The Shawshank Redemption

Plot
The director of the movie did a good job of keeping the plot similar to that of the story. The audience in both is left wondering whether or not Andy was guilty. Andy also had a chance to have a re-trial, which proved to the audience that Andy was innocent. This also made the audience more sympathetic. Both stories also included Andy's method of escaping from prison. He tunneled through the wall and escaped to Zihuatanejo.

Point of View
Both the story and the movie were told from the point of view of Red. He is the narrator, and explained most aspects of Andy's background and personality. The point of view from Red is important to the fact that he doesn't know for sure whether or not Andy was innocent. The movie allowed for the audience to see more of the story from Andy's perspective, which was more entertaining than Red telling every story. The prisoners opinion of Andy as stuck up and conceited was consistent for the story and the movie. This was more important in the movie when the warden refused to allow Andy to try for a re- trial, because he was too self- centered.

Characterization
The movie made Andy seem much more outgoing than he appeared to be in the story. It took Andy only a few months to ask Red about a rock hammer in the movie, when it took about 7 years in the story. The movie made Andy a much more likeable character. The movie also made Red seem more likeable than the story. In the story, Red killed his wife, his neighbor, and her son. The fact that he killed his two women, and a child makes Red seem more of a villain or evil crook than the movie which showed he was always remorseful for something he could have avoided.

Setting
The movie also remained consistent with the setting of the movie. The prison was truly the only logical choice for an adaptation of this short story. Without the restraints of prison, the audience would not have seen the personalities of each character. The time period was also consistent. The early to mid 1900's was a time period that would have made a prison break easier than it would be now. The prison system was still more crooked than it is today.In the story, Andy's friend setup the false identity of Randal Stevens, but Andy set it up himself through the warden's dirty business in the movie. Without the warden's schemes in the movie, Andy would not have been able to escape with any money to his name.

Theme
The theme of hope was very evident in both versions of this story. Andy never lost hope that he would one day be free again. He was the victim of terrible luck, but he stayed consistent in his dreams and hope. The theme of both was to prove that if you never lose hope, you can achieve greatness. Andy escaped by crawling through 500 yards of a sewar pipe. His persistence and hope was obvious to the audience due to that fact.

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption

PLOT
     The story seemed meant to be read at an appropriate pace. It contains many stories about Red's experiences. Most of the stories were somewhat uninteresting and drawn out. This can be compared to the drawn out days of living in a penitentiary. However, towards the end of the story it became more up beat and exciting, just as Red's life began again and he set off on his journey to find Andy. The author could have improved the story by making the dialogue more consistent rather than writing paragraphs between what seemed like every phrase that was spoken.

Point of View
     Red, like many inmates, had an outlook on life that seemed dull and dim. As a result he spent at least one third of his life in prison. Obviously it is unrealistic for inmates to dream about one day escaping, but their ideas about life prevented them from being productive or hopeful as Andy was. Andy, however, felt that he still had many opportunities in his life. Although he was wrongly convicted of murder, Andy managed to remain hopeful. Andy's hope and determination set him free to live the truly happy life he deserved. Eventually Red viewed life as Andy had, and risked going back to prison to see his friend in Mexico. If Red had given up, he may have never been released from jail, or at least never appreciated being out of jail.

Characterization
     Andy was very withdrawn from contact with other inmates when he first arrived at Shawshank. His calm and laid back demeanor made the reader, like the jury, feel that he was cold blooded and most likel did commit the crime. He was also very secluded, which gave the warden and most others the impression that he thought he was better than everyone else. Had Andy been more outgoing, the warden may have allowed Tommy to testify for Andy and he would have been released from prison. Red seemed to be the wise veteran around the prison. This allowed the reader to relate to him as an experienced man, and created the image of Red being a great storyteller. The reader could trust that Red was a truthful and reliable source due to his life experience and his admission to his crime, which proves to the reader that Red is now trustworthy.

Setting
     The setting of a prison made the story difficult to relate to the characters and situations. However, the story obviously would not have made sense in a different setting. Red narrated the story well enough for readers to understand most of the stories. The setting is not one that is overly familiar to most readers, but Red described the events well. The setting of Andy crawling through 500 yards of a sewar pipe also showed how determined Andy was to become a free man once again. Andy's patience over time also represented his great determination, because he spent years breaking through the last bit of the tunnel that could have taken only days to complete.

Theme
     The theme of the story is hope. Red was a man with very little hope for a better future for himself. He had come to terms with his crime and knew he had to take responsiblity for what he did. He seemed as if he was completely hopeless. However, when Andy began to speak of hope, Red started to change his mind. Andy convinced Red that hope is "a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Andy chased his new dream of starting anew near the pacific. Andy stated the the mexicans belived the Pacific has no memory, and he eventually made it to the Pacific and accomplished his dream. Andy never lost hope even though he was faced with terrible misfortune. He also inspired Red to hope and achieve his dreams.

Sonnet Blog

     Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare is about a man who is on his death bed. The man is sorrowful and frightened by death, but soon changes his opinion. The man concludes that death makes love stronger. This is revealed in lines 13 and 14, "This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong, To love that well, which thou must leave ere long." The man no longer fears death, because of the love he will experience. If a person becomes ill or endangered, it is difficult for most people to not feel sorrowful. The man would likely feel loved more than ever on his death bed. People who dislike the man would likely be compassionate and kind to him on his death bed.
     I agree with the theme of this sonnet. Examples of this theme are prevelant in hollywood. For instance, many people made cruel jokes about Michael Jackson's personal life, but those same people mourned his death last summer. Tupac Shakur is another classic example. Throughout his career Tupac was criticized by many people for his offensive music, but after his death many people showed pity and love to him. Thirdly Ryan White is another person disrespected during his life, only to be loved more after his death. White was kicked out of school when it was discovered he had been infected with the AIDS virus, but today there are walks done in his honor. There are countless examples of people who have received more love after their death than during their lives. Shakespeare recognized this fact long before the days of large media and celebrities.

Ballad Blog

One of the common topics of a ballad is tragic accidents. This song reflects this theme as it refers to the terrorists attacks on Spetember 11, 2001. The attacks were truly sudden disasters that nobody expected. Thousands of innocent people were killed without warning or reason.This song includes characterisics of a ballad when Darryl Worley explains the fact that terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Also the story being told in the song is a true story about a historic day in United States history. The reality of the situation reveals the horror and fear experienced that day. Lastly the song also meets the characteristic of a ballad in that the dialogue answers further the story. Worley emphasizes the fact that the events affected the world as a whole, rather than simply one person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6yLQRF-cEU&ob=nb_av3n



Have You Forgotten
By: Darryl Worley

I hear people saying we don't need this war
But, I say there's some things worth fighting for
What about our freedom and this piece of ground
We didn't get to keep 'em by backing down
They say we don't realize the mess we're getting in
Before you start your preaching let me ask you this my friend

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going thru a living hell
And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it's too disturbing for you and me
It'll just breed anger that's what the experts say
If it was up to me I'd show it everyday
Some say this country's just out looking for a fight
Well, after 9/11 man I'd have to say that's right

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going thru a living hell
And we vowed to get the one’s behind bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

I've been there with the soldiers
Who've gone away to war
And you can bet that they remember
Just what they're fighting for

Have you forgotten all the people killed?
Yeah, some went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten about our Pentagon?
All the loved ones that we lost and those left to carry on
Don't you tell me not to worry about bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?

Hero Blog

     A personal hero of mine is my grandpa. He battled cancer for  months, before he passed away. Although the cancer was terminal, he never quit. He knew that he wanted to fight as long as he could, and he did just that. My family was able to spend more time with him due to his strength and determination. When I face an obstacle that seems impossible, I often think of my grandpa's battle and how hard he fought even though he knew it would most likely be a losing effort.
     Superman is also a hero, but in a different way. He protected people and fought for them. He always found a way to save the citizens of the town, even if it meant he might not make it out alive. Superman battled many villains such as Lex Luther. Lex knew Superman's weakness, but Superman had to be courageous and fight to protect the city.
     Pat Tillman is a man who I also consider one of my heroes. I obviously did not know him personally, but he gave his life for a cause that he believed in. I believe that if people who had an option to make millions of dollars playing in the NFL, or risk their lives on the front line of a battle field, a majority would choose the NFL. However Pat Tillman sacrificed a career that he had strived and worked for his entire life, so that he could fight for his nation and defend his people. I am forever greatful and forever admire the sacrifice made by Tillman, and all soldiers.