The Shawshank Redem

Analyze how one or more moments highlighted an important idea.
“Idea” may refer to character, theme, or setting.

INTRODUCTION - “The Shawshank Redemption” directed by Frank Darabont deals with the main character: Ellis Boyd Redding known as Red ( starred by Morgan Freeman ). Red is a longtime inmate in Shawshank prison who is the man known to be able to smuggle anything in and over the course, his time in prison becomes close friends with Andy Dufresne ( banker who was sentenced to prison for murdering his wife and her lover ).

In 1967, after serving 40 plus years Red was released from prison on parole. During his time in prison he made a promise to his close friend Andy Dufresne to go to Buxton and search beneath the rocks under the tree Andy proposed to his wife beneath. The scene when Red finds a cache containing money and a letter asking him to come to Zihuatanejo highlights the important idea of hope.

BODY PARAGRAPH 1 ( BIRDS ) - One important film technique that was displayed when Red went to the oak tree in Buxton is the sounds of a bird. When Red finds the oak tree in Buxton that Andy was talking about, bird calls start to play to symbolise freedom and hope. When Red is released from prison on parole he says “There’s a harsh truth to face. No way I’m gonna make it on the outside. All I do anymore is think of ways to break my parole, so maybe they’d send me back. Terrible thing, to live in fear.” The birds symbolise the hope and freedom that Red has obtained from Andy by giving him a life outside of prison to thrive towards. Reds voiceover of him reading the letter from Andy says “Remember, Red. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

This voiceover from Red highlights the hope and freedom that Andy has given to Red. By Andy redeems Red by giving him money to be able to travel to meet up with him in Zihuatanejo it gives Red hope that he will be able to survive outside the prison walls of Shawshank.

BODY PARAGRAPH 2 ( LIGHTS ) - Another important film technique that was displayed when Red went to the oak tree in Buxton is the lighting techniques. When Red found the oak tree that Andy had described to him the lighting went bright and colourful which contrasts from the gloomy life he had in prison. For example, when Red sits down under the tree the sun gazes down upon him to show him hope for the future that Andy has given him.

The lighting technique of bright sunshine represents the new hope that Red has found for his future. The lighting techniques before Red found the tree was dark and gloomy to symbolise how he had no hope for his future in and outside of prison and the despair in his life as it was what he had grown to know.

BODY PARAGRAPH 3 ( HARMONICA ) - Finally, an important film technique that was displayed when Red went to the oak tree in Buxton is the sound of a harmonica. When Red found the oak tree that Andy had described to him the sound of a harmonica started playing in the background music as it expresses how Red has hope for his future now. In Red’s life before prison, he played the harmonica as an instrument but when he was evicted into prison he refused to play the harmonica because of the lack of hope he had of getting out of Shawshank. A dialogue from Red explaining why he doesn’t play the harmonica anymore is when he said to Andy ‘I played a mean harmonica as a younger man. Lost interest in it though. Didn’t make much sense in here.’.

This dialogue from Red highlights the lack of hope that Shawshank prison gives to the convicts. Andy tells Red that a prison is a place where hope is the most important because it helps you remember that ‘there are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside…that they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. That’s yours.’.

Andy in the real world represents God as Red finds salvation threw him. Andy redeems Red by giving him something to live for outside of prison as he doesn’t want him to end his life the same way brooks did. Andy doesn’t want Red to suffer like Brooks did which is exactly what Jesus felt towards his people.
In conclusion, the film “The Shawshank Redemption” directed by Frank Darabont deals with the main character known as Red. The important scene when Red fulfils his promise to Andy by going to Buxton that highlights the importance of hope by being expressed through the film techniques of birds, lighting, and harmonica.

Kia ora chanelwilliams552 and welcome to StudyIt!
It is clear from what you have written here that you have a thorough understanding of this particular moment and you have articulated some ideas about its importance.
You have started off each of your body paragraphs with a focus on a film technique. It is definitely important to consistently incorporate film techniques; using these as part of your evidence allows the focus to be on how you have answered the question.
To inject greater depth into your work, think about linking to the director’s purpose. This means thinking about what Darabont is trying to get the audience to consider and think about. This could be a commentary on society or human nature. In this case, you have discussed hope throughout so this might be where you pull your discussion back to.
The part just before your conclusion reads a bit as if it has been ‘tacked’ on. There is something quite interesting about that analysis and so it would be very beneficial to weave this in throughout your essay further.