Shawshank Redemption: Movie Vs Book

While some changes in details where fairly subtle others are more drastic. Hollywood tends to dramatizes many events in stories while downplaying or even completely change events in these books to make hem into visually dynamic cinematic adventures. However in the case of  Shawshank Redemption the changes were not all that significant to the themes of the story . The movie keep the main plot and characters almost completely the same as the book. Nevertheless the movie did change, combine, and leave out some characters. One of the most noticeable differences in the order of events, such as the arrival of new prisoners, the extent of Warden Hadley need to silence Tommy, the librarian and his bird Jake, also the difference in  Byron Hadley leaves the story, and other changes. 
The first difference in the movie, is the scene where older prisoners are betting on which one of the new inmates will snap first, This scene was never in mentioned in the book. This scene may have been added to give the opening a bit of comic relief and a chance to give Morgan Freeman a break in his narration. This also shows the audience that Andy has it easier than other inmates but life in prison is never easy. Also this gives the viewers a chance to sympathize with prison life, while also making third person. This constant change of narrative to third person gives the movie a nice change of pass.  Brooks was one character that differed from the short story. In both the movie and short story he is an old man in prison who has a pet bird that he took care of named Jake. However the story didn't go into much detail what happened to him in his life after prison, but in the story Jake his bird ended up dying after he set it free because it starved to death. Although in the story Brook's adjustment period is not told, however in the movie this struggle is shown. It actually shows him hanging himself after craving Brooks was here in the wood.
Another change is to the character Tommy Williams. In the story Warden Hadley had Tommy transferred to a different prison while Andy was in solitary confinement so that he wouldn't be able to testify on his behave. However in the movie Warden Hadley kills with a corrupt prison guard.
Another example of differences evident in the book to the movie is the character Byron Hadley. This unpleasant individual has two different fates, in the movie Byron is arrested. Although in the story, he dies of a heart attack probably the result of the shock that he might be an inmate at Shawshank. The movie had a lighter feel to it this reason the did not have him dying in the movie was to avoid the sadness of the viewers, that death brings. It is easier to just "arrest" a person then to kill there character off. Not killing him, allows them to have the flexable to bring him back for another movie, which we know was not made.

Lastly the escape-ending in the story is the same but some details are explained. Since Red is the narrator in the short story, he could not be sure about some of the details of Andy's escape. For example the change of his prison clothes to regular clothes was not explained in the short story. In the movie Andy is shown with a plastic bag filled with Wardens stolen clothes and bank information tied to ankle by rope as he crawled through the miles of sewer. Shawshank ends in uncertainty, where the reader is left to wonder if Red finds Andy. On the other hand the movie ends with Red walking on the beach in the distance towards Andy.

Shawshank Short Story Blog

Plot
Shawshank begins with Red recounting Andy’s story explaining how he got there him self first. It begins in the late 1948 in Portland, Maine and ends 30 years later with Red on his way to Zihuatanejo. The story is of a man that was convicted of murdering his wife and wrongly sentenced to life in prison. However, Andy Dufresne, was not like the other prisoners, he was much more educated and more calculating. After enough time has passed to change a man, Andy escapes from Shawshank. Making his way Mexico, but not before leaving a note to Red. Asking him if he traveled this far, maybe he'd be willing to go a little further and join him in Mexico. Red comes to terms with his time spent in prison and finds new hope tracking down Andy his friend.
Point of View
The story of Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is told in first person point of view, by a fellow inmate that shared much of his time with the main character. Narrated by Red, an inmate "that was able to locate certain items from time to time" King, Stephen. "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption".pg.28 This ability  makes him an important individual within there "happy little family", also this is how he becomes acquainted with Andy Dufresne. It is presented in the form of a monologue where Red reflects back on his time in incarnation.
Characterzation
The characters in the story of the most importance are Andy Dufresne and Red. Andy is the main character of the story as told by Red. "Andy came to Shawshank in 1948, was thirty years old. He was a short, neat little mane with sandy hair and small, clever hands." King, Stephen. "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption".pg.17 He was a banker in the straight world, as well as some sort of tax evasion racketeer in Shawshank. He had to go to prison to become a criminal. Red is the narrator of the story, as well as a smuggler of items from the outside to the confides of the prison. Red killed his wife, also unintentionally killing the neighbor woman and her infant son.  Dismantling the brakes of Chevrolet coupe he and his wife had gotten as a wedding present from his father-in-law. Red ends the first page with a question. "Have I rehabilitated myself, you ask?. I don't know what that word means, at least as far as prisons and corrections go."King, Stephen. "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption".pg.16 He later states that he would not do it again but does not think that means he is rehabilitated. During the duration of the story Red portrays his life in Shawshank as slow it seems like time stops, As he deals with his aging and the guilt of his misdeeds. The reader comes to better understand Red as a man lost in the world, with a sense of new found hope.   
Setting
The setting for Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is in a Maine prison. The setting embodies the theme of imprisonment in a most unnerving manner.The prison is Shawsank a state pen with all the normal functions. It has a number of guards, as well as high stone walls. Also a small license plate factory and a laundry room, where all prisoners work. The confines of the "hotel" are the setting of the story. In short, a large majority of the story is limited to Shawshank pen.    
Themes
The Themes of Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is imprisonment, and hope.
Red is one of the inmates that deal with the isolation that comes for doing time inside Shawshank Prison. Red is imprisoned both literally and metaphorically. Throughout the story there are moments where inmates such as Red and Andy have a short lived freedom, as Red put it "for those twenty minutes we felt like free men" King, Stephen. "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"pg. 48 Just as well as when Andy describes the way the Raquel Welch poster gives him a sense of freedom "you look at those pretty women and you feel like you could almost... not quite but almost... step right through and be beside them. Be free."King, Stephen. "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"pg.56 However it is not the pretty women he likes the most about the poster, "It wasn't her; it was that beach she was standing on." King, Stephen. "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"pg.56 Hope is the most prevalent theme in the short story as many of the characters lose hope during there time at the "hotel", but hope does end up shining through with Red saying " I hope" at the end.
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Sonet 130

             Sonnet 130 has a man describing his lover in such a way that she is compared to the ideal woman. He describes her as what the opposite to what a perfect woman might possibly have. This description depicts her in very negative light because she is very ordinary in appearance, nothing special to look at. He list beautiful things and compares them to her blandness "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" He is saying the sun is bright an vibrant but her eyes are dull. Coral is far more red than her lips' red" He is saying that she doesn't plush red lips but ordinary and gray. Instead she is average woman that does not posses any of the more sought afferent attractive traits.
             There is an problem in this sonnet he loves her and does not know why. His mistress isn't the ideal and perfect woman but he still loves her. Why does he love her colorless skin and her common charm? The resolution or answer is that no woman could live up to these incredible standards that women are faced with. This resolution is a true even today modern society, with the media and people putting these images in our heads of what a perfect girl is expected to look like. Or what to wear, you have to put on these cloths and act this way for people to think your attractive. These God like embodiments of beauty are impossible to achieve because everyone is unique in their looks and personality. This modern day importance on looks has escalated to an unbelievable height. Since the beginning of this consumer driven, quick fix, shallow society how gets bored and creates a new "in thing". As an people all of us need to learn the importance of individualism and view people not on looks but on merit.

Ballad I'm Not Jesus

 I'm Not Jesus Lyrics
Artist(Band):Apocalyptica

 Dirty little secret,
Dirty little lies.
Say your prayers and comb your hair,
Save your soul tonight.

Drift among the faithful,
Bury your desires.
Aberrations fill your head,
You need a place to hide
And I am...

Do you remember me?
And the kid I used to be?
Do you remember me?

Chorus:

When your world’s come crashing down
I want to be there.
(If god is looking down on me)

I’m not Jesus,
Jesus wasn’t there!

You confess it all away,
But it don't mean any thing to me
(If god is looking down on me)

I’m not Jesus,
I will not forgive!


No I won’t!
No I won’t.

I thought you were a good man,
I thought you talked to god.
You hippocratic, messianic, child abusing-turned-satanic.

Do you remember me?
Do you remember me?
And the kid I used to be?
Do you remember?

Do you remember?

Chorus:

When your own world comes undone,
Let me be the one to say:
(If god is looking down on me)

"I’m not Jesus,
You can’t run away!"

And the innocence you spoiled
Found a way to live.
(If god is looking down on me)

I’m not Jesus
I will not forgive!


I will not forgive.
I won’t be whatever you wanted.
I will not forgive.
I won’t be whatever you wanted.

Do you remember me?
And the kid I used to be?
Not the same as I used to be!
Oh, do you remember me?

Nooooooo!

Chorus:

When your world comes crashing down,
I want to be there
(If god is looking down on me)

I’m not Jesus,
Jesus wasn’t there

You confess it all away,
But it don't mean any thing to me!
(If god is looking down on me)

I'm not Jesus,
I will not,
I’m not Jesus,
I will not forgive!

Oh, I will not forgive, yeah yeah!
No, I will not forgive! 

 

I'm Not Jesus by Apocalypitica qualifies as a ballad because it is a song about revenge.Murderous acts and revenge are a common topic for ballads.The use of refrain, repeated regularly through out the ballad is used often in this song. The singer repeats that his is not Jesus and while Jesus would forgive he is incapable of forgiving the antagonist of the song. The song has a tendency to suggest rather than to state who the singer is talking to.  The use of a burden is explained in the song the unimaginable circumstances that the singer is forced to live with. Dialogue used to further the the story, the listener understands what has happened to the main character in the song or the singer. Reflection or expression is clearly seen in this song. The singer is reflecting on how the antagonist but him self in a position of trust to further is own agenda. While the song has so many of the characteristics of a ballad, the theme of revenge is what makes the unfortunate story come alive in the song.     Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-69gojmPg0  

The Hero

A real hero I don't know is Payton Manning. His work with Reilys Childrens Hospital shows that he is compassionate and that is what makes him a hero in my book.A the best fictional hero I can think of would have to be Papa Smurf. He saved the smurf village on more than one occasion. He has also lead rescue missions to save all the smurfs at one point. Papa Smurf is one of the greatest heros of all time.He has shown his bravery sure, but for some one of his size to face larger than life problems is what makes him a hero to me. Someone I know that is a hero is my Grandma. When she found out that she had breast cancer when I was little she showed me what courage was, not some guy with a gun, but a regular person that had to face adversity and came out stronger on the other side.