The Shawshank Redemption:
Theme
Directed
by Frank Darabont
Themes and Issues

Many themes are explored in the film , however some of them are
not typical of a stereotypical movie.

Themes explored:
Hope
Institutionalised
Justice and Injustice
Freedom and Imprisonment
Redemption
Humanity
Friendship
Theme : Hope
Hope is set against its opposite despair.
Most of the inmates are afraid of hope
because they think it will destroy them.
In contrast Andy wont surrender hope.
He believes hope gives people a reason
to live, a sense of freedom.
He not only maintains hope himself but
tries to give others the hope that life can
and will get better, even in prison.
Theme : Hope

“Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you
free”.
The discussion between
Andy and Red reflect this.
Red dismisses Andy’s
desire to go to Mexico.
“Get busy livin’
or get busy dyin”.
Theme : Hope

After Andy’s escape his legend grows, and he still
gives hope to others. The idea of hope is linked to
institutionalised and redemption. Those who lose hope
are more likely to become institutionalised, where as
the power of hope redeems.

Red must learn the importance
of hope in order to stay alive,
he needs to find a reason
to live, this is fulfilling
the promise he made to Andy.
Theme : Hope

“Remember Red, hope is a
good thing. Maybe the best
of things. It never dies. I'm
hoping this letter finds you
well”.

By journeying to Mexico, Red
chooses hope over despair.
He hopes to be reunited with
Andy and to have a future.
Theme : Institutionalised


The film looks at the effect on the individual adapting
to prison life. Once the convicts conform they lose the
ability to survive beyond the prison walls.
The inmates become too used to having everything
decided for them. Brooks was a excellent example of a
man being afraid of the outside world.
“In prison he was an
important man, an educated
man”.
Theme : Institutionalised

When Brooks learns he is about to be
paroled he threatens Heywood with a
knife. Brook’s release from prison and
his experiences foreshadow Red’s
journey from prison.

But Red has hope, as a result of his
relationship with Andy.
Theme : Redemption

The movie shows the triumph
of the human spirit which can
occur even in a place like
Shawshank.
 Red and Andy are both
redeemed of their sins.
 Andy felt guilty for driving his
wife away. Red gives him
absolution, and tells Andy he
was not to blame.
Theme : Redemption

Red’s redemption comes when he learns
to have hope.
Hope and friendship
have the power to redeem
and are linked to the
imagery of rebirth and
resurrection.

Theme : Humanity and Inhumanity

The film explore the idea of
good and evil. The 1st half
shows the inhumanity of
Shawshank, where many
officers and prisoners have lost
their inhumanity.

The prison routines work at dehumanising the new arrivals by
stripping them makes and
reducing them to a number.
Theme : Humanity and Inhumanity
Andy represents the humanity while the
warden, Hadley and the sisters represent
the inhumane world of prison life.
 Individual interests, music and
knowledge are a number of things the
men sustain to help them maintain their
humanity.
 The most important force in the film is
friendship.

Symbols and Motifs