Differences in the movie and book of Shawshank Redemption

The novella Shawshank Redemption and Rita Hayworth by Stephen King is the basis of the 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont. This moving and inspirational film follows the book very closely in relation to the characters and plot, however does include some very significant changes. These range from the atmosphere in which the characters must live, to furthering your understanding of Andy’s goals and desires, and to examine the idea of redemption. The ways in which this is achieved are very effective and do not detract from the original sentiments or feelings that you get from the book but strengthen the film to make it as powerful a piece that it is.

The cruel reality of prison is established straight away by the use of additional scenes and the altering of events that occur. When Andy first comes to Shawshank Prison one of the felons that was brought in at the same time as Andy is reduced to tears on his first evening sleeping in the jail. Due to his insisting that he “doesn’t belong [t]here” Captain Hadley beats him so badly that the prisoner dies later that night from the sustained injuries. This is a major difference from the book and a very significant one. This introductory scene esta

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This says a lot about Andy’s character as he is one willing to risk punishment to himself to give others a sample of what he dreams of, freedom. 48) and this shows that since Andy cannot yet reach freedom he finds other ways to bring freedom to him.

A large portion of the changes that are made are done to help you better understand the character of Andy by showing what his dreams are and how he obtains them. For Andy this is redemption because those that were cruel and unjust get their comeuppance. Since he is truly innocent Andy has always held on to this image of freedom which is an important mentality that he has where he never gives up on what he wants to achieve. By adding in new scenes you can examine Andy’s feelings of how he deserves to get his redemption. He has Tommy murdered by one of the guards who shoots him from a watch tower. When warden Norton is looking for a way to silence Tommy Williams to ensure that Andy remains where he is he, Norton chooses the most despicable thing to do. Red also says that “we felt like free men. When he receives a shipment that contains some old records for his library, he riskily locks the guard in the bathroom and locks himself in the warden’s room and begins to play an opera song over the prison’s PA system. For this act of malice Andy steals the files that prove Norton and Hadley are guilty in money laundering and corruption, and mails them to the authorities, thus Norton and Hadley are caught and are to be taken to jail. The introduction of music into the film also relates to Andy’s desire for freedom thus portraying another instance of how Andy acquires his dreams . The rough conditions of jail life are made very clear by the excessive violence added to the film, yet Andy Dufresne is always grasping on to hope, and this hope becomes very real for him once he begins to dig through his wall as he now has a visible chance of freedom. blishes the harsh life in prison, which Andy is going to have to deal with for a long time. In the novella different tacts are employed to give a sense of gloom and depression such as the consistent pursuits of the sisters, and although these parts are still included in the film the addition of extra scenes or alteration of them, contributes in portraying the horrific life of prisoners.

Approximate Word count = 1123
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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