Is The Shawshank Redemption based on real events? What is the difference?

No, The Shawshank Redemption is a novella by American writer Stephen King.

The background of this novel is the 1930s. At that time, "American political corruption was late for businessmen" and even spread to prisons. In the story, Andy, a young banker, was sentenced to life imprisonment because his wife and her lover were killed. Because of the corruption in the prison, he still can't get the truth, but suffered all kinds of mental and physical destruction in Shawshank prison.

However, Andy was not destroyed by his ill-fated fate. After more than 20 years of unremitting excavation, he finally climbed out of a 500-yard sewage pipe on a thunderstorm night, regained his freedom and lived a free life on the Mexican coast.

Extended data

The name of The Shawshank Redemption is also symbolic. Shawshank symbolizes darkness and evil, and the word redemption comes from Isaiah in the Old Testament, which symbolizes the practice of Christian thought. It is worth thinking that the characters in the novel do not regard "religion as the foundation of social life" like early American immigrants, and of course they do not practice any religion.

Andy, the hero, did not wait for God's redemption, but saved himself by insisting on good humanity, won freedom and achieved rebirth. In fact, with the lack of western social beliefs in the 20th century, humanism replaced theism, and the word seems to have become less popular.

Many American writers have long noticed that "material money is a corrosive agent, and industrial technology is the source of depriving humanity". Andy, an "alternative" figure in Stephen King's works, has worked hard in Shawshank Prison for decades, which is by no means a redemption in general Christian doctrine. Salvation here seems to be more suitable for quotation marks, expressing more meanings, and seeing the author's deep concern and thinking about many problems of current society and modern human nature.

Many American writers have long noticed that "material money is a corrosive agent, and industrial technology is the source of depriving humanity". Andy, an "alternative" figure in Stephen King's works, has worked hard in Shawshank Prison for decades, which is by no means a redemption in general Christian doctrine. Salvation here seems to be more suitable for quotation marks, expressing more meanings, and seeing the author's deep concern and thinking about many problems of current society and modern human nature.

The novel The Shawshank Redemption illustrates the true meaning of hope and freedom. It can be said that if Andy in the story gives up hope, he will not be free. It is not difficult to see from the plot of the novel that hope leads to action. Not only Andy, the protagonist, but also Rhett in the story found light and hope through Andy's gift, and finally gained freedom through hope.