Theme Of Corruption In The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Corruption is defined as:
1. moral deterioration, especially widespread
2. use of corrupt practice especially bribery or fraud
3. irregular alteration from its original state
The word is derived from the Latin verb rumpere, to “break”.

Corruption occurs in many forms and several types of corruption are displayed in the movie. To understand some of the corruption and practices seen in the movie we need to look at some of the different types of corruption I have identified. There appear to be four main types (themes) of corruption and each type can be associated with specific characters and the people associated with them. The Characterisation of the individuals in the movie each support one of the types of corruption

It is also all part of the economic and social scene of the correctional facility (jail) system, where it forms a great part of the management of the jail. It helps to keep the harsh rules the warden and guards apply to the inmates in place. Systemic corruption is not a special type of corrupt practice, but rather a situation in which this jail and process of rehabilitation of the prisoners is routinely dominated and used by the corrupt warden and the guards. The prisoners have no alternatives to dealing with the corrupt jail staff. Letters are censored of not delivered, visits are controlled and when a prisoner is a threat, the warden and guards get rid of them. Tommy Williams who could have given the warden information to prove that Andy Dufresne was actually innocent, was removed by the Warden when he had Captain Hadley shoot him while he tried to escape. This was a false claim but no-one could prove it. In the end the warden is caught out when Andy gives all the evidence he collected during the years in jail against the Warden to a newspaper for publication. The warden takes his own life and in a sense it is retribution for all the terrible things he did against the prisoners and the

This is an example of Petty corruption. Small scale or bureaucratic corruption is the everyday corruption that takes place at the implementation end of politics, where the public officials meet the public. Andy knows the banking business and the tax business and by applying all the different “loop holes” in the system he helps the guards profit from the monies they should normally pay towards taxes. Petty corruption is bribery in with the way existing laws, rules and regulation is used. Warden Norton uses funds paid by the guards to have the service provided by Andy to increase his wealth. When Andy later withdraws the monies he had collected on behalf of the Warden from the banks, there is some redemption for him being locked away for the crime he had not committed. This redemption is in the form of money that he uses to set himself up for the new life he intends