Shawshank_Redeption

In the movie The Shawshank Redemption, how is Andy Dufresne “similar” to Jesus' Who do Brooks and Red represent'   In the movie The Shawshank Redemption, the audience witnesses the strength of a man who can accomplish what is viewed as the impossible. Andy Dufresne possesses many similar qualities to Jesus Christ. The first resemblance is his two life sentences in prison for a crime he did not commit. Andy Dusfresne is the hope-bringer at the Shawshank prison in Maine – and proclaimed that hope can be found in the lives of the prisoners, just as Jesus who proclaimed that hope can be found in a life lived in God. A short time after Andy has been held within Shawshank prison, he performed a miracle very similar to one that of Jesus Christ - the changing of the water to wine. Although it may not have been wine that Andy Dufresne conjured, he received cold beer for him and his cellmates after a hard day’s work. During this scene, Andy sits apart from the group, in the light – this represents that he is different. This is also where Andy gives his cellmates a chance for redemption – similar to Jesus who is forgiving all of people’s sins. Andy was the only free man who was held prisoner, and it was through him that hope came to everyone at Shawshank. Almost every prisoner held within the walls of Shawshank is institutionalized – they depend on Shawshank for survival and can not live a life on the outside. Throughout the movie, Red is constantly warning and reminding Andy that “hope is a dangerous thing”. Despite Red’s advice, Andy continues and successfully brings hope through the library and music. Another resemblance to Jesus, is that Andy Dufresne survived what others named unachievable – for example: the two month sentence in isolation. Many of the prisoners declared that it was impossible to maintain sanity after just one week, yet Andy survived sixty days. This is similar to the forty days Jesus spent in the desert. Another example is Andy’s escape from prison. Red tells Andy, “It would take six hundred years for a man to tunnel through the walls of this prison”, and yet Andy accomplished this in nineteen years. After the accusation of Jesus, he was condemned to die. Following that, Jesus died, suffered all sins, and then rose again. This exactly like Andy’s escape, Andy “died” when he took the decision to escape; as he crawled through the sewage full of dung he symbolically suffered everybody’s sins, and when he had achieved freedom in the lake, the rain is a symbol of baptism for a new life, clear of sins with a new identity. However, before Andy leaves for Mexico which can be interpreted as Heaven and Paradise, he leaves a message about faith along with a task for Red. This is similar to how Jesus left instructions and a task for his dispels to follow. Next, Red can be viewed as a disciple who followed Andy after hearing his call. Just like the other prisoners held captive within Shawshank prison, Red fears being paroled, and a chance for a new life on the outside. This is just as we fear death. Red is placed in Shawshank as punishment for murder, and he is unwilling to face his punishment and guilt, like we are unwilling to face and repent for our sins. Until the arrival of Andy – Red does not care about his freedom because he is so institutionalized. Though the movie, Red represents a disciple and a lost believer who have lost their purpose in life. Andy brings hope to Red, which is why Red does not end up like Brooks after his release from Shawshank. On the night of Andy’s escape, Red is certain of Andy’s suicide. However he is surprised that the next morning, Andy’s cell is empty and he is alive. This is similar to how the disciples found Jesus’s tomb empty. Red is also similar to the disciples because it is Red to who Andy leaves the message about faith to. In the final scene of the movie in Mexico, the audience observes that during the reunion of Andy and Red, Andy extends out his hand towards Red. This could be interpreted as a believer re-encountering Jesus in Heaven and paradise. Red in generally represent the people after the arrival of Jesus Christ, and how he changed their life. Brooks can be viewed and interpreted as a non-believer. For many years, Brooks has been held within the walls of Shawshank – the thought of possibly being paroled or even released never crossed his mind. His pet raven symbolises that there can be life lived within Shawshank, and that that is his home. When Brooks is paroled, he feels as if his lifestyle for the past thirty years have betrayed him. Even as he hopes to see his pet raven, while living a life on the outside – there is no success because Brooks is similar to the raven, lost. Brooks is a symbol of the people in the old testament, unprepared for change, and lost in hope.