Shawshank Redemption Themes: Hope

Why is hope important in the film?

Fear can hold you prisoner; hope can set you free. Hope is something which is denied to the prisoners. They are given no glimpse of a future life beyond the prison and any fleeting moments are taken away.

Which relationship illustrates the theme of hope?

Andy and Red help to show the theme of hope. Andy lives by the quote 'Get busy living or get busy dying'. This keeps Andy sane through all his experiences (eg. The sisters) and keeps Red alive in the outside world. Andy never gives up on life and hangs on to the hope that one day he will walk free. Red appears to consider committing suicide but realises that there is still hope for him.

How do birds symbolise hope in the film?

Birds are used as a symbol of hope. Birds symbolise freedom which is what most prisoners hope for. When Andy escapes he is referred to by Red as a bird which was not meant to be caged, and when Jake the bird was released it mirrored Brooks' release to freedom.

How does music symbolise hope in the film?

Music also gave Andy hope and he used it to bring a brief moment of hope to the other prisoners eg. When he plays music over the prison speakers, and Red said the voices 'soared like birds' and brought freedom to the hearts of the prisoners; and when Andy gave Red the harmonica.

How is setting used to illustrate the theme of hope?

The beach scene at the end of the film when Andy and Red are reunited shows the success of Andy's hope and how his dreams came true because he never gave up hope, and gives a feeling that they will live happily. Aerial shot and panning are used to show hope in this scene.

Events showing hope in the film

Andy escapes from Shawshank. Digging the tunnel to freedom took a lot of persistence, which shows that he never gave up hope. His escape also gave other prisoners hope that they could survive on the outside and not end up killing themselves like Brooks. The library built by Andy and friends gave many people hope. It helped many get their qualifications which gave them hope for life in the outside world. Andy gives Red a harmonica to give him hope and keep him positive. Andy also reinstates hope in Tommy by sending his qualifications away.

Voice-over showing how Andy has brought hope and a sense of freedom to all of the inmates.

'I tell you those voices soared. Higher and further then anybody in a grey place dares to dream. And for the briefest of moments, every last man at Shawshank felt free."

A quote from Andy about the importance of hope

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies."

A quote from Red showing that he doesn't believe in hope.

"Let me tell you something, my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. It's got no use on the inside. Better get used to that idea."

A quote from Red showing that Andy has helped him have hope.

"I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." uses anaphora (a type of repetition)

Beyond the text quote on hope from Desmond Tutu

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." Desmond Tutu

Golden lighting is used to show hope in the rooftop scene along with this voice-over quote ...

"We sat and drank under the sun on our shoulders and felt like free men. We were the lords of all creation."

Mise-en-scene showing hope

As they break through the wall to create the library, a stream of light comes through like the sun breaking through the clouds. The library is always well-lit and is dominated by relaxed looking prisoners rather than guards. It is a place where music can be enjoyed and prisoners can have hope of a higher education.