Theme Of Leadership In Shawshank Redemption

In The Shawshank Redemption, there are many types of leadership qualities and roles being presented, from the beginning of the movie to the end. The main characters, Andy and Red, demonstrate prestige power in the movie. They have a different level of power than some prisoners because of their roles in prison. Fellow prisoners come to them for advice, resources, and to learn whether it be life lessons or just general and basic knowledge. Red and Andy demonstrated a certain level of prestige power that the normal prisoners could not reach. Red was the Shawshank’s “business man”. He could get you any resource that you wanted and because of this, many prisoners looked to him for not only his resources but, his valuable life lessons as well.

Red is well known by security guards and prisoners because he can get them the resources that they need and because he teaches life lessons. Andy had to gain his leadership role in the movie but when he did, he was well respected by others as well. He is highly intelligent because of his background and his fellow prisoners come to him for advice, money problems, and English lessons. Andy starts off as a shy guy but finally breaks out by approaching Red with a deal. He states that he will get him some rocks and money if Red can get him a small hammer. In this scene, Andy is showing off his business skills by bargaining with Red. He also demonstrates this in another scene when Hadley finds out that he received $35,000 and he wants to keep the whole thing. Andy approaches him with a deal and the deal is that he will get him his money tax free if he can get him and his co-workers three cold beers each. Not only is Andy making deals and bargains, he also being a team player by getting everyone involved. Because of Andy’s breakthrough in prison he is able to form coalitions with Red and fellow

Brooks loves Shawshank and wants to stay there for his life and is scared of the outside life. So instead of leaving, he tries to stab Heywood in the neck with a knife and Andy prevents that from happening by inspiring him, telling him that he is better than that. Throughout the rest of the movie, Andy grows as a person because he is getting older and wiser. He practices hands on leadership in his older stages. An example of this when a new guy, Tommy Williams comes in and he reveals to Andy that he knows the murders of his wife. So, Andy repays him by helping Tommy study every day for his GED Test. Tommy loses all hope after his test and Andy inspires him by telling him everything is fine and that he will pass but by then Tommy already gave up. A few weeks later, Tommy got his test back and he passed with a C+. By then, Tommy is dead because the warden got him