Transcript The Shawshank Redemption

A Discussion
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What happens to Andy Dufresne and Red?
What do we learn of Andy's and Red's
characters?
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How was the setting of the movie created?
Think about the music played while showing
the prison and the shots used.
What do the “new fish” have to endure at the
hands of the warden, the guards, and the other
inmates?
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What does Andy endure in the first few years?
Be accurate and specific.
How does this build the character of Andy?
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What do you learn about dignity, courage and
hope from this scene?
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Throughout the film, there are several instances
of guard brutality. Do you think this still
happens? If so, how do you feel about it? Is
some physical form of punishment acceptable?
Andy earns the good graces of most of the
guards by offering tax advice and other
financial planning. In what ways did that
benefit him?
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In the DVD, during the Director commentary,
he states that it is important to understand that
Bogs was not a homosexual, he was a rapist.
What do you think of that statement?
Captain Hadley avenges Andy by severely
beating Bogs. Was that justice? Why do you
think he did that?
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What does the library represent to Andy?
Think about time, education, friends, music
and hope.
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Why do you think Andy locked himself in and
broadcast the Mozart music? Do you think it
was worth it? Why or why not?
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Andy helps dozens of his fellow inmates obtain
their high-school diplomas. What does this
suggest about his character?
What items in Andy’s cell represent his
character?
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In Stephen King’s novel, Morgan Freeman’s
character, Red, is a Caucasian Irishmen. What
did you think of the decision to change that
character to an African-American? Does it add
to the story?
Andy and Red develop a close friendship
throughout the film, during a period in time
(1950-1965) when segregation was still
common. What aspects of each of their
character do you think helped bring them
together?
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In the movie, Brooks is referred to as an
“institutional man.” What does this mean?
Is this possible for students entering “the real
world”?
What symbolism does Brooks’ pet bird, Jake,
stand for?
Brooks refers to Shawshank as home before he
commits suicide. Explain.
Why is Brooks important to the film?
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Andy helped Warden Norton create a fake person,
Randall Stevens, and helped him fix the books, illegally
laundering money. Given that he was a prisoner and
would be punished if he didn’t, do you think it was
ethical for him to do so? Why or why not? Did he have a
choice? Why or why not?
Was it ethical for Andy to take the money the Warden
had intended for himself? Why or why not?
At what point in the movie did you believe that Andy
was innocent? Why did you draw that conclusion?
Since the Warden wouldn’t listen to him and he was
innocent, do you think it was ethical for Andy to escape?
Why or why not?
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Why did Norton have Tommy killed?
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Why is Norton important to the film?
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Why did Red change his speech to the parole
committee the last time? Do you think he
would have been freed if he hadn’t? Explain.
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What happens at the end of the film?
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What message does it send to society?
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“Fear can hold you prisoner.
Hope can set you free.”
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In what respects is justice finally achieved in
the movie? Comment.
To what does The Shawshank Redemption
refer?
Who was redeemed?
Who was the cause or impetus of the
redemption?
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Why does the Pacific Ocean have such appeal
to Andy?
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The film's dominant themes of hope, original sin,
redemption, salvation, and faith in the afterlife have led
some critics to interpret the film as a Christian parable.
Some Christian reviewers have referred to it as a film "true
to Christian principles." If so, how does the warden play
into these lessons?
In the director's commentary track on the tenth
anniversary DVD, Darabont denies any intent to create
such a parable, and calls such interpretations of the film
'fantastic'. Others have also pointed out that the film's tidy
dispatching of its principal antagonists would seem to
have more to do with Old Testament retribution than New
Testament redemption. In addition, Andy's destruction of
a Bible to enable his escape hints at a more pragmatic
outlook.
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Prisoners vs Guards
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Andy vs Norton
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The Sisters vs other prisoners
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The Prisoners vs the outside world
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Norton/Hadley vs the Law
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Others?
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Redemption
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Justice and Injustice
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Hope, Institutionalism, and Freedom
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Humanity and Inhumanity
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Others?