Shawshank Redemption takes place in Maine in the middle of the twentieth century. The narrator is known as “the guy that can get it for you (1),” referring to a guy that can get things those in prison might want, like cigarettes, alcohol, or anything else within reason. This makes him a very important man in prison, because in order to get what people want, he has to have connections on the inside and outside. Given that he is the only one the reader knows about that is able to do this, he seems to be highly respected by fellow prisoners, including the main character, Andy Dufresne. Dufresne’s time in prison wasn’t deserving, he was found guilty of killing his wife and the man she was having an affair with, which he never did. There are multiple
…show more content…
When Dufresne attempted to fight off the sisters, it showed that he had decided that he was going to stand up for himself. By doing this, it led to him sometimes getting away and avoiding the pain he would have to endure, simply making his life a little better. When he used his knowledge from his former profession to help out Hadley and others, it was a risky decision, but the reward got him more time out of his cell, along with some of his friends getting beer. Although they don’t seem like life changing rewards, he found enjoyment in watching them drink the beer he got them, and helping the guards got him other favors and privileges in the future, like protection from the sisters. These little things represented hope of a better prison life to him.
Isolation and imprisonment is also a significant theme in the Shawshank Redemption. The idea is that by being away from the public for so long, they adapt to prison and become custom to the prison’s way of life. Everything changes, going to bed in your house every night to sleeping in a cell, being told when you’re going eat instead of eating when you want to, and having to take orders constantly from guards. Prisoners would become so used to life inside the prison, when they were released they wouldn’t know what to
When Dufresne attempted to fight off the sisters, it showed that he had decided that he was going to stand up for himself. By doing this, it led to him sometimes getting away and avoiding the pain he would have to endure, simply making his life a little better. When he used his knowledge from his former profession to help out Hadley and others, it was a risky decision, but the reward got him more time out of his cell, along with some of his friends getting beer. Although they don’t seem like life changing rewards, he found enjoyment in watching them drink the beer he got them, and helping the guards got him other favors and privileges in the future, like protection from the sisters. These little things represented hope of a better prison life to him.
Isolation and imprisonment is also a significant theme in the Shawshank Redemption. The idea is that by being away from the public for so long, they adapt to prison and become custom to the prison’s way of life. Everything changes, going to bed in your house every night to sleeping in a cell, being told when you’re going eat instead of eating when you want to, and having to take orders constantly from guards. Prisoners would become so used to life inside the prison, when they were released they wouldn’t know what to