Shawshank Redemption and Psychological aspects of Thinking,
Intelligence and Motivation
1
, Shawshank Redemption and Psychological aspects of Thinking, Intelligence
and Motivation
Etymologically, Shawshank implies a variety of psychological issues with its jailbirds. Through
the sufferings in the prison of Shawshank and hopes to achieve freedom, punishment of Andy
and Red in jail issues of personality, motivation, thinking and intelligence brought within the
storyline. Depicting the effects of sentenced life during and after a convict’s in jail, Shawshank
Redemption portrays these psychological issues that revolve around the theme of film of finding
freedom. While analyzing characters’ behaviors in Shawshank Redemption, psychological issues
can be found from beginning to the end. Throughout the film, the theme of freedom is evident
with the use of psychological term such as thinking to get identity, intelligence to get famous
among Shawshank employees and motivation to get freedom. What drives the characters’ actions
is freedom to live one’s own, independent life, which does not necessarily come from being
outside of jail walls, but rather from one’s outlook or perspective of life. So as Andy says “Get
Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying” (Myers AP. 2012).
During the 1940’s, a young and prosperous banker named Andy Dufresne arrives at Shawshank
prison in Portland, Maine after being falsely accused of murdering his wife and her illicit lover.
In this high security prison, Andy experiences isolation and harsh treatment. Red, who is also
serving a life sentence, befriends Andy and aids others by secretly running as an in-prison
supplier of cigarettes, cards, posters and other items from the outside world. These items give the
detainees a touch of reality beyond the Shawshank walls, especially the poster of Rita Hayworth.
Brooks, the librarian, has distributed books to the prisoners for sixty years, but is later released
leading him to committing suicide because he cannot seem to find his place in society.
As the years pass by, Andy develops a respect from his inmates and some of the guards by using
his banking skills and education. By assisting the warden, Samuel Norton, with his financial
endeavors and trying to get a new library for Shawshank, Andy is able to slowly gain favor with
the jail’s authority. However, by helping the warden embezzle money, Andy does not realize that
this is hurting his chances of ever leaving Shawshank because the warden does not want to get
caught. Andy is taking advantage of and placed in solitary confinement, which further pushes
him to find freedom that he secretly has planning all along. One morning, Andy’s cell is empty
2
Intelligence and Motivation
1
, Shawshank Redemption and Psychological aspects of Thinking, Intelligence
and Motivation
Etymologically, Shawshank implies a variety of psychological issues with its jailbirds. Through
the sufferings in the prison of Shawshank and hopes to achieve freedom, punishment of Andy
and Red in jail issues of personality, motivation, thinking and intelligence brought within the
storyline. Depicting the effects of sentenced life during and after a convict’s in jail, Shawshank
Redemption portrays these psychological issues that revolve around the theme of film of finding
freedom. While analyzing characters’ behaviors in Shawshank Redemption, psychological issues
can be found from beginning to the end. Throughout the film, the theme of freedom is evident
with the use of psychological term such as thinking to get identity, intelligence to get famous
among Shawshank employees and motivation to get freedom. What drives the characters’ actions
is freedom to live one’s own, independent life, which does not necessarily come from being
outside of jail walls, but rather from one’s outlook or perspective of life. So as Andy says “Get
Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying” (Myers AP. 2012).
During the 1940’s, a young and prosperous banker named Andy Dufresne arrives at Shawshank
prison in Portland, Maine after being falsely accused of murdering his wife and her illicit lover.
In this high security prison, Andy experiences isolation and harsh treatment. Red, who is also
serving a life sentence, befriends Andy and aids others by secretly running as an in-prison
supplier of cigarettes, cards, posters and other items from the outside world. These items give the
detainees a touch of reality beyond the Shawshank walls, especially the poster of Rita Hayworth.
Brooks, the librarian, has distributed books to the prisoners for sixty years, but is later released
leading him to committing suicide because he cannot seem to find his place in society.
As the years pass by, Andy develops a respect from his inmates and some of the guards by using
his banking skills and education. By assisting the warden, Samuel Norton, with his financial
endeavors and trying to get a new library for Shawshank, Andy is able to slowly gain favor with
the jail’s authority. However, by helping the warden embezzle money, Andy does not realize that
this is hurting his chances of ever leaving Shawshank because the warden does not want to get
caught. Andy is taking advantage of and placed in solitary confinement, which further pushes
him to find freedom that he secretly has planning all along. One morning, Andy’s cell is empty
2
