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The Shawshank Redemption

There are a number of different prison subcultures illustrated in the film The Shawshank Redemption, both among the ranks of the prisoners and the administrators. Among the administrators, there are three primary subcultures; the sadistic warden Samuel Norton, the brutalizing guards like Captain Hadley, and the more humane guards. The brutal guards often have a subculture made up of other guards that do their bidding, known as their ôlackeysö (Darabont, 1994). However, it is among the prisoner culture that the most distinct subcultures emerge throughout the course of the film, each with its own level of power or lack of it.

Inmate 37927, Andy Drufesne, arrives at prison and is immediately associated with the prison subculture known as the ôfishö to the more seasoned inmates (Darabont, 1994). Andy is a new fish and will become the source of sexual gratification for another subculture within the prison, the group known as the ôSistersö (Darabont, 1994). The ôSistersö sexual abuse the new prison inmates known as the ôfish.ö When Red, the narrator of the film and a black inmate who becomes AndyÆs best friend, is told by Andy that he has ôno enemies;ö Red tells him, ôWait a while. Word has it the Sisters have taken quite a likinÆ to you. Especially Bogsö (Darabont, 1994). The Sisters sexually abuse the fish at will. When Andy asks if anyone knows the name of a new prisoner, another inmate, Heywood, tells him, ôFuck do you care, new fish? DoesnÆt fuckinÆ matter what his name was. HeÆs deadö (Darabont, 1994).

We also see various other subcultures among the prison inmates, including the subcultures of white and black inmates that seldom mesh. However, even among the white inmates there are different subcultures, like the rough, tattooed blue collar workers in comparison to the more refined and educated white prisoners like Andy and the old librarian that befriends him, Brooks Hatlen. W

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The Shawshank Redemption. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 11:38, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1710404.html