Preview

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1218 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption
The story of Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption starts in 1947 when Andy Dufresne arrives at Shawshank prison. Unlikely the other convicts Andy is not a hardened criminal. He is a soft-spoken banker convicted of killing his wife and her lover. Andy claims he is innocent. Soon after he arrives at the prison "The Sisters", a gang of prison rapists led by Bogs Diamond, turn their attentions to Andy.

The story is narrated by Red. He is "the guy who can get stuff." Red his well known for being able to get almost anything into Shawshank prison, and this is the reason that Andy approaches him. Andy has kept himself to himself, but one day approaches Red in the exercise yard. Andy used to enjoy rock-carving, and wishes to continue to do so inside the prison, now that he has plenty of time on his hands. He asks Red to get him a rock hammer. Red is a little suspicious at first, thinking this may be a lethal object (which it is). However he understands Andy's request a little more when the hammer arrives.

Andy used the hammer to shape himself rocks he finds in the exercise yard. He is aiming to complete an entire chess set. Andy and Red develop a very respectful friendship. After some time Andy comes into the movie theatre and asks Red to get him a poster of Rita Hayworth, who appears on the movie screen that Red is watching (This is the only reference to Rita Hayworth in the story). Red notices that Andy is uncharacteristically nervous and excited when asking for the poster.

The prison agrees to provide prisons to tar the roof of a building. Obviously prisoners are keen to leave the prison even if it means hard labor. Red, being the influential man he is, discretely arranges for the guards to ensure that Red and his pals get the work detail. Whilst on the roof Hadley, the chief of the guard, is telling the other guards how he has been left an inheritance by his wealthy brother. The other guards are enthusiastic for him, however Hadley complains about the tax he

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    One of the messages was that pressure was a key part in this novella, and immediately, Red showed us why.“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”(King 3). Red was the man who could get anything for anybody if the price is right. He had to do all of it though, under pressure. As he said, if he ever gets caught getting something for someone, there will be severe punishments. Red always took the risk and performed under pressure. Red’s character in the “real world” and his actions, really showed the message that prison erodes your brain over time. When he stated “I have to look constantly over at the window and reassure myself that there are no bars on it.” (King 106), it showed that prison shaped Red’s brain so differently that he could not go a day without realizing where he actually was. He always had to reassure himself that there were no bars on windows anymore, and that women are actually people too. This was a tough time for Red, but it really showed the aftereffects of prison. Red was the man that gave Andy his freedom. He may not have know this but if it was not for Red it is unlikely that Andy would have become a free man. This was shown when Red stated “It was about 5 months later that Andy asked if I could get him Rita Hayworth” and later in a conversation about it, Red informed Andy with,“ I can…

    • 1511 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    3. The more time that Andy spent at Shawshank, the more he learned about the cultural norms. There was no “handbook” for Andy to read when he entered Shawshank. He was forced to learn everything the hard way. At first, he kept to himself, and did not speak much to the other inmates. This came off to his peers as being conceited. As he started to break out of his shell, he instantly connected with Red, a fellow inmate. They shared stories back and…

    • 863 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    shawshank redemption

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Main character of this book are Lief, Barda My favorite character of this book would probably have to be Jasmine. She’s a girl who grew up in the woods by her self. Called the “Forest of Shadows” .She had to learn survival and mature fast. Who joins Lief and Barda on there mission when they come in the forest to locate one of Gems of Deltora. She’s like Katniss Everdeen from Hunger Games. But more savage and aggressive.…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During Andy’s imprisonment, he realizes that although he didn’t kill his wife, he “was still responsible” for her death. The tone of his voice as he says this shows acknowledgement of his crime, and through this he accepts Shawshank as his punishment. “I have payed the price” symbolizes that he has sacrificed something; this reinforces the strain and exhaustion of his journey in prison, but also symbolizes that he overcame the obstacles and challenges. This is shown by him “expanding the library” despite being told the “universal truth” that it was impossible in Shawshank. Nevertheless, he succeeded with his determination and proceeded to use it to better the lives of fellow inmates. This allowed him to feel important and redeemed, as shown by cheerful background music and the absence of thick shadows over Andy’s face in the library scenes.…

    • 772 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A well-bred young banker is sent to serve a life term in Shawshank prison in Maine after being unjustly convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover. Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) seems to be a pragmatic version of Cool Hand Luke. Whereas Luke's only agenda was to run away from the chain gang, endure punishment, then run away again, Andy apparently has only limited, relatively realistic goals: he wants to survive prison with a minimum of decency,…

    • 1111 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Interesting because he’s the hero of the film. Needless to say the heroes usually end up defending themselves. Although with Shawshank it’s like it has its own iconic brand as Andy is a solemn character. However, Tim Robbins plays it intensely. We can see the character development of Andy as he ages from being a newbie to father figure during the story, with Red who brings introverted Andy out of his shell. The last act, where Andy helps Red accept his freedom, is very moving - all the more so because Andy is operating at a distance with postcards and letters which is seen through Red's mind.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first instance of Andy Dufresne remaining hopeful in the novella would be when he decided to partake in odd jobs to keep his mind sane throughout his sentence. One project after the other. Andy constantly thought of ways to occupy himself. Every step Andy made was towards freedom and no one was ever suspicious of that, in fact that never crossed anyone’s mind. One of Andy’s first projects of Shawshank Penitentiary would be him and a few other inmates tarring the roof. Andy displayed bravery, hopefulness, and that he is very well educated when he is about to be thrown from the roof by butting into the conversation of the guards. It is then that Andy Dufresne talks his way off the edge of the roof and the guards realize that Andy could actually be useful around Shawshank.…

    • 570 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Being a prisoner in the early to mid-1900s would not be considered an enjoyable time. Prisoners were allowed to be beaten and killed by guards, thus keeping them in check. Inmates can be sent to “the hole” for a month or more while others can actually see the light of day. It is not an easy task to be a prisoner, especially if one lives in fear of being beaten or raped each day. The fear just described is the fear Andy Dufresne, a man who has been convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, lived with through the beginning of his sentence before becoming friends with Red and some of the guards. The film The Shawshank Redemption and the novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” portray the effects of prison life including the rising and the falling of certain prisoners, along with the friendships and connections made. Along with the film and the novella, “Paul’s Case” by Willa Cather and “Allegory of the Cave” by Plato share similarities with King’s novella.…

    • 1426 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In SSR Andy Dufrense is thrown into Shawshank Prison as an entirely innocent man. Before Andy was convicted he was living his life as a successful banker and Edmond Dantes in Countn of Monte Cristo was thriving as a sailor. The transition from the good life to the life of a prisoner was clearly overwhelming for both Edward Dantes and Andy Dufrense. The men were content with their lives and doing well in their occupation’s. The weight and pain that came along with the thoughts of their lives…

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Andy Dufresne was convicted for murdering his wife and her lover and was sentenced to two life sentences in Shawshank in 1947, even though he was innocent, he kept a positive attitude from the time he arrived to the time he escaped in 1975, hoping to get parole or the police will find…

    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Darabont and Kesey use messianic imagery to display conflicts between hope and oppression. Darabont portrays Andy as a humble Christ figure who “…had a quiet way about him,” and strolled like he had “an invisible coat that would shield him from this place [Shawshank prison]” suggesting the same modest traits of Jesus. Darabont uses this religious allusion to foreshadow that hope will prevail; Andy’s hope never fades, “…there is something inside that they can’t get to…Hope.” Darabont used a birds-eye-view shot to place the audience in a God-like position when Andy escaped; with his hands outstretched as if to say, ‘thank you God,’ emphasising his hope for success and being ‘reborn’, like Jesus, into freedom. In contrast to Darabont, Kesey uses messianic imagery to convey oppression prevailing. McMurphy states that he is “not a saint or a martyr.” Unlike Darabont’s portrayal of Andy as a sombre and modest Christ figure, Kesey portrays McMurphy as loud and confident but puts on a façade for the sake of others, asking “Do I get a crown of thorns?” when faced with electro-shock therapy and insisting “that it wasn’t hurting him,” telling the others that “all they was doin’ was chargin’ his battery for him.” Kesey portrays him as ‘self-sacrificial’,…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    I tortured this poor kid because I wanted him to think that I was cool…” Since Andy is so resentful of his father, he was driven to hurt someone else. Also, Andy…

    • 873 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Andy is the town sheriff, small towns were known for these figures, they were mostly reputable individuals and role models, it tells you a lot of how times have change compare to what they are today, in my opinion the police force possesses some of the most animosity amongst those basic services in our society. Andy is also the father of Opie. The town of Mayberry never encounters many criminals, crime seems to be almost nonexistent, but the people often have life lessons to overcome and Andy is always there to help, his character is portrait as someone altruistic at times. Andy usually helps the townspeople indirectly. He tries to assist the citizens of his town without their knowing that he is helping them.…

    • 915 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Red, Andy DeFrense's close friend at Shawshank, at first looked forward to his parole hearings. Hoping the highest hope to fool those "damn parole board bastards" (a tone similar to that reflecting the opinion of all inmates) or maybe convince them that for one reason or another he deserved to go free. But it was only after multiple times getting his hopes up, getting fixed up and acting timid, soft and harmless as a sheep and kind as a saint, he gave up…

    • 773 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Shawshank Redemption” the year is 1947 and Andy Dufresne is ordered to serve two life sentences in Shawshank Prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. Inside, Andy is subjected to violent attacks from brutal guards and fellow inmates. Slowly, he begins to make friends ,one of the most most important friendship is the one he forms with 'Red', who has also been convicted of murder and is Shawshank's resident black-market dealer. During his time in prison, Andy's previous experience as a banker earns him favour with the guards and especially the warden ,as he begins to manage their financial affairs, soon moving on to laundering money for them. In return, Andy is permitted special privileges , which includes working in the warden's office and being able to establisha prison library for the inmates. Eventually Andy's innocence is proven. However, by this time, Andy is nowhere to be found and the warden and Shawshank are left sinking in a sea of scandal.…

    • 1343 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays