There have been many excellent reviews of the award winning movie, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.

Most reviews of this film adaptation of Stephen Kings short story, allow readers a glimpse of how the main character [played by Tim Robbins] finds eventual 'redemption' despite the horrors he suffered when convicted then incarcerated for twenty years for a murder he did not commit. 

Many of America's top movie critics and other reviewers point out repeatedly how Robbins' character, Andy, clung to hope - a hope, which in the end was dramatically depicted through his courageous escape.  And to a lesser extent, the notion of 'redemption' was also realized by the character, Red, played superbly by actor, Morgan Freeman when he remembered the words of his friend, Andy - "Get busy living, or get busy dying."

Yet, less often did we read about a more troublesome type of 'redemption'. And that was the 'redemption', which was borne of despair and which sent character Brook Hatlen [played admirably by veteran actor James Whitmore] to his death.

I've participated in counseling for the elderly; seniors who when faced with loss of purpose, loss of belonging, loss of the ability to remain minimally independent, and who suffer loss of health/spouse/family, etc., the pain of despair sets in.  For many of the elderly, this sense of loss often becomes grave, and it becomes all consuming in the depths of their souls.  Then, many become emotionally tormented because their despair becomes devastating for the human spirit to thrive - at the moment when they acquiesce all 'hope'. 

Finally, gripped by fear and the pang of loneliness, the desire to 'give up'; to die  becomes both urgent and intense.  And, it is in this context that the character Brook Hatlen [through surrender] found 'redemption' - paradoxically, AFTER he was freed from Shawshank.

How tragically sad.

Maizie James

April 12, 2009