Plot
In Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the story's plot contains internal and external conflicts. The main characters Andy Dufresne and Red are prisoners serving life term sentences at a state prison in Maine. They become good friends and they rely on each other. Andy struggles against being falsely imprisoned, and being victimized by fellow prisoners and ruthless guards. Internally Andy struggles to keep hope alive that he will one day experience freedom. Andy escapes and eventually Red is paroled. Red has to follow a trail laid out by Andy to join him in a life of freedom. The plot is fast paced. Every page has a situation or a story of something that happens to one of the main characters. The plot keeps the reader engaged to the end.
Point of View
The organization of the point of view has a major impact on the story. The story is told by Red, a prisoner at Shawshank. He knows everything inside of the walls of the prison. He has been imprisoned for 20 years plus and he is an inmate who supplies his fellow inmates with whatever they want to buy. "There's a guy like me in every state and federal prison in America, I guess-I'm the guy who can get it for you. Tailormade Cigarettes, a bag of reefer, a bottle of brandy, or almost anything else...within reason, that is". (pg. 1). Since Red knows everyone and everything that goes on inside the prison, he narrates from a first person point of view. He tells the events that happen to the main characters, including what he and Andy Dufrense did to get into prison. Since Red is a character in the story, his point of view has a lot of emotion and detail.
Characterization
The story uses a lot of direct characterization to describe the thoughts and actions of the main characters. For example when Red and Andy discuss joining up together after prison Red tells us how fearful he is of life on the outside. " I couldn't get along on the outside. I'm what they call an institutional man now. In here I'm the man who can get it for you, yeah. But out there anyone can get it for you. I wouldn't know how to begin. Or where." (pg. 78). On many occasions, Red describes the guards in various inmates in detail. In particular, he draws a very negative description of guard Byron Hadley who is a ruthless man.
Setting
The setting of the story primarily takes place inside the walls of Shawshank Prison. The only change of setting is after Andy escapes from Shawshank and Red is paroled. The story takes us to the Maine country side when Red goes in search of something that Andy has left him. The story ranges from Andy's arrival at Shawshank in 1947 to Red's departure from Shawshank in 1977. Throughout the story, Red uses a lot of detailed description to describe the surroundings. In particular the prison is described in great detail which gives the reader a feel for what it would be like to be inside the walls back in those days. " The cell doors in Cellblock 5 opened at 6:30 a.m., as they do every morning except Sunday. The inmates of those cells step forward into the corridor and formed two lines as the cell doors slam shut behind them. They walked up to the main cellblock gate, where they were counted off by two guards before being sent down to the cafeteria...." (pg. 84)
Theme
There are two main themes in "Shawshank Redemption". The themes are the burden of isolation and the power of hope. These are the two things that affect every prisoner of Shawshank. The burden of isolation is shared by all prisoners. Isolation is clearly seen by Andy. He has the burden of spending over two months "in the hole", (solitary confinement). Hope drives the prisoners to keep on living, even though they are being tortured in Shawshank. The ending of the story illustrates how Red hangs onto hope for a free life after he is paroled and has decided to join Andy. "I hope Andy is down there. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." (pg. 106).
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