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# The Shawshank Redemption and the Treatment of Prisoners The Shawshank Redemption (TSR) story takes place in a prison, where most prisoners are guilty of heinous crimes. Fairness is lacking, not only in major issues, but also in small details. Even innocent people, such as young women, are victi...

# The Shawshank Redemption and the Treatment of Prisoners The Shawshank Redemption (TSR) story takes place in a prison, where most prisoners are guilty of heinous crimes. Fairness is lacking, not only in major issues, but also in small details. Even innocent people, such as young women, are victims of societal biases. The prison's undemocratic nature is immediately apparent; a prisoner, is beaten to death by Captain Hadley, a seemingly unjustified act. This highlights the disregard for human life and the tyrannical nature of the system. The film also portrays situations where prisoners aren't valued: In comparison to the prison inmates, the women in the laundry are mistreated, showing another form of abuse. The film portrays the abuse of Sarah Redmond. A woman found in the convent's coal cellar. She is treated like an animal by the nuns due to the unsanitary conditions. This dehumanization contrasts greatly with the experiences of the prison inmates shown earlier in the book, a sharp point to indicate the different treatment of people in the prison. The portrayal of Andy Dufresne, even experiencing solitary confinement, is a stark contrast to the complete degradation witnessed for the laundry women. Despite the isolation, Andy is still cared for by the guards to a degree.