2ESH20: Comparing Incarceration in Shawshank Redemption and Caged Bird

This essay provides a comparative analysis of the consequences of incarceration as portrayed in the film "The Shawshank Redemption" and the poem "Caged Bird." The essay begins by introducing the contrasting methods used by the director and author to influence the audience's perception of the theme of imprisonment. The main body explores the consequences of incarceration, highlighting the negative impacts on Andy Dufresne in the film, including loss of control, mental health issues, and changes in personality. Similarly, it examines the poem's depiction of a caged bird and its struggle for freedom. The essay then delves into the film techniques employed by Frank Darabont, such as cinematography, color usage, and music, to emphasize the injustice of the prison system. The analysis also investigates how Maya Angelou uses harsh language in the poem to highlight the negative effects of confinement. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, contrasting the film's positive outlook for Andy with the poem's portrayal of the bird's despair and the shared use of impactful language in both texts to convey the emotional and psychological impact of incarceration. The essay also touches upon the reformative theory of punishment.

Comparative essay
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
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INTRODUCTION
The authors and directors uses various types of languages, features and theme in order to
influence the minds of audience (Bryan 2017). The text used may also represent culture and
ideas which influence audience. Also, it is necessary to choose relevant text so that audience is
attracted.
This essay will describe about consequence of incarceration of both The Shawshank
Redemption (film) and Caged Bird (poem). The Film techniques employed by Darabont and how
does written element of poem highlight negative effect of incarceration will be discussed.
MAIN BODY
Consequence of incarceration
From movie it is found that Andy was sentenced to life imprisonment. The consequence
of incarceration is that Andy lose control so he plays operate on loud speakers. Here,
imprisonment is highly difficult as it create habit of thinking and acting which is dysfunctional.
Also, there is negative effect of prison on Andy mental and psychological health. This has led to
painful and long term consequence on Andy (Daza, Palloni and Jones 2019). There is change
in pattern and norm of living by Andy. Hence, his personality has completely changed when he
is in prison. Now, he has to protect himself from guards. But Andy personality has changed in
prison. His thinking ability and knowledge has helped him to deal with difficult conditions in
effective way.
Here, in poem it can be analysed that there are severe consequences of incarceration of
bird that is being put behind cage. It is found that bird wings got clipped and his feet is tied.
Besides, when bird tries to sing with fearful voice. But voice is heard only till hills. Along with
that, it is found that in cage bird mental illness is highly impacted in negative way. The bird is on
edge of being died. There are nightmares scenes coming in mind due to which bird starts
shouting. Thus, these are consequence of incarceration of bird in cage.
Film techniques employed by Darabont
It is observed from movie that there are many types of film techniques that is used by
Darabont to show injustice system of punishment (Gifford 2019). Here, it is found that he has
used visual and verbal techniques such as colour, music, cinematography. Here, in a scene it is
shown that guards are beating a crying man. So, a low angle shot was taken to show inmates
were not equal. Thus, here, cinematography is used to show how prisoners are left with no
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solidarity for each other. Also, prison environment has been shown with this technique as well.
Similarly, in another scene
lack of colour in the interior scenes within Shawshank's walls. Most of the prison is dull, indicati
ng the lack of mental stimulation and the few opportunities the prisoners have for personal devel
opment.
Another technique Darabont uses to show that prisons could be better suited to redemption is
music. So,
by playing the music, Andy was bringing them hope and taking one small step towards helping t
he prisoners with their redemption (Pyrooz, Gartner and Smith 2017).
How does Angelou use written element of poem highlight negative effect of incarceration
By reading the poem it is evaluated that Angelou has written it in very effective way. He
has used harsh words to highlight negative effects of incarceration. For example- when bird get
trapped in cage the words used by Angelou is that wings are clipped, feet is tied, etc. So, it
clearly shows negative effect of incarceration. Along with that, words used to describe effect
relate to each other. For instance- author has related effect with freedom. The birds sings for
freedom but voice is heard only till hills. In another paragraph it can be seen negative effect as
Angelou has described that in cage bird stands on grave of dreams. There are nightmare scream
coming up regularly (Sugie and Turney 2017). Moreover, bird is not having any option of
freedom s his wings are clipped and feet is tied. So, he starts singing for freedom.
It can be analysed that in both text there is use of harsh and typical words to show
negative effect of incarceration. Also, it both shows that how life changes when person is caged
behind bars. In poem text is simple and there is no technique used in representing incarceration.
But in movie there is a scene described and then effect is shown. Besides, purpose of both text is
to show effect of incarceration and it describe feelings, expression, etc. of thoughts in simplified
manner.
On contrary the difference between both text and movie is in movie there are some film
techniques used as well to show injustice system of punishment. But in poem there is no such
technique is used. Also, another difference is that background, colour, etc. are included in film
but not in poem. Moreover, tone of poem is simple whereas of movie it is harsh.
Thus, punitive measures must be taken in order to curb crimes (Testa and Porter 2017).
Here, reformative theory of punishment is applied which focus on reducing crimes to protect
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basic rights of human. Similarly, in both movie and poem there is need to protect rights of bird
and Andy.
CONCLUSION
From essay it can be concluded that in poem consequences of incarceration is bird being put
behind cage and wings got clipped and feet is tied. However, in movie consequences of
incarceration on Andy is positive. He used his knowledge and ability to deal with it. There are
various film techniques which is used by Darabont to show injustice system of punishment that
is visual and verbal techniques such as colour, music, cinematography. Angelou has used harsh
words to highlight negative effects of incarceration such as clipped, tied, nightmare, grave, etc.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bryan, B., 2017. Paternal incarceration and adolescent social network
disadvantage. Demography, 54(4), pp.1477-1501.
Daza, S., Palloni, A. and Jones, J., 2019. The Consequences of Incarceration for Mortality in the
US. Unpublished manuscript]. https://osf. io/preprints/socarxiv/b8xe6.
Gifford, E.J., 2019. How incarceration affects the health of communities and families. North
Carolina medical journal, 80(6), pp.372-375.
Pyrooz, D.C., Gartner, N. and Smith, M., 2017. Consequences of incarceration for gang
membership: A longitudinal study of serious offenders in Philadelphia and
Phoenix. Criminology, 55(2), pp.273-306.
Sugie, N.F. and Turney, K., 2017. Beyond incarceration: Criminal justice contact and mental
health. American Sociological Review, 82(4), pp.719-743.
Testa, A. and Porter, L.C., 2017. No rest for the wicked? The consequences of incarceration for
sleep problems. Society and Mental Health, 7(3), pp.196-208.
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