肖申克的救赎论文.docx

肖申克的救赎中的救赎主题浅析An Analysis of the Theme of Redemption inThe Shawshank Redemption . IntroductionThe film The Shawshank Redemption which is adapted from the same name novel of Stephen King has left a deep impression on the people. From the title of the film, it is not difficult to see that the film is talking about the issue of redemption. Then what is redemption? The Lord Jesus in The Gospel has provided a road to redemption for us. The so-called “save” is revealing the distress of human beings; so-called “redemption” is that the way to achieve our goals. What the Christians are most concerned about is whether their sin can be pardoned and their souls can be saved or not. All those are vividly embodied in The Shawshank Redemption. The story begins with the trial of a young banker, Andy Dufrense, victimized by circumstantial evidence, resulting in a conviction for the murder of his wife and her lover. He is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences at Shawshank State Prison. He exists in this prison only in appearance, keeping his mind free from the drab walls around him. His ability to do this results in the gaining of respect from his fellow inmates. Andys demeanor and undeniable sense of hope cause Red to take a deeper look at himself, and the world around him. Andy proves to Red and the other inmates that in the conventional walls of Shawshank prison convention will find no home in his lifestyle. Andy keeps hope all the time. He spends twenty years to tunneling the wall, and then crawling five hundred yard to the beautiful new world. Through his own efforts, Andy not only escapes from the prison, but also saves a group of inmates.The film inspires us to love life and edifies us to think about the importance of living and not to lose ourselves. It also gives a positive force and the courage to face difficulties to us. It makes us to realize that ordinary life is valuable. In prison, Andy overcomes all the difficulties with his amazing determination during his progress. Why we can not afford the pain and suffering of life? The author holds that we should never lose hope and dignity in anytime. People often get used to life. They are accustomed to the surrounding environment, from schools to the work environment, from social practice to family life. They have goals, but as the years go by the goals gradually faded, as they had been institutionalized. The Shawshank Redemption helps re-examine life and find the dreams again. Andy retrieves his freedom at last. Time and perseverance can help achieve everything. People should treat well with their own lives and realize the dreams! . The Origin and Connotation of RedemptionWhen the thought that every Christian is guilty and needs redemption has become a deep-rooted tradition which roots in every one living in the Christian culture background, the thinking about how to get redemption and what is the value of redemption to human beings is engaged actively. 2.1 The OriginFirst, look at the title of the film The Shawshank Redemption. The term of “redemption” originates in the Bible: “Zion shall be redeemed with judgment; and her converts with righteousness.”(Bible, 2000: 15) “Redemption is one of the most basic doctrines of Christianity. It means if people always have the fear and faith towards God, they will surely get Gods redemption. Christianity holds that because of the ancestors of human beings violate Gods will, and therefore they are guilty persons. In order to ultimately acquire redemption of God, humans must repent in this life and keep a firm belief in God. (Maigelaen, 2003: 3) Christianity is a way of life, also a manifestation of values, ethics and cultural values. It influences profoundly all aspects of American life. Therefore, the secular meaning of this Christian doctrine has also been developed: only keeping faith, people can get hope, save themselves and the world, too.On the first day, Andy witnessed the rejection of the old prisoners, the cruelty of prison guards, and the hypocrisy of the warden. Just entered the door of Shawshank, Andy and the other new prisoners had become pawns in a bet and objects for fun by the old prisoners. From that moment, the new prisoners would be bullied. In the hall of the prison, the warden solemnly announced: “I believe in two things: discipline and the Bible. Here, you will receive both. Put your trust in the Lord. Your ass belongs to me.” There is no doubt that it is a warning to the new prisoners. There is nothing in the prison except obedience, not just operational, but also spiritual. Andy understood that they did not have the right to say no in the prison. When the warden asked “any questions”, one asked: “When do we eat?” The warden stared at him and implied the prison guard, and then the prison guard walked over and roared: “You eat when we say you eat. You shit when we say you shit, and piss when we say you piss.” As a result, he got a blow. This shocked Andy a lot. He knew that if he said something inappropriately, he might be the next one to be beaten. The new prisoners who just arrived at the Shawshank from the free world suffered exclusion and humiliation from the old prisoners. But Andy did not want to give up his dignity. There was no doubt that the first night was the toughest. When put in cell, old life blown away in the blink of an eye. Nothing left but all the time in the world to think about it. Most new prisoners came to madness the first night. That innocent fat boy was badly beaten up by the prison guard and died, because he could not withstand others provocation and cried. All of those happened on the first day. It shows that if they are not strong enough, they can not protect themselves at all. However, it is enough for Andy to understand one thing that it is hard to get rid of the charge. So Andy decides to do something for himself. He starts to make a plan to escape from the prison. This is the origin of redemption. 2.2 The Connotation“Since the 20th century, along with the development of industrialized societies, people are doubt about the western culture, capitalism and the nature of human, which eventually leading to some loss of faith. In this dark world, human beings have to struggle to survive; we must make every effort to find a way out.”(罗建波,丁旭 2008: 06)Where is the way? How to find it out? This film about redemption provides the answer for people. What is the power of the story for redemption? It is the dignity and belief. And redeem for what? It is freedom and hope. Redemption is a war: a war about freedom breaking imprisonment, hope prevailing over despair; a war to fight for human dignity.Andy is succeeded. During this process, the Christian doctrine redemption plays a very important role. It is because of this, Andy has always been filled with the hope to live in freedom, has never given up the pursuit of freedom, which is deeply affected his friends, Red. Red is re-freed with Andys help. “At the end of the film, the azure blue sky and blue sea, symbolize the ideal freedom; and that small boat and two old friends smile is a symbol of hope for a better future. This end has been able to impress people; it is because of freedom and hope that it will blend perfectly.” (Dong Congbin, 2006: 17)In the film, Andy gives a very good comment on hope “Do not forget that there are places in the world that are not made out of stone. There is something inside that they can not get to that they can not touch. That is yours. That is hope.” Indeed, the prison walls can bind physical freedom, and even institutionalized things can bind spiritual freedom, but only hope that can not be given up. Life without hope is dark, lifeless, or even meaningless. Hope is a kind of flower that blooms in the dream. With dreams and hope, we can embrace the future. . Andys Self- redemption and His Redemption to OthersIn the prison, through his actions, Andy not only changes his own destiny, but also deeply affects the other prisoners. So Andys redemption is not just an individual behavior, but a behavior of a group. It is entirely consistent with the definition of redemption in Christianity. The film uses a strong religious terms “redemption”, when it illustrates the process of Andys resistance. Tracing the religious origin of this word, we can easily recall the story of Jesus to save souls. Andy never forgets that hope is the savior, which saves the desire for freedom. (Chen, 2008: 15)3.1 Andys Self- redemptionAndy successfully escapes from the prison. What helps him to achieve self-redemption? It is the desire for freedom in his mind and the existence of hope! Hope, which follows Gods will, sleeps on those pages hollowed in the Bible, attaches on Andys body, and creeps upon the 500 yards sewer. At last, that unique dirty sewer sends Andy to the beautiful new world.3.1.1 Physical RedemptionAndy, a bank high-level white-collar worker, was framed for murdering his wife and was sentenced two life imprisonments in Shawshank prison. Freedom is forbidden in prison. Andy has to face the prison walls and railings every day. He desires for redemption, because he is full of hope to life and yearning for freedom. However, the reality shows that once you come to Shawshank, it is hard to expect freedom. The only thing is willing to be a slave, must accept the fate of being punished, just like a lamb waiting to be killed. Behind the prison walls and railings, there are two choices: put up your hands helplessly, accept the arrangement given by the fate; or clench fists, find out a way to freedom. Devout Christian Andy chooses the latter. Because he believes the redemption, but also convinces that “I wound up in here. Bad luck, I guess. It floats around. It is got to land on somebody. It was my turn. I was in the path of the tornado. I just did not expect the storm would last as long as it has. I did not shoot my wife, and I did not shoot her lover. Whatever mistakes I made, I have paid for them and then some.” A Western proverb says that: “God save the people who help themselves.” Andy does not want to wait for others help, and then it must be self-redemption. This is the first level of redemption-physical redemption, which is to leave the Shawshank prison. Andy looks like a quiet and weak scholar. Unexpectedly, he fights against the coldness and the darkness of Shawshank. He wins the struggle for independence in the prison, the freedom in exchange of the bodys pain, and the respect of prisoners and prison guards using his own intelligence and wisdom. In this way, time passes. With courage, wisdom and perseverance, Andy fights for life and accumulates time for freedom little by little. We can not imagine how Andy move on in the dark world; we can only see a seed of freedom buried in the heart and a flower of hope only bloomed in dreams. As a result, it is always full of smiles on his face. In Andys mind, he has not given up hope of freedom, and he makes every effort with hope to survive - that every night, Andy dug the wall with a rock hammer which was only about six or seven inches long . Red thought it would take a man about 600 years to tunnel under the wall with such a little hammer. This is indeed a vast project, but Andy is succeeded. Everyone, including the warden and Red, could not believe that Andy spent 20 years tunneling the wall, and then crawling five hundred yards, which was the length of five football fields. He regained his freedom. Andy achieves self-redemption.3.1.2 Spiritual RedemptionThe spiritual redemption in the film is one of the most important themes. Redemption, as a kind of invisible power, brings hope to Andy. Andy never stops to pursue freedom. He sticks in a dark world to work for freedom in 20 years.Arrived in Shawshank prison, Andy was bullied by others. He struggled with the darkness and silently endured all those unfairness, because he was full of hope in his mind. If there is no hope that he can not afford to live in such a dark prison. Every night, Andy digs the wall with the little hammer. This will require great stamina, but also need the support of a belief-hope. Without hope, maybe Andy has abandoned the ambitious plan. As a prisoner, Andy uses his wisdom as much as possible to enjoy the freedom of a citizen. The warden takes advantage of Andy to launder for him; in return, Andy can work in the library, which makes him feel everything is full of hope. He believes that effort brings success. Each week he writes a letter to the Council to request funding for the library. The library becomes the best one in prison in England; he helps other prisoners to complete their high school education; he quietly endures the long dark confinement time; he climbs the dirty sewer If there is no hope, Andy will not survive. Every one is free when he was born. But as a prisoner, living in prison, the freedom is taken away. Most people there have nothing to do, or feel despair, or cause trouble, but Andy is not willing to be a drifter. When Andy knew that Red could get something from outside, he asked Red to get a rock hammer for himself in order to regain the hobby-carve stones. Later, Andy hung actress posters on the prison wall. He persisted on his firm beliefs; to not let the prisons “normal” life take away his hope. As Red said, “He had a quiet way about him, a walk and a talk that just was not normal around here. He strolled like a man in the park without a care or a worry in the world. He had on an invisible coat that would shield him from this place.” 3.2 Andys Redemption to OthersChristianity emphasizes on “original sin consciousness”. The person who is guilty must be punished. In the Christians view, people are guilty. Since the ancestors Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, the entire mankind has deeply fallen into the abyss of evil. But God did not give up human beings. On the contrary, he sent his son Jesus to come to save mankind. This is Jesus redemption. In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy is such a Redeemer. The Shawshank prison changes totally from the chaos and despair to full of friendship, hope and dreams. Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free. A strong man can save himself; a great man can save another. 3.2.1 Andys Redemption to RedRed was charged with murder. However, he never considered his behavior carefully. In prison, he just lived without any hope. He said: “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” As if he had given up hope. In several paroles, the interviewer asked: “You feel you have been rehabilitated?” He answered: “Yes, sir. Without a doubt. I can honestly say I am a changed man. No danger to society here. Gods honest truth. Absolutely rehabilitated.” From his tone and attitude, we can know: he never seriously considered this issue, never thought about his crime, even never wanted to change anything. Perhaps at some time in the past, he wanted to be set free, which only based on a hopeless Utopian. Thanks to Andys influence and help, Red gradually began to seriously consider his own crimes. With Andys help, Red gradually believes there is hope in the prison. At first, Red considers the hope is a very dangerous thing. But Andy does not think so. He never gives up hope. He carves stone every night, digs the wall, and rebuilds the library, and so on. Red accompanies with Andy to experience these things. He is influenced by the sprit o f Andy and gradually accepts Andys point of view that hope is a good thing. With Andys help, Red feels freedom. In the playground of prison, Andy picked up a piece of quart, expired a touch of milky light. The small stone touched Reds heart. Because quartz is usually found in the streams, that people feel a glimmer of freedom. Andys words and deeds are full of freedom, which deeply influenced Red. Before leaving Shawshank, Andy said to Red: “I tell you where I would go. Zihuatanejo. It is in Mexico. A little place on the Pacific Ocean. The Mexicans say the pacific has no memory. That is where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory. Open up a little hotel right on the beach. Buy some worthless old boat and fix it up new. Take my guests out charter fishing. In a place like that, I could use a man that knows how to get things.” It is like a free man provides a job to another free man. Temporarily, Red forgets that he is a lifetime prisoner. Red finds that he can have hope and freedom in such dark prison. So he begins to long for a normal life, and seriously to do everything for leaving the prison. The last parole interview, he said: “Rehabilitated? Well, now, let me see. I do not have any idea what means. To me it is just a made-up word. Am I sorry for what I did? There is not a day goes by I do not feel regret. Not because I am here or because you think I should. I look back on the way I was then a young stupid kid who committed that terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try and talk some sense to him. Tell him the way things are. But I can not. That kid has long gone and this old man is all that has left. I got to live with that.” There is no doubt that Red has been completely changed. His parole is approved. Red obtains the real freedom.3.2.2 Andys Redemption to TommyAnother prisoner whose soul is saved by Andy is Tommy. Tommy has a rebellious youths personality. He always holds his own cynical attitude to himself and the society. He has been in prison many times, but he never seriously considers his future, or tries to change the situation. Maybe he tried, but failed; so, since then, he has been depressed down. In Andys opinion, knowledge is a very important thing. So when Tommy came to Shawshank, Andy showed great hope on him. Andy taught Tommy to read and to write and so on. Before his teaching, Andy said to Tommy: “If we do this, we do it all the way, a hundred percent, nothing half-assed