1、A Brief Analysis on Hope and Redemption in the Film The Shawshank RedemptionByA thesissubmitted to the Foreign Language and Literature Department of in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree ofBACHELOR OF ARTSinENGLISH LANGUAGEMay, 2012A Brief Analysis on Hope and Redemption in the Fi
2、lm The Shawshank RedemptionAbstract: This paper intends to analyze the hope and redemption in the film The Shawshank Redemption. Through three main characters feeling about the prison and free, we can know their faith and different hope thoroughly. Hope and redemption is couple of opposite words. Ho
3、pe in the film is the theme. People can not abandon the hope, and we should strive for it for all our lives. Hope like a lighthouse to light up the path ahead for everyone. Everyone will make mistake, so we should be required introspection and self-analysis. Self-analysis is a requisite procedure to
4、 deal with some important things. We can find out the approach to solve the problem. This paper also remains the relationship between the hope and redemption. And according to the background of the movie, we can understand the social problem in that period. In a summary, this movie is a mirror of th
5、e black part of the society, in which there are oppression and abnormal treatment, but with hope, people can be free successfully, and also can achieve the redemption. Key words: The Shawshank Redemption; hope; redemption; self-analysis; faith; friendship.浅析电影肖申克的救赎中的希望与救赎【内容提要】这篇论文旨在分析电影肖申克的救赎中的希望与
6、救赎。通过对电影中三个具体人物的分析并简述他们在肖申克监狱中及出狱后的不同感受及心理变化，更好的了解了三人对待自由的不同理解。希望与救赎本是一对立义，希望是电影的主旨思想，只有坚守希望及自己的信念，不放弃梦想，才能最终走向成功。电影中，还有一更能令人思考的话题，便是救赎。无人能无错过完一生， 过错伴随着人的一生，怎样面对，怎样反省才更为重要。时时反省自己，就是对错误的救赎。不断的在错误中反省，更能清楚问题的所在，对事物的看法也就更清晰分明。文章更提出救赎与希望的互补关系，两者是相辅相成。通过对电影本身这面镜子，能够更清楚的看清当时社会的各种黑暗面，但是更让人们看到了想所带来的力量，它既能成全自
7、由，又能完成自我救赎。不要放弃希望与信仰，便离成功不远。【关键词】肖申克的救赎；希望；救赎；自我反省；信仰；CONTENTSI Introduction.1II A Brief Analysis on The Shawshank Redemption .12.1 The Social Background of the Movie.22.2 The Main Characters in the Movie.2III The Best Explanation of Hope .33.1 Hope can Set You Free.33.2 Hope is A Good Thing .43.3 T
8、ake A Firm Conviction .4IV The Best Interpretation of Redemption .54.1 The Original Meaning of Redemption .54.2 Andys Redemption in the Shawshank .5V The Complementary Relationship Between Hope and Redemption6VI Hope and Redemption in Reality Life.66.1 Hope on Peoples Practical Significance .76.2 Se
9、lf Redemption in Modern Society. .7VII Conclusion .7References.9Acknowledgements .101A Brief Analysis on Hope and Redemption in the Film The Shawshank RedemptionI IntroductionThe shawshank redemption is an American film written and directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan freem
10、an. And this film was adapted from the Stephen king novella Rita Hayworth and shawshank redemption. Many people hold on the view that this film was about the hope, the friendship and the faith, they think that it is an allegory for maintaining ones feeling of self-worth when placed in a hopeless sit
11、uation, but there also have a very important argument, that is the redemption. Redemption is a significant part in the film; it can be the complementary of another part hope. Every one may watch this movie, the story may be simple, but the truth behind the words is profound. The majority of people a
12、re in favor of the opinion that Andy Dufresne is a brave and wise man, and he raises the hopes or spirits of the person in the prison. I just remember the very impressive words, “Fear can hold you prisoner, and hope can set you free. A strong man can save himself; a great man can save another.” (Kin
13、g, 1983:118). This sentence says that if we conquered our fears and then we will get the final hope and free. Freedom in prison is a precious gift for those prisoners, and we should understand this freedom means their inner resources, the guilty man should save themselves and they should be repentan
14、t of things they did. So hope and redemption are much more important for characters in the shawshank prison, and also for every person. Auto-criticism is a foundation of hope. People cannot do without hope. A firm belief can prop up the hope, and then it can only take you so far. This article is mai
15、nly talk about the hope and redemption in the film The shawshank redemption, and hope and salvation in our modern society. (Rogers, 2010:131)II A Brief Analysis on The Shawshank RedemptionThe Shawshank Redemption was a film acted by Tim Robbins and Morgan freeman. Tim Robbins stars as Andy Dufresne
16、and Morgan freeman as Ellis Boyd 2red Redding. Andys experience in prison and the rare friendship with Red is main clue; his self-security and what he did in prison also give rise to the attention. All these things are just signs, the internal factors are intricate. For instance, the society and the
17、 institution of law at that time and so on. Social background is the foremost section. And different people have different character. So it also plays an important role in the film. 2.1 The Social Background of the MovieThis story mainly talked about that the smart banker Andy Dufresne, who is false
18、ly accused and convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover. Andy was sent to shawshank prison in 1940, he met many fellows in the prison, also including Red, his important friend. In prison, he did many things and his persistence cheers others up. How about the life in prison? “First you hate
19、them, then you get used to, enough time passesyou get so you depend on them. This is institutionalized.”(King, 1983:126) Red said. Institutionalized is terrible for every person. And Prison life consists of routine, and then more routine. When people adapted to the environment, they will be stereoty
20、ped. Even they left prison, they cannot adapt to the new life, and it is so lamentable. So society has a great influence on people. The story took place in an age without belief. The society never are lacking of the degeneration and corruption. (Studs, 1980:217) Although we are in a bad circumstance
21、, we also should hold on and take action optimistic.2.2 The Main Characters in the MovieI am impressed by the three men; they are Andy, Red and Brooks. Andy is the soul in the movie. He is an optimistic, tolerant and rational man. Although he was put in to prison undeserved, he never gave up, and tr
22、ied his best to escape from the prison, just like his friend Red said that he had a quiet way about him, he just like a man in the park without a care or a worry in the world. From a banker to a prisoner, what makes him so calm and carefree? I think it is an attitude toward life, though this role, t
23、he movie convey the hope. Other prisoners can get the hope and the inner redemption from Andy. He used his knowledge to help others, to get the beers from the jailer; he played the music back to everyone: he rebuilt the library and so on. These things 3indicated that he never abandon his hope, he wa
24、nt to free. This image is a redeemer for the inmates and for himself. The second man is Red. The Irish man in the movie, but in progenitor original work, he is an Irish American. With the change of thought, Red got free finally. To some extent, it own into Andy. Andys thought exerted an influence on
25、 Red. So his attitude toward parole rejection has changed and approved finally. Red said to Andy that hope is a dangerous thing; hope can drive a man insane. But he said that there are places in the world that arent made out of stone; there is something inside that they can get to that they cannot t
26、ouch. (Chen, 2010:97)It is yours, which is hope. These words cheer him up. And then he did not like Brooks, another man in the prison. Brooks is an old man who lived in shawshank several decades. And he was institutionalized by the prison. After he left the prison, he also could not live. It was a t
27、ragedy. If someone has hope he will free. Hope maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.IIIThe Best Explanation of HopeWhat is hope? Why we should have or manifest hope? Hope is the emotional state, the opposite of which is despair, which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related
28、 to events and circumstances in ones life. It is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. This is a general definition in the dictionary. And what is your hope? Different people have different hope. In a word, hope is always good. In the film, Andys hope
29、is free, so he chose self-redeem. He wanted to go to Zihuatanejo, is a little place on the Pacific Ocean. There has no memory. It is a warm place with no memory, a beautiful hope. Hope can set you free. (Wang, 2006:195)Everyone wants to free. The hope can be flowers in our dreams.3.1 Hope can Set Yo
30、u FreeFear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free. No one can get the entire their ideal freedom. But if we have hope, we will have the courage to live. People should grasp at hopes. In the shawshank, prisoners did not have the hope, they are living without aims. But Andy brought the sunshine
31、to them. They know what the real life is. Like Red, he picked up the little hope, and then he saw the hope: a promise. Hope let 4Andy and Red free. Our bodies can be fettered by the prison, and maybe our mind can be shackled by the institutionalized things. But only we should not gave up the hope. L
32、ife will become colorlessness, without hope. When the music Canzonetta sullaria rang out in the playground, the music like a bright sunshine to penetrate peoples heart. No one can understand the meaning of the music, but every prisoner in the shawshank felt the freedom at that time.3.2 Hope is A Goo
33、d ThingHope is a good thing. If you have a dream, you will have hope. No matter what circumstances we have, we also should hold on the dreams. We must believe in ourselves. But there is also have an exception. It is Brooks. He was qualified to leave prison, but he was in prison so long, so he did no
34、t adapt to the outside world. In the prison, he is an acquainted and knowledgeable person, but he will be nothing outside. Why they evaded the freedom? Because that they are afraid of aloneness. They get used to this life style several years, so depending on this rules, they can get out of safety. T
35、his is the social problem. When you have lost touch with reality, you will feel upset very much. So brooks chose commit suicide to end life. For him, hope has no meaning, and the institutionalized is a common phenomenon. So we should confirm our faith.3.3 Take A Firm ConvictionFaith is an important
36、thing in our life. Every one has the faith. We live in the world depend on our faith. In the film The Shawshank Redemption, Andys faith is his hope that is free. Taking a firm conviction is to save him in the dark prison. The phenomenon of degeneration and corruption is more serious than other ages.
37、 In order to fulfill their greediness, the jailers used their authorities unlawfully. So keeping your heart calm and pure is so difficult for every person. Faith is confidence or trust in a person or entity. Depending on the religion, faith is belief in a single god. Informal usage of faith can be q
38、uite board, and the faith is often used as a substitute for “hope”, “trust” or “belief”. (Zhen, 2007:93) IV The Best Interpretation of Redemption5Redemption in this movie has the new meaning. There is no doubt that anyone who is born will definitely die. The only difference is to get busy living or
39、get busy dying. Everyone has the life once only. As long as they can keep on their faith and hope, and make their life wonderful, that is enough for every person. Andys experience reflect the truth. Everyone makes mistake, and then they should auto criticism. Self-examination is a good way to improv
40、e ourselves. Self-examination just like self-redeem. So we should do the self-redeem moment. Someone think that redemption is opposite to hope, but in my opinion, they are unified each other. 4.1 The Original Meaning of RedemptionThe word redemption was originated from The Bible. In the bible, “Zion
41、 shall be redeemed with judgment and her converts with righteousness.”(Chen, 2009:76) “Redeem” is the basic doctrine of the Christianity. It refers to that if human beings always have the awe and faith, they will be saved by God from our sin. The Christianity thought that people is guilty when they
42、were born. Human beings should confess in the reality life, and confirm the faith and finally they will get the redemption from God. The Christianity also is a life style. It is the reflection of values, ethics, and cultures, influencing the life of American. With development of industrialized socie
43、ty, people raise many questions about the capitalism and human nature and so on. In this dark world, people have to find their ways. So how to find it and where the way is the thing people concerned. Through this story, we can find the answer. What is redemption in the story? It refers to respect an
44、d faith. What will be redeemed? It is the freedom and hope. Redeem is a war. It is fight for hope and respect.4.2 Andys Redemption in the ShawshankAndys redemption can be classified two parts. The first part is self-redemption. The first night in the prison is difficult to spend. When the jailer put
45、 you into the prison, and the iron bar was locked, you can feel it deeply. Your previous life will pass by, and nothing will be left. In the film, they said that many greenheads will cry at the first night, but Andy did not cry. Because he thought that did not belong here, it is judges fault. This belief supported him to move. Andy started his life in the prison. 6Although he was in prison, but his soul is free. All his efforts signified his faith. Afterwards, Andy got a dozen of beers for his work. When he drunk the beers with his friends, he smiled. We knew he was always free. Just like
