Shawshank redemption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Shawshank redemption - Essay Example He simply maintains his innocence, albeit rather monotone. It certainly does seem that Andy Dufrain is guilty, as he shows no emotion, no remorse and there is little inflection in his words when he speaks. Once he is sentenced, he is sent to Shawshank State Prison to serve the terms of his sentence. The prisoners of Shawshank ‘greet’ newcomers by betting on which of them will be the first to break down and cry out of the feeling of desperation that their situation has wrought. This is also the introduction of Red. The opening of a door and Red enters into a parole hearing. After a small, memorized speech, he is denied his parole. Red leaves, and there are two men waiting for him. One man says to him, â€Å"yeah, I’m up for rejection next week, â€Å"leaving the impression of nothing new, nothing changes. The men gather round Red, as he is the ‘man’ to whom people go when they are in need of something, which they cannot get inside the prison walls. à ¢â‚¬Å"I’m the guy that can get it for ya†¦ yeah, I’m a regular Sears & Roebuck. â€Å" Upon the new arrival, they gather, and Red speaks up, â€Å"smokes or coin, bettors choice.† the men resoundingly approve of cigarettes, as betting on which man will break down first â€Å"is as good a thing to bet on as any.† The new arrivals meet Warden Norton and Officer Byron Hadley for the first time. Hadley is a vicious man, with no regard or respect for anyone other than the warden. The warden informs the men that they should â€Å"put your trust in the Lord. Your ass belongs to me.† after delousing, the men are marched to their cells naked, embarrassed and burning from the delousing powder. The bets that were previously placed by the men now come into play. The men chant, â€Å"Fresh fish. Fresh fish,† until someone breaks down crying. It is an overweight man that finally breaks down, the man that Haywood â€Å"bet† on. As soon as this is heard, the men start cheering. Hadley comes in, and threatens the man to be quiet, or else. The man chooses not to, likely because he is so distraught that thoughts aside from despair do not enter his mind. Hadley pulls him out of his cell and promptly beats him unmercifully. The next morning, Haywood tells the men to give him the cigarettes that he won from the â€Å"bet†, and after they do, haywood asks a man that worked in the infirmary how his â€Å"horse is doing†. The other man said simply, â€Å"dead†¦ Ol’ Hadley busted his head up pretty good, poor bastard laid there til this morning’’. Hell, by then there wasn’t nothin’ we could do.† Andy asked what his name was. â€Å"What the hell do you care, new fish?† said Haywood. â€Å"I was just wondering if someone knew his name.† the men move forward, with the approach of Andy to Red. Andy approached Red on the purchase of a rock hammer. Red supposed he wanted to â€Å"sink your toy into somebody’s skull. Escape, tunnel under the wall, maybe.† they eventually make a deal, after Andy explains to Red’s satisfaction what the rock hammer is, and how it is used. Andy asked his name, and Red simply said, â€Å"Red. My name is Red.† andy asked, â€Å"why do they call you that?† â€Å"Maybe it’s because I’m Irish.† nod of the head, and Andy walks away. Red begins to see for the first time who he is dealing with in Andy. He thinks to himself, â€Å"I could see why the boys took him as snobby. He had a quiet way about him; a walk and a talk that just wasn’