Symbols In The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is the tale of a banker who is wrongly convicted of double murder and his struggle to survive in Shawshank prison. The director, Frank Darabont, utilises the effect of colour, symbolism and foreshadowing to position the viewer to feel compassion towards the oppressed inmates and hostility towards the Warden and guards. Darabont, raises issues such as: institutionalisation, hope, freedom, corruption and oppression and has created a plot consisting of rising action and slow moves like a chess game. Through the use of these techniques Darabont successfully engages the audience and involves them in the events of the film as they unfold.

Colour is used in The Shawshank Redemption to evoke certain emotions within the audience …show more content…
Many of the symbols depicted contain religious roots. For example, Andy’s departure is marked by the book of Exodus, furthermore his remark to the Warden “you do not know when the lord of the house is coming”, insinuates he has his guard up. Darabont also utilises symbolism to depict the theme of hope and freedom, which takes many forms throughout the film. Andy’s posters represent the outside world and the hope he has to return to it. They were also his ticket out of prison. Similarly, the payment of beer for Andy’s financial advice gives the prisoners one moment of freedom. Water was used in the film to represent purity and the cleansing of all the years Andy spent in prison. After his escape, the metaphorical shackles on his feet were broken and washed away by the rain, along with all the cross he had borne throughout his time in prison. The chess game was used to symbolise both Andy’s strategy and character. He is strong and durable and makes little moved over time to defeat the Warden. Darabont utilises these elements of symbolism force the viewer to think about the issues which arise in the film and reflect on the meaning of the themes and