brooks fed the young Jake from a pocket in his jacket. This scene demonstrates Brooks’ prolonged time of serving his term in Shawshank and how h...

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...rough the way prison life has made him believe that a life of crime is the only viable way of life.
CONCLUSION
Frank Darabont and the cast and crew of The Shawshank Redemption represent the idea of institutionalisation, through their interpretation of Rita Heyworth and the Shawshank Redemption. They depict how an inmate can become so comfortable with prison life and the prison living circumstances through brooks that one can become irrational and possibly suicidal. Through tommy Darabont depicts how even when the obvious representation is on his wanting to reassimilate into normal life, that being institutionalised can be progress-halting and possibly counter producing represented by tommy’s lack of self-confidence. The Shawshank Redemption is a perfect representation of the idea of Institutionalism and Frank Darabont represented this theme quite substantially.

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