Post by jzhangx3 on Jan 30, 2016 19:56:30 GMT
The Shawshank Redemption, written by Stephen King and directed by Frank Darabont, is a powerful film noted for the message it sends through the characters of Andy Dufresne and Red about the importance of having and following one’s hopes and dreams.
When asked about the American Dream, most people would say that it promises a life of luxury or a life free from hardship; however, Andy Dufresne and the other inmates at Shawshank Prison were forced to alter their dreams and hopes to meet a smaller scale of the Dream as to avoid sinking into an unbearable pit of depression. The inmates, driven by determination and fear, are forced to adapt the traditional, luxurious version of the American dream to one of simple survival in order to match their often cruel and merciless circumstances.
One of the biggest cases of lowering the standards of dreams is demonstrated by Andy, the main character of the movie, and his library. He spends so much time focusing on fixing up this library for the inmates that he does not have time to focus on the upsetting aspects of prison life. Before arriving at Shawshank, his main goal was not to establish the best prison library in America, but upon arriving to Shawshank, he saw that his dreams were going to have to be altered if he wanted to stay motivated and find a reason for living.
Andy, however, does accomplish the typical American Dream at the end of the movie because he escapes from prison and starts a successful company on his dream island with the help of his genius skills in business and banking.
I think Stephen King was trying to say that the American Dream does exist, but it can come in many forms, and the success it promises can be seen on many different levels--from simple survival to freedom and wealth.
When asked about the American Dream, most people would say that it promises a life of luxury or a life free from hardship; however, Andy Dufresne and the other inmates at Shawshank Prison were forced to alter their dreams and hopes to meet a smaller scale of the Dream as to avoid sinking into an unbearable pit of depression. The inmates, driven by determination and fear, are forced to adapt the traditional, luxurious version of the American dream to one of simple survival in order to match their often cruel and merciless circumstances.
One of the biggest cases of lowering the standards of dreams is demonstrated by Andy, the main character of the movie, and his library. He spends so much time focusing on fixing up this library for the inmates that he does not have time to focus on the upsetting aspects of prison life. Before arriving at Shawshank, his main goal was not to establish the best prison library in America, but upon arriving to Shawshank, he saw that his dreams were going to have to be altered if he wanted to stay motivated and find a reason for living.
Andy, however, does accomplish the typical American Dream at the end of the movie because he escapes from prison and starts a successful company on his dream island with the help of his genius skills in business and banking.
I think Stephen King was trying to say that the American Dream does exist, but it can come in many forms, and the success it promises can be seen on many different levels--from simple survival to freedom and wealth.
