Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

Kristofer 2022-04-22 07:01:02

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” When Andy Dufresne puts it in such a quiet way, my heart ache because of it. Have you ever felt that way about hope? Hope is the only thing in the wild world not carved out of gray stone. Hope is a small place inside of us anyone can never lock away. That is what I've learnt from an excellent movie The Shawshank Redemption.

The story begins in 1947, when Andy Dufresne, a city banker, is wrongfully convicted of his wife and her lover. He is sent to Shawshank prison and receives a double life sentence for the crime. In shawshank, Andy forms an extraordinary friendship with Red , a man who knows how to get things from the outside. Andy gets a 5 inches long rockhammer and a huge poster from Red, by which he secretly puts his pipedream into practice. After 20 years digging, Andy tunnels through the prison wall. Then he crawls 500 yards through the sewer and gets out into a ditch near the field beyond the ground of Shawshank, with no equipment, no one knows.

On the first viewing, it's the story of Andy and his struggle to maintain hope despite his circumstances. However, this is really a movie about Red and his struggle to find meaning and purpose. It seems that we are more or less similar with Red, because we've got used to the gray walls around us, which stand for routine, and then more routine. If one day, these walls dessolve away, we'll be afraid instead of free. We're afraid of not being ruled? That sounds ridiculous, but we actually are! Fortunately, when Red is faced with the same situation as we are, because of Andy, he can find a different path—the path of freedom that is lit by hope.

Sometimes, we feel many things have let us down and don't hope for the good anymore. But I have to say, suffering is not always a bad thing. Suffering produces perseverance, character, and character, hope. If we can see hope through all the hardship, nothing's gonna stop us marching towards victory!

Hope is the chief happiness the world affords. Hope encourages people to keep fighting for dreams, freedom and dignity. Hope helps people to appreciate the beauty of life. “He once is born , that is die.” Everyone is the same. The only difference is whether you get a busy living or a busy dying. Remember we aren't the birds that meant to be caged, when we spread our wings and fly away, we' ll appreciate the trembling of the heart, the singing of the mind, the flying of the soul and the hope to be free.

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Extended Reading

The Shawshank Redemption quotes

  • Warden Samuel Norton: [after Andy tells him Tommy could prove Andy's innocence] I have to say that's the most amazing story I've ever heard. What amazes me most is that you were taken in by it.

    Andy Dufresne: [Confused by his response] Sir?

    Warden Samuel Norton: Well, it's obvious this fellow Williams is impressed with you. He hears your tale of woe and quite naturally, wants to cheer you up. He's young, not terribly bright. It's not surprising he wouldn't know what a state he put you in.

    Andy Dufresne: Sir, he's telling the truth.

    Warden Samuel Norton: Well, let's say for the moment this Blatch does exist. You think he'd just fall to his knees and cry "Yes, I did it, I confess! Oh, and by the way, add a life term to my sentence."

    Andy Dufresne: You know that wouldn't matter. With Tommy's testimony I can get a new trial.

    Warden Samuel Norton: That's assuming Blatch is still there. Chances are excellent he'd be released by now.

    Andy Dufresne: Well they'd have his last known address, names of relatives. It's a chance, isn't there?

    Warden Samuel Norton: [Shakes his head]

    Andy Dufresne: How can you be so obtuse?

    Warden Samuel Norton: What? What did you call me?

    Andy Dufresne: Obtuse. Is it deliberate?

    Warden Samuel Norton: Son, you're forgetting yourself.

    Andy Dufresne: The country club will have his old time cards. Records, W-2s with his name on them.

    Warden Samuel Norton: If you wanna indulge in this fantasy, that's your business. Don't make it mine. This meeting is over.

    Andy Dufresne: Sir, if I ever get out, I'd never mention what happens here. I'd be just as indictable as you for laundering that money.

    Warden Samuel Norton: [slams his fists on the table] Don't you ever mention money to me again, you sorry son of a bitch. Not in this office, not anywhere.

  • Brooks: [to Andy] Son, six wardens have been through here in my tenure, and I've learned one immutable, universal truth: Not one of them born whose asshole wouldn't pucker up tighter than a snare drum when you ask them for funds.