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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