Bible Study in Shawshank Penitentiary
How Shawshank Redemption is an allegory for the story of Jesus
Okay, I may take some flak for this, and I don’t normally write about my faith or religion. If I may say so, I’m quite shy about it and tend to think that those who write too much about it are either those who wish to deepen their faith and have kind hearts (
) or as in the case of some folks I’ve met in life, wish to put on airs of faith. Thing is religion to my mind is a private affair, and I like keeping it that way not sure why, call it weakness, if you want but it is deeply personal it is like having a lover, I don’t want others to know too much about it and I like keeping it to myself and those I love.That said since I was a youth, I’ve always been struck by Shawshank Redemption, but not in the way others are. Most who watch it become obsessed with the cinematography, the camera angles, the narration, the acting, the fine writing, and so on. But what always struck me was not this, but something that almost makes me laugh whenever I see it. The reason for this is that for all his hatred of the Christian faith, Stephen King wrote what is the most raw, and the most successful allegorical story of all times for the tale of Christ.
That is what this novella and movie is. Make no mistake, and I’ve known this since I was but a ‘wee lad’ even though I’m not a fan of watching Christian movies and shows as they don’t typically have the same quality one finds in other mediums and fiction for some reason (there are exceptions, seriously check out Joseph King of Dreams, Prince of Egypt & Ten Commandments).
At the start sure Andy Dufresne is committed to Shawshank Penitentiary under false pretenses and is crushed by it. Before we start the analysis let’s be honest; all can tell that the wife cheating with some golf-pro, is in the view of Dan a metaphor for Original Sin, for the adultery of mankind with the serpent in a way, the turning away from Divine Favour. Andy is upset and raw, because he truly loved his wife and she has been slain, and he’s still realing from the false accusations placed against him. This can easily be considered another metaphor one I need not delve into, you be the judge of which Biblical story it can be compared to.
But upon arrival in a world of sinners, he sets to work after a month, towards befriending Redd (played by Morgan Freeman), a former crook turned con who ‘is a guy who knows how to get things’ and is… a carpenter.
Andy meanwhile wants a rock-hammer because he’s a ‘rock-hound’ who likes to ‘shape and mould rocks’. Stone-masonry and wood-working are not terribly far apart in terms of the work and skills necessitated to work them, they both require patience and steady hands.
What is more is that as pointed out by Redd, geology is the study of time and pressure, with there being references to how it takes millions of years to shape a mountain, or some part of the earth. Certainly this is somewhat relevant to Andy digging his way out of Shawshank, but there’s much that can be read into the line as well.
There is also Andy’s more relevant strengths to the plot or at least to his survival within the prison that is to say his skill with math, accounts and the law. He is stated repeatedly to be in ‘charge of the accounts of Shawshank’. An apt metaphor could be said given that he manages all the accounts of all those within the prison by the end, that this is in some way connected to God’s knowledge and clearing of the accounts of our souls and such.
The first one he begins to help in this manner is Byron Hadley, the oppressive, cruel thug who works for the Warden who claims to love the Bible and discipline. Cloaked in darkness Norton the Warden is a bleak figure, and one who likes to play at civility while heaping out plenty of punishment unto others (never by his own hand though he’s much too ‘good’ for that). Hadley though being a brute is more than happy to dole out punishment himself, and nearly kills Andy only to spare him when Andy helps him with his accounts and the retaining of 35,000$.
Andy does the legal and accounting work for a small price; that Hadley buy beers for all those tarring the roof so that they might be rewarded after days of hard work. It is also interesting how pleased he is that Haywood the stuttering, cold blond friend of Redd’s who previously was snappish is the one to offer him a cold one. Refusing, if with a warm smile and approving air, almost that of a father looking on with joy as his son graduates college shares a quiet moment of warmth with Haywood.
Redd though looks on in fascination and admiration at Andy. It is not long afterwards that Andy is nearly violated by the ‘Sisters’ the violent, and most monstrous of all those who live in Shawshank, their leader beats Andy to an inch of his life only to be himself brutalised and sent away. Not long after this, Andy is given a ton of rocks to mould and shape, and is given a new poster (to replace his old one), he arrives back from the infirmary after a month spent there, in pain and not long after begins managing the accounts of everyone in the prison including the Warden.
Familiar with the tax system and with banking, Andy arranges a false identity and account-holder for the Warden’s stolen money to be sent to. The name he decides upon is called ‘Randall Stevens’, for this false identity with Andy using his own picture and knowledge to arrange things.
Not long after taking over the financials of the prison, Andy’s friend Brooks is parolled and nearly kills Haywood, only to end up getting his freedom and ends up in despair committing suicide. Andy visibly mourns for Brooks, and struggles with this loss as do the other inmates.
Also while all this has been happening Andy has been writing to the State Senate for funds for the library, and he not only gets funds after years of writing letters begging for funds but also books and vinyl cds.
Propping one on, while the guard is taking a dump, and the others are off having lunch or going to welcome and suck up to the newly returned Warden (who left for a trip it seems, doubtless to torment some unfortunate soul elsewhere), Andy puts on a cd on the record-player, Figaro’s Wedding. The part of the song he puts on, is the part where the women are singing of marriage, love and hope. Interesting that this should be his choice, as the women’s voices blast their way throughout Shawshank spreading those very sentiments, moving guards and inmates alike and reducing them all to tears.
The Warden having just arrived, is enraged and commands Andy to come out from within his office. Andy smiling and with a light in his eyes (one of mischief) seems to dare the Warden, as he turns UP the volume.
Now earlier in the film the two had clashed it seemed over knowledge of the Bible. The Warden likes to boast of knowing the ‘Good Book’ better than any other man, and admitted his favourite quote is, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness.” (John 8: 12) neglecting the last bit of the sentence I believe, which is; , “but will have the Light of life.” Of course the Warden would not care for this latter bit, as it speaks of Hope and of Eternal Life.
Andy responds by saying his favourite quote and this is the one upon which the whole of the movie turns; “Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning.” (Mark 13:35)
The reason these two quotes must be brought up now, is that the Warden likes to pretend to be the Light, falsely leading those in Shawshank, filling them with despair and driving out their hope. He mocks and scorns their loves, their passions, their hobbies and their desire for liberty. In a word, he is obviously supposed to be Satan, claiming to be ‘Master of the House’ Master of the World, when he is not. He is it’s slave, he is lower than the lowliest of men.
Andy in this story is the ‘Master of the House’, having arrived to inspire the downtrodden of Shawshank, to give them hope, love and to rescue them from the darkness. In this way, he is obviously a metaphor or allegory for Jesus. And his warning tone, his piercing glance as he looks through the Warden as he says ‘Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning.’ is meant to demonstrate that Norton is NOT Master of the House, but Andy/Jesus is.
Therefore, his putting on the record-player, playing music to inspire the people, is a euphemism for spreading the Gospel, and the message of Hope. It is also interesting that in a lot of sects of Christianity, notably the Gaelic branch of the faith, a great deal of emphasis is put on music as coming from the Holy Spirit and God. Song and music are especially important in that branch of the religion, music as a means to spread love, hope and positivity is an old idea.
Indignant at Andy’s brazen defiance, the Warden has him put in the ‘Hole’ (Oubliettes or Solitary as it is called in the modern world) for a month. Andy hardly affected returns a little worse for wear physically, but is amused and almost whistling. He does however use this newly re-imbued love of music on the part of the inmates to speak to them of hope, how it is theirs and cannot be taken away.
The only one who doesn’t immediately give himself over is Peter-I mean Redd. Redd warns against hope, and that it is dangerous, at which point Andy challenges him and cautions him against despair and becoming another Brooks. Redd infuriated storms off.
By this time, a youth arrives in the prison one by the name of Tommy. Tommy isn’t a terribly bright thief, but is fast-talking and cheerful and Andy immediately takes a shine to him and begins to educate him.
It is Tommy though who runs away from his test and feeling bad, asks Redd what Andy’s crime was, finds out it was murder and realises that Andy is in reality innocent. It is he who begins to preach Andy’s innocence wherever he goes, with Andy keen to have a new trial, and so the Warden demands the head- Oh I mean that Tommy be executed whilst Andy is in solitary.
Okay here Dan did the math; 2 months minus weekends comes down to 44 days, a number which is not far from 40 (an oft used number in the Bible, and like 40 has as its root number 4, which is a crucial number in the Bible just as 30 has as its root 3, another crucial number in the Bible). This could be equated with the 40 days in the desert while Tommy preaching and begging for the chance to stand in court on the witness stand preaching the innocence of Andy could easily be taken for well the story of John the Baptist.
That said, after the death of Tommy, Andy becomes determined to leave Shawshank and makes the necessary arrangements though not before he instructs Redd to find his way to a buckfield. Here it gets weird if you don’t watch this movie as allegory, as Andy predits the sort of rock he’ll place there, under a certain tree and despite there being plenty of trees, and buck-fields in the area of which he’s speaking, he tells Redd to find the ONE black rock and to look below it for Hope.
The reference to a stone wall, to the importance attached to a tree, with stones being so visibly connected here to Redd is very odd. So Redd’s to go digging through stones for the one stone, what next? Is he to be renamed Peter also?
Anyways, Andy escapes not long after, crawling through half a mile of dung going down below the prison, only to come out clean on the other side, with his arms spread out around him as he strips his shirt off and gives thanks to God…… The physical imagery here is unmistakeable.
Andy then makes for the Pacific, to a place called Zihuatanejo, a name which may possibly mean; from Nahuatl (Cihuacan) meaning "place of women." Cihuacan, or "place of women", refers to the western paradise of the Nahuatl universe, the home of the "goddess women". According to tradition, these women arose in the afternoon to lead the sun at dusk to the realm of the dead, Mictlan, to give a dim light to the dead. (quoted from wikipedia)
So the women are said to care for the dead and bring light to them, in Aztec mythology, with Jesus often being associated with a number of women, who cared for his body while he was dead. It is also a group of women who financed his ministry as they were gentry-women, and they who spread his message as ‘female’ disciples, bringing light to the world (the light of Christ). Those most often associated with him are Martha, Mary of Magdalene (a gentry woman) and of course his mother Mary.
So Andy is going to the place where the women care for the dead, and is going to a place with ‘no memory,’ and where it is by the sea and where he hopes to ‘open up a hotel where he could take his guests out to sea.’ Seriously, the metaphors don’t come more heavy handed than this; no memory of past sins one might say about the place he seeks in the south, the sea is where he wishes to take them, with the sea often associated with the telling of tales, of fish, of light and fun.
The Warden is exposed for the crook he is, and looking to a message his wife made for him at the start of the film, one which says; ‘His judgment cometh and that right soon,’ which is not a Biblical verse but sounds like one. Interesting that the wife should make this for her husband, a warning perhaps? Andy takes a profound amount of interest in it, and it is evident that in the Warden’s last hour he taunts him with it. Spiritually it is almost as though the wife made it for her husband, in order to condemn him and not his victims, so that she has spurned him for his enemy.
What is more is that the Warden discovers in his vault hidden behind the plague made by his wife, Andy’s copy of the Bible. Inside it he wrote a message taunting the Warden; ‘Salvation lay within’, with the Warden having taunted him with this when having briefly taken the Bible from him only to return it.
Acts 4:12. 12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Could be what is referred to here, and yes it is within the Bible that Andy hid the tool with which he escaped. What is more is that he covered the hole in the wall behind the poster of a beautiful woman, which could be taken also as a metaphor for birth via Mary, and in regards to the tool this is about the purpose which the Bible seems to serve to Christians as the means by which salvation is gained.
The trouble for the Warden is that he’s no Christian, he’s no atoning figure but a monster set on punishing all within Shawshank. Yet when the fuzz arrive, he commits suicide rather than facing their judgement. Same could be said about Satan fleeing to Hell rather than atoning for his sins and facing his holy Father.
After the Warden leaves, the friends of Andy set to work recounting all his tales to the other inmates, especially the newcomers, so that in this way they are doing as the Apostles once did for Jesus. Redd though he joins in, and is their leader is stricken though with grief for his friend, and upon being granted parole goes out (oh and he was in prison for a total of… 40 years), finds the hidden message below the rock and then goes to meet with Andy in Zihuatanejo.
In this case Zihuatanejo can be connected with Heaven, and with Redd going there and meeting his friend (who is dressed all in white, and seems to be shining with the light of the sun), he is welcomed with open arms as the two embrace, reunited at long last together.
Now if you disagree with this long-winded analysis and assessment of Shawshank Redemption as a allegorical tale, feel free. But the continuous Biblical references, the scorning for things like learning (the library) on the part of the Warden, his usage of the Bible against others and murderous killing spree, and the message of hope brought to Shawshank by Andy who set about restoring everyone that he could’s hope and humanity is impossible to ignore in my view.
Note that I don’t always watch a film with the goal of seeing Christianity in it, a yarn is often just that; a good old yarn. But this story is different, it is a great movie truth be told, one of the best, and is one we can all enjoy no matter our faith, our views and our backgrounds I think.
That was insightful. Perhaps you could do the same for the Christian themes in the movie, The Bourne Identity.
What? You didn’t see the metaphor? Bourne wakes up, not knowing who he is other than some clues that he is special. Then he thinks he is this Bourne fellow, then someone else, and finally…
(wait for it…)
He is Bourne again!
I designed and taught a course on Sociology of Film for years. Every year some of the best students wrote essays on Shawshank, and many recommended I include it in the course. I finally saw the light and featured it. Thanks for your intriguing analysis