I think I know the answer now.
posted by christinesfakeblog @ 10:52 AM
Some people call me Maurice
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3 Comments:
I actually spent a LOT of time thinking about this, and I ended up stopping the movie to read my bible and I figured out that I got so emotional because, okay, he was a sweet old man that I didn't want to die, but also because he had put his hope in the wrong place...he relied so heavily on shawshank that he decided to reject the freedom he was being offered. It may sound really simple, but it took me a few hours of reflection to figure that out.
Not so much that that was what was happening, plot-wise, but the question was - why is it hitting me so hard? I think I'm definitely guilty sometimes of what Brooks was guilty of, and it slapped some proper focus into me...
So, that was MY answer...but if you have another answer, I'd still love to hear it.
Christine,
This is actually a pivotal moment in the plot. You are on the right track speaking of the theme of hope being the undercurrent pulling Brooks down into despair in that he has been "institutionalized" and cannot bear the thought of living out with the familiarity of Shawshank.
This is to show the internal struggle that Red felt when he was released. Do you remember when Red confronts Andy saying, "Hope is a dangerous thing."? Red feels the exact same turmoil when he is released, yet because Andy cleverly gives him hope Red is able to persevere through it and later meet up with his long lost friend.
It is a beautiful illustration of how hope governs our lives and choices. Brooks knew his life and identity was found in prison. Being a free man ironically became the sentence. Andy was always innocent and would not let the institution warp his view of life. This was in a sense his gift to Red.
The movie's greatness lies within its demonstration that properly places hope is the greatest gift one can give.
Wow. I butchered that last sentence:
Should read: The movie's greatness lies within its demonstration of properly placed hope being the greatest gift one can give.
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