Ms G's Level 2 English - Shawshank: Key Events

1. “Rehabilitated?”

This was a recurring plot device to show both the changes that Red (Morgan Freeman) underwent in his decades in prison and the passage of time. This occurs at the very end of the film when a weary Red is dragged one more time in front of the parole board and with withering weariness delivers one of the best monologues Freeman’s ever gotten.

2. “Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying”

Probably the most memorable line from the film come in a conversation about dreams, anger, imprisonment, freedom and choosing how much we let anger master us against the balance of our dreams; something that imprisons more than enough people in the world walking free.

3. “Andy’s Escape”

I wish I could show the entirety of Andy’s escape and how brilliantly thought out it was, but it’s all about the horrifying, visceral journey he takes through offfal, emerging to be reborn in the rain in one of cinema’s most hope-filled shots.

4. “Rooftop”

The warden is asked to provide labour to resurface the roof of the licence plate factory. Red ‘chooses’ his friends. They overhear Captain Hadley talking about an inheritance and complaining that the government would take it all in taxes.

Andy asks, “Mr. Hedley, do you trust your wife?” and is almost thrown off the roof. Andy explains that by gifting the money to his wife, they get to keep it all and offers to do the paperwork. He asks for “three beers apiece for each of my co-workers”

Red comments that Andy “did it to feel normal again” and that “with the sun on our shoulders we felt like free men”. This shows that Andy’s selfless act (he refused to drink the beer himself) shows how he offers hope to others

What did this moment show about a main theme?

What impact did this moment have on later events?

Andy improves his status with the others
Hedley told Warden who then ‘visited’ Andy and arranged for him to be shifted from laundry to library
Removed him from the clutches of The Sisters
He became the Warden’s private accountant, laundering money
Able to get books, extend the library and provide an education for prisoners – thus offering them hope (theme)
But most importantly, it gives him the opportunity to bring down the warden, the captain and the corrupt management – the opportunity of making a fresh start with a new identity and money

Andy took a big risk that paid off big time.

The Rooftop Scene

Techniques used to demonstrate theme

Music as in the rest of the film represents Hope
Voice over: Red comments on how they felt “With the sun on our shoulders we felt like free men”
Andy’s action in refusing beer. He didn’t do it for himself. – selfless – offering hope to others
Lighting represents hope. Scene was well lit

Techniques used to demonstrate character

Unselfish – beers for others
Sticks to promise to himself: principles
Wont drink beer – booze got him into this mess
Actions
Dialogue
VO explanation. Red: “Did it to feel normal again”

5. “I Hope to Find My Friend There…”

“Institutionalized” is a phrase that comes up in the film. So meaning, that you live so many decades in an institution that the outside world has no relevance to you any more. Red found him self institutionalized after he was set free, but Andy had anticipated this and their reunion, Freeman’s voiceover, just a perfect ending to a perfect film.