Shawshank Redemption Hope Analysis

How to untie the noose of despair Hope is a belief that all things are feasible. In life, there are obstacle and fears we encounter. Approaching obstacles with confidence will ease fear that hinders our goals. The Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont, illustrates how Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, played by Morgan Freeman, and Brooks Hatlen, played by James Whitmore, react to the repercussions of despair and the promise of hope. In 1947, Andy is wrongly convicted of butchering his wife and is sentenced to life in prison. In prison he meets Red, an inmate, who is serving life in prison for robbery. The audience sees how their friendship fosters positivity within themselves. Although Andy becomes a victim to Bogs Diamond, played by Mark Rolston and his gang of rapists “The Sisters”, he is able to remain optimistic and focus on his goals. We are faced with challenges; how we approach them can be the difference in falling down or flying high. Ambition is the fire that fuels our desires and positive attitude towards life. In this film, the audience learns that despair can lead to self-destruction. In this scene, Andy asks Red to get a rock hammer, which shows that Andy wants to hold on to humanity by occupying himself with hobbies. Which he knows that he is innocent, he realizes hobbies can redirect his negative attitude towards being sent to prison. It is easy to give up when obstacles we face seems hopeless. We must surround ourselves with things that employ happiness within ourselves and give purpose to life. Consequently, we help ourselves find strength by motivating others to believe in their dreams and accomplishments. Andy fights for peace within himself by not allowing his wrongful conviction to defeat him. He seeks resolution through his hobbies and friends. We can improve our life by striving for purpose in the midst of obstacles, which hinder our dreams. We can start by setting small objectives and moving on to larger ones. In another scene, Tommy Williams, played by Gil Bellows, throws his GED test in the trash, which shows that despair begins to prosper, sabotaging his dream. Doubting our strengths leads to failure and the chance of prosperity. Hope is a powerful force that awakens desires we never knew exist. This scene illustrates that when we do not believe in ourselves, we easily give up. Hopelessness can be avoided by helping others, accomplishing our goals, and staying positive. At times we lose hope, but getting back up is the first step to building hope and making our dreams come true. In one scene Brooks tries to kill Heywood and then finally set Heywood, played by William Sadler free, suggests Brooks feels defeated, and has begun to control his life. Leaving prison devastates Brooks because he loses his friends and what he considers his home. When we lose connection to our identity, we give up on all aspects of life. Brooks is known as an institutionalized man, which means he has become accustomed to living in prison and feels safethere. Taking someone out of one’s comfort zone is like sentencing one to a world of isolation. Brooks …show more content…
Red then breaks his parole and heads to Zihuatanejo, Mexico in search of Andy, which shows that he has found the strength to live and conquer his fears. Hope can kindle purpose in life and change the direction it takes us. Unlike Brooks, Red finds a purpose through Andy’s hope, and it saves his life. Red’s situation is different because he had a friend to see him through his despair. Every day we face challenging situations when life seems hard, but we have to learn to overcome obstacles by holding on to faith. A friend can be a motivating example that can enhance positive thinking and strengthen the desire to accomplish dreams. Red realizes he has spent most of his life inside of prison and no longer wants to be a victim to his circumstance. People have to realize mistakes are destined to happen, but it does not have to control our path in life. Red never allows despair to seep in his mind because he finds the strength to survive. We have to be accepting of change in order to focus on opportunities in life, because it is never too late to achieve