There are significant similarities and differences between the movie and short story versions of "Shawshank Redemption". Most of the elements in both the movie and the book are similar, (plot, setting, and theme). Some of the elements, (point of view, and characterization to some extent) are shown differently in the movie than in the story.
Plot
The plot is basically the same in both the movie and in the story. Both are about Andy Dufresne and Red who are serving life sentences at Shawshank prison. They both become great friends and they rely on each other. Andy struggles through being harassed by the guards. He eventually escapes while Red is paroled a few years after Andy escapes. The plots have the main characters dealing with imprisonment, their eventual freedom, and adjusting to life outside the institution. Even though both the story and the movie have a similar plot, the movie shows the plot in more detail than in the story. For example, the movie ends with Red making it to Mexico, finding Andy on the beach, and hugging him. The book ends with Red finding Andy's money and instructions and hoping that he will make it to Mexico to meet up with Andy.
Point of View
The point of view has many differences in the story than in the movie. In the story, Red narrates everything from a first person point of view. Even the dialogue between Andy and another person is told from Red. In the movie, the story is mostly told by Red, but there are parts of the movie where there is no narrator, just dialogue between the characters. Andy's sentencing at the beginning of the movie is an example where the action plays out in dialogue between characters. On some occasions, someone other than Red narrates in the movie. In the scene where Brooks is paroled, Brooks narrates his life outside of Shawshank.
Characterization
The Characterization is mostly the same in the story and in the movie. Both of them use direct characterization to describe the characters. There are a few differences however. In the story, Red is the person who introduces the characters and what characteristic traits they have. In the movie, most of the characters are not introduced by Red. They are revealed through dialogue and interaction. For example, we get to know Hank Williams loving Hayworth by how he interacts with Red, Andy, and the others. Also, the character's emotion is shown more in the movie than the story. The film lets you see the sweat, anger, and frustration that the characters are feeling.
Setting
The setting in both the story and the movie is basically the same. Both primarily take place inside the walls of Shawshank Prison. One difference is that the movie starts out at Andy Dufrense's sentence hearing in court. It show flashbacks of the alleged crime. The book starts out inside of Shawshank when Red tells the story of his crime to society. The book and the movie have minor prison scenes that are different from one another; such as, the movie scenes with Tommy Williams. At the end, the movie shows the beach in Mexico. The book ends earlier with Red full of hope at his hotel planning to travel to meet Andy.
Theme
The theme is the same in the movie as the story. Both are based on the burden of isolation and the power of hope. The movie builds hope for the main characters. There is scene in the cafeteria after Andy has come out of solitary and he talks about the hope he has inside of him that the guards cannot take away. Hope is also present right before Andy escapes when he talks to Red and says, "Get busy living, or get busy dying." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tkzc983aE0. The story has very similar dialogue regarding hope. It is really sets out in the end when Red ends the story with several lines starting with "I hope".
