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Sociological View of Shawshank Redemption

When a book industry addresses sociological concerns, it sometimes presents an incomplete and unfamiliar image. This is not to say that these industries, which deal with sociology, always misinterpret substantive matters, however, many do not present all the issues. In particular, books that deal with prisons often disregard the human factor housed within. To a certain extent, they may ignore specific factors because some would be uninterested in a book that offers the premise that convicts who spend their lives in prison loose their humanity and hope. The Shawshank Redemption is the exception. The story portrays a prison as an institution which does nothing more than store individuals. Similarly, several sociological themes are addressed in the book, such as, rehabilitation and reintegration. This work briefly analyzes the book, while focusing specifically on the substantive aspects in terms of sociology.

The Shawshank Redemption opens in 1947, as banker Andy Durfresne is being wrongly convicted and punished with a double life sentence for the murder of his wife and her lover. He is incarcerated in Maine’s Shawshank prison facility where his distant and slightly superior manner prevents good relations with the guards

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As a smart man, he is constantly working towards his ultimate goal of getting out of prison one way or another. It is no coincidence that his maladjustment to life on the “outside” is part of a larger problem than just missing old friends. His methods win him many friends and admirers in prison, but it is the friendship of “Red” that he values most. Education, job training and therapy programs are just a few plans that facilitate convicts to ready themselves for the possibility of discharge. First, an old convict, named Brooks, has been paroled after a half of a century of imprisonment and looses control.

The definition for “reintegration” is “to restore to a condition of integration or unity,” in other words, to unite with something else.

In addition to neglecting reintegration, The Shawshank Redemption also reveals the unrestricted, discretionary power of the parole board.

In many scenarios, books sometime present unfinished and unusual sociological concerns that fail to bestow each issue. It provides ample material that agrees with and confirms with similar topics discussed in Social Deviance 202.

There is a one major difference between Red and Brooks. Just one of the many unfortunate victims of institutionalization, Brooks committed suicide, for his pain and fear were unbearable. ” Although rehabilitation programs were not an option to Andy, treatment is a method that aids prisoners to restore the hope and desire needed to reenter society. It also demonstrates an indeterminate sentencing scheme without any clear goals related to the prisoner that exhibits nothing more than an abuse of power.

Because The Shawshank Redemption is a prison story-taking place between 1940 and 1970, parole for inmates was highly unlikely, especially for those charged with ruthless acts of deviance.

Approximate Word count = 1353
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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