The Shawshank Redemption (1994) is the best movie ever made according to the IMDb top 100. The movie scores a 9.3 overall, with a staggering 2.9 million reviews. Of course, this can be easily explained by the noteworthy acting, the distinguished cinematography, the profound original score and the iconic narration by Morgan Freeman. The movie received seven Oscar nominations, which further adds to the evidence on its popularity.
However, when we read some of the reviews, it’s not the acting or the soundtrack that fans admire most. It’s the story and its powerful message, often mentioned as being eternal and unforgettable. What is it in the story that makes it so awe-inspiring? Why is specifically this movie number one, and not another that actually won an Oscar? How can we explain why its admirers call it “a masterpiece” or “their favorite movie of all time”?
Stories and characters
Some stories have a way of captivating us. The best stories provide utility, in a very meaningful sense. They can show us how to live a purposeful life or avoid a disastrous one, or they align the efforts of various individuals towards creating something better. Stories also introduce us to various characters. Some of these characters we identify with more than others. It’s often the case that the most evocative characters do not make sense on a conscious level, but seem more primordial in nature. Just think about Vito Corleone, Katniss Everdeen, the Joker or Gollum. However strange and unusual these personalities might be (do we ever see an insane man with pink hair and paint on his face, or a little naked crawling creature with feet twice the size of anything you can get at Sketchers?), they make sense on a very intuitive level.
Stories themselves can be primordial as well. We see that these so-called archetypal stories follow very universal patterns, but these patterns are often not directly noticeable. They tap into our shared human experiences, reflecting common themes of struggle, triumph, journey, and transformation that resonate on a deep, almost instinctual level. The famous “Hero’s Journey” archetype, for example, can be seen in a multitude of stories from ancient myths to modern blockbusters, where a hero embarks on an adventure, faces and overcomes trials, and returns irrevocably changed. The Lord of the Rings follows this pattern, with Frodo Baggins leaving the Shire and facing the perils of Middle Earth. These stories, while diverse in setting and characters, strike a chord because they mirror the trials and transformations we all face.
A life blown away in the blink of an eye; the hero of the story
The Shawshank Redemption happens to be such an archetypal story. We meet a particularly interesting figure called Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins). Andy is a banker and fate does not seem to be on his side. Albeit a competent and hardworking man, the love of his life cheats on him and he is prosecuted for murdering her and her lover. In the courtroom, Andy’s impassioned remark, “I’ll see you in hell before I see you in Reno,” coupled with his untimely visit to his wife’s lover’s home casts him as the undeniable architect of the crime in the eyes of an incredulous judge and jury, despite his truthful declaration of innocence. The judge sentences Andy to two life sentences, one for each of his victims. The situation that Andy finds himself in would give many enough reason to give up.
The prison where Andy finds himself in is led by two strict individuals, the warden, Mr. Norton, and his puppet, captain of the guards Byron Hadley. They favor discipline of the unjust sort. During Andy’s first night in prison, Hadley violently kills a distinctly innocent, awkward and defenseless prisoner. We never learn the true characteristics of this inmate, but in a way, he quite resembles the Sam’s from The Lord of The Rings and Game of Thrones, or Neville from the Harry Potter series. These are all characters that initially appear to lack intelligence, grace, and skill, and seem somewhat clumsy and unimportant. In all these stories however, we later learn that they embody a profound strength and resilience that, in many ways, surpasses that of their more traditionally heroic counterparts. True strength often resides in the steadfast and loyal heart and unwavering courage to stand up for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The killing of this new prisoner, therefore, sets the tone for Shawshank as quite the tyrannical and corrupt place.
What does Andy do in this both literal and figurative prison? How does he carry himself, knowing that the place is so deeply evil? Despite all the tragedy that caused his two life sentences and the tragedy that happens to him in the prison, he acts nobly. He possesses a sincerity unmatched by others in the prison, which is quite unexpected given that he’s now confined within its walls. Characters that face significant adversity in life (Harry Potter and Bruce Wayne both lose their parents as a child) are often the hero in a story. Heroes provide a framework that is deeply meaningful, serving as a model on how to live. From young children dressing up as their favorite superhero to masses of adults flocking to theaters to see the latest Marvel film, heroes inspire us to become our best.
Heroes are often very proficient at contending with evil, despite (or because of) the adversity they have faced. Andy too knows how to deal with the injustice inside the walls, even how to confront and negotiate with it. He daringly interacts with Captain Hadley, offering financial advice in exchange for beers for his fellow inmates. He leverages his talents and skills for the betterment of the rest, not afraid of the retaliation of the prison authorities. After sending hundreds of letters, Andy also succeeds in securing funding for books and educational materials. He plays Mozart over the prison’s PA system, offering a glimpse of freedom and beauty to every inmate within earshot. The music elevates the souls of those confined within Shawshank, reminding them of the world beyond the prison walls. These profound acts of defiance against the dehumanizing regime of the prison provide hope to each and every inmate.
Despite his adroitness, there are moments where Andy fails to break the strict rules in Shawshank astutely, and he is punished for this. He is put in isolation, away from the rest, but his unquenchable spirit keeps him sane. He tells us that we shouldn’t “forget that there are places in the world that aren’t made out of stone, that there’s a… there’s something inside that they can’t get to and they… they can’t touch. It’s yours.” It’s along the lines of Auschwitz survivor Viktor Frankl, who has said that “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Andy finds that Mozart’s music is the perfect gateway to that human freedom, as he had it in is head the whole time in isolation. Even if you are locked up, deprived of every freedom you once had, there is one that nobody can take from you.
How does the hero influence us?
Andy’s nobility and quiet strength draw the attention of fellow inmate Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), a man institutionalized within the walls of Shawshank. Red serves as the narrator of the movie. Having this role, we experience the story as a reflection of his own transformation. We identify with him, probably more than with Andy. Red understands the way of life in prison and knows the other inmates well. He has set up a small business, smuggling and trading cigarettes and all other kinds of stuff. Red tells us, “There must be a con like me in every prison in America. I’m the guy who can get it for you.” He is modest, but very capable and accomplished within the prison.
Contrary to Andy, Red has given up hope of ever leaving the prison. He is almost scared of hope, calling it “a dangerous thing” and saying that “Hope can drive a man insane“. Before the parole committee, he has alleged innumerous times that he is changed and rehabilitated, but they keep rejecting his plea. He doesn’t believe in freedom anymore, and that shines through his pre-scripted and insincere appeal. He has covered up his past, not talking about it and failing to recognize its redemptive powers. Red has given up responsibility, complacently accepting his fate, and fearful for confronting that which he has carefully tuck away. It’s a way of living that we can easily fall prey to, even outside a prison.
Andy’s profound hope leads him to escape the prison. We learn that he tunneled through the wall with his rock hammer in a way that would even make James Clear, the writer of Atomic Habits, jealous. Day in day out, he carved out a little bit of the wall, until he reached the end and managed to escape. Red thought “it would take a man 600 years to tunnel through the wall with it.” Andy, however, did it in less than 20.
Andy’s eventual redemption changes Red. Where he initially called hope dangerous, he begins to believe in freedom. Before his third parole hearing, Red now knows that the rehearsed nonsense he once offered is futile. He embraces responsibility for his actions and honestly acknowledges his past mistakes. His remorse is sincere and he aspires to contribute to something greater. He has gained self-respect, acknowledging his imperfections, and extends that respect to others. He has found this internal freedom, the one nobody can touch, whether he is inside or outside the prison walls. The parole board, recognizing the authenticity and transformation in his every word, sees the truth of his change and lets him free.
Get busy living or get busy dying
Before his masterfully executed escape, Andy leaves us with a simple choice: Get busy living or get busy dying. It’s the eternal question of human existence. It’s the choice between good and evil, between a meaningful life and a complacent one.
The Shawshank Redemption, shows us a way to navigate this choice. Andy, like all his fellow heroes, provides a model for aligning ourselves with the virtuous path of this core principle. He uses his talents for the betterment of the prison by defying the rules ever so astutely, he perseveres by writing one letter a week for six years on end to get the library up and running, he keeps calm, grateful and loving of music, all that while being imprisoned innocently. He calls hope a good thing. He shows us the meaning of life, “the last of the human freedoms”, in a place where that is hardest (or easiest?) to find.
That is the power of stories. Luckily, we do not need to become Andy when we choose to get busy living. You don’t have to be wrongfully convicted before you can choose to be free. Red just made a simple choice and that made all the difference.
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