The Shawshank Redemption for me is a story about life. If you haven’t watched this movie, this writing might be spoiling you.

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An Introduction

There are two main characters, Red (Morgan Freeman) and Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins). They both are life sentenced prisoner in Shawshank State Prison. Andy was known as a good banker, but then he was convicted of killing his own wife and also her lover. Andy’s wife cheated on him. Red, he call himself “the guy who can get it for you”. Red has spent 20 years in Shawshank, while Andy came in 1947 as new fish. New fish is what the prisoners call new guy in prison. In this movie, Red is also the main narrator.

Shawshank State Prison is a big prison. It looks like all prisoners there are life sentenced prisoners. Andy first came by a bus with other convicted peoples. They are welcomed badly by Mr. Norton, the Warden of the prison, and Mr. Hadley, the captain of the guards. All new fish got cleaned by the guards, and then walk naked to their own cell. And a new life as a prisoner has just begun for Andy. The first night was not easy, other prisoner keep “fishing” the newcomers. The newcomers got bullied, even just by word that must be hurt. The bullying only stop till one fish crying. Andy passed his first night so quiet, no sound at all.

In Shawshank, Andy is known as a quiet and a cold person. The first thing he requested to Red was a rock hammer, he needed it to shaping some rocks to make chess set.  That request surprised Red at first, because he afraid that Andy will use the hammer for violence. Bad luck for Andy, he was is liked by The Sisters, especially by a prisoner named Bogs. The Sisters is a group of some prisoner that liked to do some violence and sexual harrasment to any prisoner they liked.

Red narrated that the first two years must be hard for Andy. Andy has his routine in laundry and sometimes had to confront with The Sisters. Every so often, Andy showed up with fresh bruises he got from The Sisters. Prison life consists of routine, Red said.

Well, so does our life, I guess. Consist of routine, and more routine.

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Part 2: A Change