How Is Water Used In The Shawshank Redemption

In the film ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ directed by Frank Darabont, symbolism was used to develop meaning and understanding of the themes of brutality, resourcefulness, hope and freedom. The symbols of water, the tunnel, the game of chess, Jake the crow and the music ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ were particularly important throughout the film.

Water is used by people for simple tasks such as washing clothes or dishes, taking a shower watering the garden, drinking and other everyday activities. This represented that water is used for cleansing, which is to wash away dirt and it had showed the idea of hope and purification that was contained in water. The water of the rain and river symbolises the idea of cleansing, freedom and purification, which …show more content…
The music may help them relax, feel comfortable and emotional as the music plays along. The music can be found in parties for celebrations with people to had gathered together, having fun and enjoying the music. This represented that music gave joy and hope to people having the freedom to listen and enjoy along with it. The music of the song ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ symbolises the notion of hope, Andy played the song ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ to the prisoners from the speaker in the music scene. This allowed the prisoners to have heard, experienced and shared music together. The music was beautiful and memorable to all prisoners. This made them believe in music, hope and freedom of the outside world. This music of ‘Marriage of Figaro’ demonstrated hope because in prison music are forbidden. Therefore, when Andy had played the music he was lost in his own world thinking about getting free outside and escaping from prison, this had given him hope. The music ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ also is a symbolism of a servant who got the best of his master, this foreshadowed that Andy, the servant is going to outwit his master Warden and gain hope to