Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption

Plot
The plot of this story was absolutely perfect to parallel with Andy's character. The way the plot was advanced was sort of in a way that the events were just stated and explained. Red narrated the story by talking about one element, then building off of that element to explain a different one. For example, Red mentioned escape attempts and jailbreaks (pg 80), then went into how Andy escaped from Shawshank. The plot also plays off the passing of time. The way Red told the story seemed to have no limits. He went on whatever tangent he wanted to but it always correlated with the plot. He seemed to have no care about time because in prison, no one really cares about time. Andy worked on the hole for twenty-seven years before he made his escape. The plot was created over Andy's twenty-seven plus years at Shawshank and it is reflected in how the plot is shaped.

Point of View
Because of the story starting out with Red stating a few facts about his life, I thought this story was going to be about his life in prison and his redemption. But as the story progresses, I realized that Red is the narrator who relates Andy's story and his revenge to Shawshank. By Red telling Andy's story, readers are able to get a different take on the story and the situation. If Andy was to tell his own story, I think the readers would have lost important elements that made the story so moving. For example, if Andy explained his events, I don't think he would have mentioned his coy, little smile he always had on his face (pg 84). Without this smile, readers would lose a part of Andy's character, his almost always cool attitude he kept with him and which no one could break.

Characterization
Since Red is the narrator, he does a lot of direct characterization about Andy and some of the other characters. For example, "despite the problems [Andy] was having, he was going on with his life" (pg 31). Red was the relater of information about the characters to the readers. As explained under Point of View, I think if Andy was the narrator, readers would lose important parts of his character. Also, if there was an omnipresent narrator, the characterization of the characters would not be as deep. Red is telling this story was a witness to the situation and as a friend as Andy's. He had first-person details and personal contact with Andy and what he was really like.

Setting
Eighty-five percent of this story takes place in the Shawshank Prison. The other fifteen percent is split between Andy's trial at the beginning of the story and Red's parole at the end. Since the setting is mostly at The Shank, readers become familiar with prison life and how it works. Readers are able to have a personal connection with Andy, Red, and other prisoners by understanding what they are going through, like trying to escape (pg 80) or spending Sunday's in the exercise yard (pg 28). The setting contributes to some of the characters' actions and the feeling of being "institutionalized" (pg 79). The prisoners become accustomed to being locked up and eventually feel scared to go on parole or live outside the walls of the prison.

Theme
Although there were a few themes, like perseverance and imprisonment, I am going to focus on one that seems the most important to me. It is the power of hope. Throughout the whole story, Red talks about "an inner light that Andy always seemed to possess" (pg 55). Andy always had a composed and nonchalant attitude about him. It was as though he always knew he was going to get out of the prison, either it be a re-trial or him breaking out. With this hope, he eventually was able to leave The Shank behind him and head for Mexico. Hope is a very important element in this story because Red eventually picks up on it at the end and build up enough courage to violate parole and head to Mexico, just like Andy. "I hope Andy was down there. 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" (pg 107).