InstitutionalismInstitutionalism A Theme developed in A Theme developed in

Shawshank RedemptionShawshank Redemption

Convicted criminals are Convicted criminals are sent to prison to be sent to prison to be

rehabilitated so that one rehabilitated so that one day they will no longer pose day they will no longer pose a threat to citizens on the a threat to citizens on the

outside.outside.

This is not the case at Shawsank Prison

Its system strives to eliminate the tiniest Its system strives to eliminate the tiniest of hope of freedom from their prisoners.of hope of freedom from their prisoners.

Shawshank’s system in action is shown Shawshank’s system in action is shown through the character Brooks. through the character Brooks.

Shawshank, in Reality, is a Shawshank, in Reality, is a Place of Permenant Confinment, Place of Permenant Confinment, and Institutionalismand Institutionalism

Brooks InstitutionalizedBrooks Institutionalized

Early on in the movie Brooks, a Early on in the movie Brooks, a prisoner in the jail for over 50 years, prisoner in the jail for over 50 years, discovers he will soon be set free. discovers he will soon be set free. Brooks is horrified, and attacks an Brooks is horrified, and attacks an inmate in hopes his act of violence inmate in hopes his act of violence will revoke his parole.will revoke his parole.

““It’s the only way they’ll let me It’s the only way they’ll let me stay!”stay!”

Red’s Words About Red’s Words About BrooksBrooks

• ““These walls are funny…first you hate them, then These walls are funny…first you hate them, then you get used to them, then you depend on them…you get used to them, then you depend on them…that’s institutionalized.”that’s institutionalized.”

• ““They send you hear for life, that’s exactly what they They send you hear for life, that’s exactly what they take, the part that counts anyway.”take, the part that counts anyway.”

• ““In here he’s somebody, out there he’s nobody.”In here he’s somebody, out there he’s nobody.”

Brooks has been in prison too long to know Brooks has been in prison too long to know how to how to function on the outside function on the outside world.world.

Brooks on the OutsideBrooks on the Outside

The Shawshank Redemption films a The Shawshank Redemption films a montage to show viewers Brooks montage to show viewers Brooks experience as a free man.experience as a free man.

Narration Narration Medium shot on busMedium shot on bus WorkWork He has trouble sleepingHe has trouble sleeping Long Shot of Crossing StreetLong Shot of Crossing Street Buying GunBuying Gun ““Send me home.”Send me home.” Long shot in parkLong shot in park Close-up of handsClose-up of hands

Institutionalism: Brooks’s Institutionalism: Brooks’s DemiseDemise

Brooks commits suicide because he is unable to Brooks commits suicide because he is unable to cope with life outside of prison.cope with life outside of prison.

As he is preparing for his death viewers see a As he is preparing for his death viewers see a close-up of his face smiling through the railings close-up of his face smiling through the railings of the ceiling’s pillar.of the ceiling’s pillar.

This signifies that Brook’s was a happy man in This signifies that Brook’s was a happy man in prison. He does not like his freedom. He prison. He does not like his freedom. He commits suicide to escape it. commits suicide to escape it.

Red’s CommentsRed’s Comments

When Red and Andy hear the news When Red and Andy hear the news of Brooks’s death Red’s reaction is, of Brooks’s death Red’s reaction is, “He should have died in here.”“He should have died in here.” Brooks should have died at Brooks should have died at homehome

The Force of The Force of Institutionalism: Institutionalism:

The Warden and the Prison The Warden and the Prison SystemSystem The Warden presents the image of a religious The Warden presents the image of a religious

man who would like to see his inmates man who would like to see his inmates rehabilitated by the power of Godrehabilitated by the power of God Cross-stitchCross-stitch Bible Bible

In reality the Warden is an evil, corrupt man In reality the Warden is an evil, corrupt man who could not care less about his prisoners.who could not care less about his prisoners. Bible and cross-stitch used to hide true personna.Bible and cross-stitch used to hide true personna. Uses inmates as slave labor for his work program.Uses inmates as slave labor for his work program. Does not allow Andy to leave prison, and kills Billy Does not allow Andy to leave prison, and kills Billy

the only person who could testify to Andy’s the only person who could testify to Andy’s innocence.innocence.

The parole board is an example of The parole board is an example of

how Shawshank’s prison system is a how Shawshank’s prison system is a force of institutionalism.force of institutionalism. Red’s parole hearingsRed’s parole hearings Routieness of his answersRoutieness of his answers

o ““Yes sir…without a doubt…no danger to society Yes sir…without a doubt…no danger to society here”here”

Close-up of “Rejected Stamp”Close-up of “Rejected Stamp” Viewers can see the cold-blooded murderer in Viewers can see the cold-blooded murderer in

Red no longer exists. They know he is a Red no longer exists. They know he is a changed man, a good man, but yet the parole changed man, a good man, but yet the parole continues to deny him the freedom he deserves.continues to deny him the freedom he deserves.

Andy: A Force Working Andy: A Force Working Against InstitutionismAgainst Institutionism

Andy hangs on to the life he lived before he Andy hangs on to the life he lived before he was sent to prison.was sent to prison. Montage of taxes for guardsMontage of taxes for guards

Andy has hope.Andy has hope. He spreads it throughout prison by playing He spreads it throughout prison by playing

musicmusic Montage of prisoners listening to record playerMontage of prisoners listening to record player Giving the Harmonica to RedGiving the Harmonica to Red

Instrument of musicInstrument of music Andy gives this to Red after his parole is rejectedAndy gives this to Red after his parole is rejected Andy tries to give Red hope so he can avoid the same Andy tries to give Red hope so he can avoid the same

fate as Brooks’sfate as Brooks’s Red will not play it for AndyRed will not play it for Andy Later on when he is alone in cell gives it one small Later on when he is alone in cell gives it one small

whistlewhistle

Andy confronts Warden on his Andy confronts Warden on his policies of institutionalism when he policies of institutionalism when he rejects his plea for a new trial.rejects his plea for a new trial.

Calls him “Obtuse”Calls him “Obtuse” His actions are deliberate. He wants to keep His actions are deliberate. He wants to keep

Andy in prison.Andy in prison.

Andy escapes from prison. Andy escapes from prison. Spends 20 years digging a tunnelSpends 20 years digging a tunnel Crawls through septic pipeCrawls through septic pipe Arial shot when reaches the outside.Arial shot when reaches the outside.

““Get Bust Living or Get Get Bust Living or Get Busy Dying”Busy Dying”

Andy recognizes the importance to have hope and to Andy recognizes the importance to have hope and to live for something, or else life isn’t worth living. live for something, or else life isn’t worth living. Andy refuses to sit in his cell for 80 years and wait Andy refuses to sit in his cell for 80 years and wait to die.to die.

The hope of one day returning to the outside world The hope of one day returning to the outside world is what allows him to regain his freedom at the end is what allows him to regain his freedom at the end of the film.of the film.