THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. This page was created in 1998 This page was updated on May 17, 2005

MIT says this is "A Christ allegory...The Shawshank Redemption transcends its short-story basis to yield a lasting message of inspiration and renewal."

Andy Dufresne: Tim Robbins, "Red" Redding: Morgan Freeman, Warden Norton: Bob Gunton, Heywood: William Sadler. Written and directed by Frank Darabont. Based on a novel by Stephen King. Running time: 144 minutes. Rated R (for language and prison violence).

Andy is innocent of a double murder. Nevertheless, he is convicted and put in a state prison to serve two life terms back to back. The story evolves into a contest between the legalistic warden (the law) and the Christ-like Andy (hope). By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people.  -Isaiah 53:8 NRSV

The story is about the developing friendship between Andy and a fellow prisoner named Red. They become good friends. This great friendship is placed against the brutal world of the prison including a two year sexual brutality of the worst sort committed on Andy. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. -Isaiah 53:7 NRSV

Andy, over many years, is able to get certain benefits for the prisoners, like an occasional beer, music and even a library. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  -John 10:10 NRSV

The warden painfully abuses Andy through torture, solitary confinement and the murder of a friend. Andy realizes he needs to choose life. "Get busy livin' Or, get busy dying." I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live. -Deut. 30:19 NRSV

Secretly, behind a large pin up girl poster in his cell, Andy over the course of two decades tunnels his way out. It is as though he re-enters a woman (the pin-up girl) to be born again. Freedom comes at a cost, he must go through a human waste sewage pipe. The way up is sometimes down. Sometimes we must confront our own dung (and of others), and work through it to be truly free. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. Psalm 40:2 NRSV

There is a lot of symbolism in this film. The warden learns of his fate, his last judgement, through the Bugle newspaper. Sort of a last trump, as it is called in scripture.In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. -1 Cor. 15:52 NRSV

In time, Red is released from prison. He is reunited with Andy, but only after learning the importance of hope. Proverbs 23:18 NRSV Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Romans 8:24-25 NRSV For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.