The 1994 film Shawshank Redemption directed by Frank Darabont tells the familiar story of Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, a successful investment banker turned convicted felon who must spend the rest of his days in Shawshank Prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. Shawshank Redemption, based on a short story written by Stephen King, captivates the hearts of American audiences and audiences around the world because there is much more than a prison film. It highlights and recounts the emotions and feelings common to all humanity. Among all the myths presented by Shawshank Redemption, the power of hope to sustain the soul during trials and tribulations is the myth that propels the entire storyline.[1]Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay This article will argue that every aspect of this film revolves around the myth of hope as the strongest characteristic of the human soul. The myth of hope and resilience of the human spirit is directly linked to the Greek myth surrounding the emergence of all evil in the world. The myth of Pandora's Box directly feeds into the myth of hope presented in the film. Additionally, key cinematic scenes from Shawshank Redemption help convey to audiences the resilience of the human soul. Finally, elements of the film not linked to the form of the film but to the context allow the film to transcend mythical levels. The construction of the plot, the mystery of the main character and the voice-over narration are features of the film that were appropriated from the typical structure of mythology and adapted to the cinematic medium. Before the myth of hope and the resilience of the human spirit can be examined, a common myth directly related to the film itself must be addressed. In Works and Days, Heisod's collection of myths written around 700 BCE, he tells the story of the creation of man and woman and the reasoning behind the order of the world. Within this set of myths is the reason for the existence of evil and suffering in the world. The myth begins with Prometheus, a mythical character known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to mortals. Zeus, in his fury, created Pandora as a scourge for man. This gift was sent to Epimetheus, Prometheus' brother, as punishment. Zeus also gave Pandora a jar which he asked her never to open. Pandora, with her unprecedented curiosity due to her feminine nature, opened the jar (more commonly known as Pandora's Box). This pot was “full of evils” that “caused sorrow and harm to men”.[3] The myth also states that inside the pot was Hope and that Hope did not escape. Thus, hope is considered the only factor that allows humans to manage their lives despite all the cruelties and suffering that the world has to offer. This myth of Pandora's Box relates to the myth of the resilience of the human soul that is presented in Shawshank Redemption. This myth of Pandora's Box plays such a crucial role in the film that it was used as a tagline: "Fear can hold you prisoner." Hope can set you free. »[4] The relationship between the two myths is found when we ask the question of why a good thing like hope was even placed in a pot of evils. In the film's continuity, Red (played by Morgan Freeman) gives a poignant speech about the nature of hope: “Let me tell you something, my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man crazy. »[5] Red's speech is not inaccurate. Hope is a dangerous thing, but not an evil. Hope isdangerous because it has power beyond measure when placed in the heart of the ideal man, a man like Andy Dufresne. The myth of hope is at the center of the film Shawshank Redemption. The preservation of the soul and humanity in difficult times, the pursuit of dreams against impossible obstacles, resilience in the face of difficult circumstances all revolve around the singular idea of ​​hope. Shawshank Redemption is a powerful cathartic device because it allows viewers to see the world from Andy Dufresne's point of view and notice the extraordinary difficulties he must face.[6]The circumstances surrounding Andy Dufresne's situation allow viewers to see the transformative power of the myth of hope. From the start of the film, Andy Dufresne's situation is unfavorable to him. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murder of his wife and her lover. The audience feels the overwhelming feeling that Andy's life is completely over. He will rot forever in his cell because of his mistakes. Even when Andy Dufresne arrives at the prison, viewers learn that the current inmates are betting against him. Inside the prison, Andy is repeatedly raped by the inmates. One of Andy's mentees, Tommy Williams, is killed on the orders of Director Norton after Tommy gives Andy information that could help secure his freedom. However, the director is not happy about losing his personal accountant and money launderer. After the principal refuses to listen to Andy's pleas, Andy calls him obtuse. For this minor infraction, Andy must serve two months in the hole, also known as solitary confinement. This set of circumstances and unnecessary retaliation leads the audience to feel resentment for Andy Dufresne. Viewers connect emotionally and psychologically to his trauma and experiences. Regardless of these external factors, one internal factor allows Andy to prevail in these difficult circumstances: hope. Andy, with his intelligence and skills, avoids being ejected from a building that the inmates are tarring. Instead, Andy trades financial favors for beers for his fellow inmates. Andy keeps his humanity and preserves his soul by building a library and doing good deeds for others in the prison, such as helping inmates receive a high school equivalency. Andy Dufresne's hope never fades as he tries to obtain funds for the library. He writes one letter a week, and for his efforts he receives $200 and donated books. However, Andy, seeing the power of hope and determination, continues to write letters to obtain funds for his library. He commits to writing two letters a week. Thanks to his efforts, he can receive an annual stipend of $500. This shows how Andy used his hope to keep his sanity during the difficult times he spent in Shawshank. All the while, Andy maintains his strength. He has focused his mind on his master plan because he knows he is not cut out for prison life. Besides, he knows he doesn't deserve it. Once Andy accepts the lack of love he gave his wife, he realizes that he is unjustly incarcerated because he did not kill his wife, or at least from his point of view. view, he did not kill his wife. Red reveals this fact to us when he says, “I have to remember that some birds are not meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too shiny. »[7] Andy's hope is what keeps him grounded in reality while keeping his spirits up. Red comments on the power of Andy's hope by saying that Andy had "a walk and a conversation that wasn'tjust not normal here. He walked around, like a man in a park, without a care or care in the world, as if he were wearing an invisible cloak that would protect him from this place. power of the myth of hope and its relationship to the myth of Pandora's Box, but the film's cinematic techniques and effects help to reiterate the fact that hope is the central element of the film Shawshank Redemption. In order to show how the myth of hope works in the film, it is best to select and analyze key scenes that show and describe the nature of the myth. These key scenes include the scene in which the freedom of the outside is taken away, Andy decides to decide his own destiny, Andy rejoices in the newfound freedom of the outside, and Andy and Red find redemption on the beach. Images shown of the prison are dark, cold, gray and impersonal. Colors are desaturated and washed out. A bird's eye view of the prison is shown as the camera flies over it. The gray colors of the prison contrast sharply with the surrounding green landscape. Viewers immediately sense that Andy has reached the lowest possible point in his life. The camera then cuts to Andy's point of view as he enters Shawshank Prison. The pale blue sky, Andy's last glimpse of the outside world as a free man, passes overhead and the scene fades to black, signaling Andy's fall.[9] The upward shot of the scene also makes the viewer seem insignificant in the face of the power of the prison. This makes imposing situations seem much bigger than anything the individual has to offer. This scene, coupled with subsequent scenes of sexual harassment and treatment in prison, can be seen as Pandora's moment opening the pot. There is a feeling that nothing good can come of it. Andy learns that the only way to overcome these obstacles and external situations is to control the things you can control. What is important is the attitude with which he approaches situations, and in Andy Dufresne's cause, it is with his immense sense of hope. Andy's hope, the myth that circulates throughout the film and brings it to life, is best summed up in the scene of the inmates at the table discussing Andy's latest escapade and achievement. Andy tells the other inmates, “There are places in this world that are not made of stone. That there's something inside...that they can't reach, that they can't touch. »[10] Andy speaks clearly about the hope that keeps him going through difficult times. Aside from these two scenes, the scenes after Andy's escape present a nice contrast to the early prison scenes. The first of these scenes is when Andy emerges from the sewers and stands in a stance of victory and triumph, his arms raised to the sky. This scene is crucial because it uses the symbol of rain. Andy stands in the rain, cleansed of all his transgressions and emerges as a new man on the other side, both figuratively and literally.[11]The second scene which illustrates the transformative power of the myth of hope is the film's final scene in which Red joins Andy on the sandy shores of the Pacific Ocean while Andy polishes a battered boat. This scene contrasts directly with the muted prison scenes at the beginning of the film. Instead of desaturated colors, the film's final scenes are vibrantly filmed, showcasing the colors of Andy's boat and the vast ocean. Both scenes, those showing the prison and those showing the Pacific, use extreme angles. The first is filmed using an extreme result and the second uses an extreme view of the beach and the two microscopic figures below. While the first series of.