Archived from UCI English Department Submissions
By: H. Elizabeth Williams
Stephen King was born September 21st, 1947 in Portland, Maine. He has written over 60 novels and numerous short stories. King is a renowned American author for his contributions to the horror and Supernatural fiction genres. The vast majority of his books take place in Maine, where he was born and lived in for most of his life. King is mostly recognized for his horror genre works like ‘Carrie’ and ‘The Shining’, as well as works with drama and crime fiction genres, he's liked for his ability to create deeply engaging characters and explore the dark corners of human thinking and Society. King is applauded for his narrative style.
One of his novellas, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, was published in 1982 and centers around a prison named Shawshank in Maine, where there is no death penalty. The story unfolds through two incarcerated protagonists, taken from a man named Red’s perspective, who is the main Contraband dealer in the prison. The entirety of the book centers around Red's perspective of Andy, who becomes known as a hustle Banker of sorts for the guards and warden. Both who are to spend there sentences there in the 1930s.
This story follows the life of Andy Dufrense, a banker who is wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. As he navigates the brutal and unforgiving prison environment, he maintains his innocence and gradually becomes a source of inspiration for his fellow inmates. Unlike Red, Andy was innocent. He met Red very early in the game and, knowing he was dealing in contraband, asked for a rock hammer. Red dealt in a lot of things except for weapons, but Andy assured him that it was just because he ‘liked rocks’, and followed with an ask for a Rita Hayworth poster to hang inside his cell. Red complied with both requests.
Both were in there for many years, and during that time dealt with gangs(TW), and he was set in prison at least for a little while because he snuck in $500. Andy, who was a banker on the outside, started doing every prison guard and Warden’s taxes and money laundering for special treatment, including a secluded cell. Some years later he found someone new in the prison that knows the guy who actually killed his wife and her lover, bragging he got away with hit, and Andy went to the warden to try and prove his innocence. But, the Warden did not want to lose his resource. Later that night, Andy came clean to red, except for one major detail, that he already had someone prepare money and a fake identity for him for when the time came, which involved money and stocks saved for him on the outside by a good friend and that he would go start a new life in Mexico. That one major detail, however, was that he had been using that rock hammer for 27 years to make a hole in the wall in his cell, hidden by a Rita Hayworth poster, and escaped through the fecal pipes never to be found again. In 1977, Red is finally let out on parole. He is weirded out by the new life and is considering committing a crime to go back, but finds that hidden paperweight that Andy said he left money in and found a note to meet Andy down in mexico, and he does.
Red serves as the story’s narrator and provided insight into the daily struggles and triumphs within the prison walls. The story’s core is a tale of the unbeatable human spirit. Despite facing injustice and brutality, Andy refused to succumb to despair. Instead, he used his financial upbringing to gain favor with the prison guards and his fellow inmates in order to gradually improve the conditions for himself and those around him. For example, money laundering for the warden was rewarded with a very nice and stocked library for him and his fellow inmates in order to help them get a better education and even finish GED. His unwavering belief in the power of hope and the ability to find redemption even in the darkest places becomes a central theme throughout the story.
Within this narrative, the friendship between Andy and Red becomes a key element. In a place where alliances are often formed based on survival instincts, their bond is a testament to the transformative power for genuine connections. Andy’s determination to create a library within the prison became a symbol of intellectual freedom and a reminder that the human spirit can endure even the most oppressive environments.
The Shawshank redemption also explores themes of institutionalization and corruption, as the prison itself does represent the world as a corrupt place. As the years pass, some inmates become so accustomed to the routine and structure of prison life that they fear the outside world. Even when Red eventually does get out, he is so out of place in the outside world he considers committing another crime in order to go back.This novella suggests that prison does not rehabilitate anyone, if anything it makes them to commit more crimes in order to survive. Many prisoners are paroled at such an old age that they are too institutionalized, sick or senile upon release to prove they can act as contributing members of society. This book causes people to reflect on the psychological toll of long-term imprisonment and the challenges of coming back into society after a prolonged period behind bars.
Another theme crafted in this novella would be redemption and self discovery. Andy’s journey from despair to redemption helps with self-discovery. Through his actions, he not only seeks redemption for himself but also becomes an agent of change within the prison community, as mentioned before. The narrative suggests that redeeming oneself is attainable, even for those society deems irredeemable. Shawshank, while a physical prison, also serves as a metaphorical representation of the various prisons people find themselves in—whether those be societal expectations, personal demons, or oppressive systems. The redemption, therefore, extends beyond Andy's personal journey to encompass the possibility of redemption for society as a whole.
In evaluation of The Shawshank Redemption, I think the message of the human spirit not being broken or being transformed to redemption is seen as a good example within Andy. Even in moment’s where red would observe him while being threatened he was almost smiling and calm. There were only 2 times he saw him lose his cool in the 27 years they were there together. This prison was definitely a representation of oppressive systems and I think it was a good example to show ‘hey if this one guy can be good after going through all this maybe if we put the prisoners in actually good conditions they will be rehabilitated quicker and can be of use to society again’. Seems like King’s commentary on society's treatment to prisoners.
In a review from Lit Hub by Katie Lee, she described Shawshank Redemption being all about books. “In a sense, Shawshank Redemption is really a movie about the wonders of books, the way they can bring people together, uplift their spirits, and offer a kind of escape,” she stated. I disagree with it being about ‘the power of libraries’ but I believe it played an important part in keeping innocence and an outlet or sort of escape.
This novella skillfully combines moments of tension, heartbreak and triumph. King’s famous narrative style captures the raw emotions of the characters and the harsh realities of prison life and causes readers to think about how it could be better.
In conclusion, The Shawshank Redemption is a moving exploration of hope, friendship and the human capacity for resilience in the face of difficulties. Through the compelling characters of Andy and Red, King’s craft of a narrative transcends the prison setting, leaving many with a profound reflection on the enduring nature of hope and the possibility of redemption.
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