The book version and movie version of "Shawshank Redemption" are extremely similar to each other, the movie varying only slightly from the book. For instance, the reasoning why Red and Andy are in prison, the manner in which Andy escapes, and the grueling situation with the sisters are a few of the details which remain the same between the two. One difference that I did find while watching the movie was that Red doesn't look back at his past time in jail before Andy came as often in the book. The movie is more focused on Red's relationship with Andy and the times that they spend together. Also one part of the plot which differs is in the book is that the wardens do not remain the same as they do in the movie. In the movie, Mr. Norton, the warden remains the only warden throughout the story while in the book, the wardens change throughout. Another difference between the movie and book is that in the book, Andy set up a false identity and put all of his money under this false person. Andy explains this by saying "outside these walls, Red, there's a man that no living soul has ever seen face to face. He has a Social Security card and a Maine driver's license. He's got a birth certificate. Name of Peter Stevens." In the movie, Andy describes the fake identity he set up, saying the exact same thing. The only difference is that instead of his friend setting it up from the outside, Andy sets this fake person up from the inside of jail and instead of it being his money, it it the warden's dirty money. I found this to be a nice addition to the plot.
Point of View
The point of view also remains the same between the movie and book. Red tells the entire story from his point of view and from stories he has heard and things he has assumed. I still found Red to be a trustworthy narrator because although he committed murder, he is honest as he was "the only guilty man in Shawshank." One difference is that the narration did stray slightly from Red's perspective as the action of the story took place, but it always returned to the booming voice of Morgan Freeman, who plays Red, telling Andy's story. Red also does not include the part at the end about the story being "all about me, every damned word of it." Although this part is left out of the movie, the main theme of the caged bird is not taken out, but more of that is to come later.
Characterization
While watching the movie, I found myself realizing that the characterization throughout the story is more indirect that direct. The characters are developed more through stories and happenings in the story rather than by Red just saying "they [the sisters] are to prison society what the rapist is to the society outside the walls." While some direct characterization is present i feel that the indirect characterization, such as the sisters brutally raping and beating Andy, has more of an impact on the viewer than the direct. I believe that for the movie, this works because the viewer will become more sympathetic and understanding when they see a brutal act going on rather than just hearing one being retold. One similarity in characterization is Red and Andy being foil characters. I feel that this is portrayed even more strongly in the movie because you can see how they work together and keep each other going. For instance, Andy's endless hope and Red's hopelessness. These two characters allow the story to be dynamic and interesting because of their contrasting views and attitudes.
Setting
The settings in the book and short story are also similar, but I felt that the movie was much more vivid and easier to follow the setting as expected with a movie. The remake of the movie from the book followed the setting in the book well. The exercise yard, showers/bathrooms, library, laundry room, and outside world followed the book in a precise manner. One additional setting in the movie is "Zihuatanejo." In the book, Red only speaks about this place saying "I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams," but he never actually makes it to the Pacific in the book as the story ends before the reader sees him reach his destination. In the movie, the Pacific and the beach at Zihuatanejo become a setting when Red reaches the Pacific and finds Andy. I believe that this setting added to the theme of freedom and a new life for Andy and Red.
Theme
For the most part I found the themes to be the same between the book and the movie. The movie not only followed the plot well, but it also portrayed the same themes. I found the biggest themes to be in the simile of the bird, comparing Andy to a bird who "is not meant to be caged." I found this theme of freedom to be very inspiring. Also, the theme of hope is still present in the movie, but the viewer gets to see Red and Andy's positive hope become a reality for the two. I also found some other major themes in the movie which I did not originally pick out during the short story. I found a theme of perseverance when Red said Andy "crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side." Although Red is speaking about Andy escaping through the sewers, I also saw this as him saying that Andy had to go through much unhappiness and dirty business, but in the end, he came out clean and happy. I also picked up on the theme of friendship in the most unlikely place with two unlikely people, as this is what Red and Andy's friendship is all about.
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