Bearla: The Shawshank Redemption

Andy “might’a been important on the outside, but in here he was just a little turd in prison grays”

What a person was before they were convicted doesn’t matter, because inside the prison there’s a different social structure.

“It’s your world, boss”

Bogs and his gang realise that although they are vicious, the guards are still top of the pecking order.

“You eat when we say you eat!” — Hadley

Power is everything to the toxic masculinity of the men in the film.

Andy “looked like a stiff breeze would blow him over”

Red, thoughtful though he is, didn’t think much of Andy at first because he looked weak.

“girly fetishes”

Referring to decorations for Andy’s walls — objectifying women.

“bull queers” “honey, hush”

Bogs and his gang of rapists act in a weird perversion of love and desire, because even though they are not homosexuals, they let their lust and desire get the better of them.

“a hot-blooded crime of passion”

If Andy had killed his wife in this way, it may have been understood — twisted view of relationships.

“Mr Hadley, do you trust your wife?”

Hadley’s outrage at this shows how his marriage is rooted in his ability to control his wife.

“Discipline and the Bible”

Hypocritical religiousness: Norton doesn’t tolerate blasphemy, but does tolerate unnecessary violence.

“He took the Lord’s name in vain! I’m tellin’ the warden!”

Everyone in the prison knows Norton’s warped morals.

“His judgement cometh and that right soon.”

Ironic stiches on the needlepoint concealing Norton’s money-laundering safe.

“Dear Warden, you were right. Salvation lay within.”

Written inside Andy’s Bible, used to trick the warden, causing his downfall.

“Goddamn kids pesterin’ you to take ‘em for a ride all the time”

Hadley resents his kids and resents his brother for leaving him money he might use to buy a car.

“His child growing up not knowing her daddy”

Red thinks this is what drives Tommy to break free of the crime cycle.

Red says that Andy “really liked the kid” (Tommy)

Found family dynamics between Andy and Tommy in Shawshank Prison.