One of the central themes of The Shawshank Redemption is friendship. Viewers, including myself, viewed the film as a story told from a friend’s perspective. The audience, following Red’s narration, can learn exactly how his opinions about Andy changed—he first thought of him as a weak person, then doubted his beliefs, and finally admired his qualities. It seems that their friendship solidified gradually as they interacted with each other and they appear to be equal in this relationship. Red felt deeply concerned over Andy’s fate and warned him about the ramifications of defying the system but Andy never entertained the idea of giving up and advised Red to believe in hope just like him. I was among the people who extolled their great friendship. Nowadays, however, their friendship is questioned, as many voices the idea that white supremacy was demonstrated in it. And I agree .
According to a movie review posted on 4th Apr. 2020, many wonder why a black narrator is employed, telling the story from his perspective and in a manner that focuses primarily on a white man instead of himself. “Everyone who read the script would ask, ‘Why is the black guy placing himself in the background of a white guy’s journey?’ There would be a quaking fear of think pieces declaring the film endorses white supremacy” (Smith). Such a presumption is not unfounded—Andy is the leading role while Red the supporting. Red believed in institutionalization and the power of the system while Andy represented hope, tenacity, and wit. Red really committed murder while Andy did not. Nearly all characters in the crime fiction are white and Red could have been white too. But instead, he was black. All of this is somewhat unfair because Red’s personal feelings should indeed receive some more attention but he devoted nearly all of his lines to Andy.
Contrary to my previous belief that Red and Andy became very good friends despite their skin colors, this movie indirectly reveals the inferior, subordinate position of black people. The consciousness of many African Americans was not awakened at that time, compared with the progress they have and are achieving up till now. The film was released in 1994, the year when the controversial Clinton Crime Bill was signed into law, with the support of many black leaders. “Punitive criminal control and prison policies were disproportionately affecting people of color” under this bill (Lussenhop). This could serve as evidence that black people were tricked into accepting their peripheral, marginal role in society. Nowadays, however, their awareness of equal rights has become unprecedented. Police murdering African Americans over very minor offenses never ceased to shock the nation, every year starting small-scale demonstrations and every few years stoking up racial hatred and resulting in nationwide protests. The recent George Floyd incident is an example of how the hidden and suppressed racial conflict is ripped open.
Chances are that African Americans were pacified and so were the viewers who watched films such as The Shawshank Redemption. According to a film review posted in the year when the film was released, there is “warmth in the friendship that builds up between Andy and Red” and “mostly the film is an allegory about holding onto a sense of personal worth” (Ebert). Perhaps Red was portrayed by Morgan Freeman to send the message to the audience that indestructible friendship can indeed be forged between a black man and a white man. And I believed in such an idea when I first watched the film as well. However, now after all the recent events, I doubt this belief because many irreconcilable tragedies have occurred.
Works Cited
Ebert, Roger. “The Shawshank Redemption.” Rogerebert.com, 23 Sep. 1994,
www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-shawshank-redemption-1994. Accessed 29 Sep. 2020.
Lussenhop, Jessica. “Clinton crime bill: Why is it so controversial?” BBC News Magazine,
bbc.com, 18 Apr. 2016, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36020717. Accessed 29 Sep. 2020.
Smith, Kyle. “America’s Favorite Movie.” National Review, 4 Apr. 2020,
www.nationalreview.com/2020/04/movie-review-the-shawshank-redemption-retains- inspirational-power/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2020.