 |
| The prisoners are easily controlled by an immoral power |
As I read the book, I was reminded of the harsh truth that I never wanted to admit: the employment of strength and duplicity is the very fundamental and the most effective in treating people. People are often mistaken, believing that the leaders should be virtuous and honorable. However, in reality, people are more likely to be controlled when the leader actively uses unjustifiable, immoral power.
Machiavelli, the author of The Prince, stated that ruthless and tyrannical princes are more successful in keeping and acquiring their political power. Yes, people believe that they are likely to admire righteous ones who deserve to receive such respect. Nevertheless, in fact, people with authority commonly use the method of being harsh in controlling the masses, and Shawshank State Penitentiary effectively employs such technique to deal with the prisoners. When the criminals (they claim that they are innocent) firstly come to Shawshank, they are startled by the inhumane treatment of the prison. There is no such concept as “human rights,” and the prisoners are never treated as human beings. Cursing tyrannical guards like Hadley, the prisoners complain about the brutal treatment. However, they unconsciously, gradually begin to adapt themselves to such environment. Using the term referred in the novel, I can say that they are “institutionalized.” They come to regard such treatment is natural. This method of dealing with others is immoral and cruel in my perspective. Taking advantage of the human psychology, those with power work hard to create an environment that the masses are more obedient. Such manipulation should not be forgiven, but it is very effective, what can you say? Such tendency of people to adapt themselves to an environment is lucidly shown in “the roof incident.” The prisoners had been normally hostile to guards including Hadley. When they were given beers, however, they were gratified by the favor. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption explicitly shows that people are very vulnerable to the strategy of “constant harshness and unexpected kindness.”
 |
| Andy finally achieves freedom |
However, this cunning strategy was not effective to everyone. There was one prisoner who was never docile and eventually escaped from Shawshank proving that he did not belong there at the first place: Andy Dufresne. Andy was a respectful banker who had been convicted of murdering his wife and her secret lover. When he firstly came to Shawshank, he was a cold fish that never compromises with the environment. Others believed that Andy would someday adjust himself to the environment and become one of them who live without any ambition or hope. However, Andy never let the hope fly away from him. When he was about to be rape by the Sisters, when he was thrown into solitary confinement, and even when Tommy Williams was murdered, he kept a hope deep inside in his heart. Why do you think Andy gave the advice to Hadley in exchange for three bottles of beer for each? Love for the coworkers? Desire to drink a cool drink under the warm spring sunshine? I believe that Andy did so because he wanted to "use his ability" just like the time when he had not been locked up in Shawshank. Working as a banker again, Andy gave himself a pride and kept telling himself that he never belongs to such society. From the very beginning to the very end, Andy never gives up hope. Red, the narrator, was institutionalized just like other prisoners. He was not ready to be free until the very end. However, Andy had been perfectly ready to achieve freedom from the time when he made the first step in Shawshank.
After reading about Andy eventually achieving the freedom that he had longed so bad, I asked myself, “Is hope a significant element in my life? Didn’t I just throw away the glimmer of hope?” As I said above, people are vulnerable to the strategy of “constant harshness and unexpected kindness.” However, if people are highly enlightened and have a firm idea about their lives like Andy, they will never be controlled by such inhumane, cunning strategy. Andy’s impressive escape from Shawshank accentuates the importance of being awaken and having hope no matter what.
