“Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” by Stephen King

Being in prison for the rest of one’s life is one of the hardest punishments that someone may overcome. This is what the story “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” by Stephen King is about. The narrator, Red, is in the notorious Shawshank prison in Maine, for murder. During his time spent here, Red gets goods smuggled in for him. A few examples include drugs, a rock-hammer, and milkshakes from McDonalds. I feel that the author Stephen King, who describes various characters' emotions, is a great writer. Being born in 1947, King includes figurative language that one today may have a hard time knowing. For example, King uses the word, “Obtuse”, to describe an inmate's bad experience with a guard. After writing, and starring in multiple movies, anyone could say that King is a very experienced author. However, King is most well-known for his horror novels, and movies, like The Shining. 

In the beginning of the novella, it starts with the main character, Red, a prison inmate. He explains his role as someone who can get contraband for others. Soon, a new inmate, Andy Dufresne, arrives, also convicted for murder. At first, Andy is a quiet prisoner, who is pretty distant from Red. However, as the story progresses, Andy starts to open up, and becomes friends with Red. Their friendship really helps Red overcome his long time isolation by spending time in Shawshank prison. The main conflict is mainly the fact that Andy has been wrongly imprisoned, and having to survive the harsh environment of Shawshank in the frigid temperatures of Maine. Over time, Andy’s intelligence and their friendship help them endure, leading to Andy’s escape to Mexico, as well as Red. Initially, he is seen as an inmate who is mainly seen for sneaking illegal items. But, over time the bond between Red and Andy starts to become more personal. They both teach each other to be patient. By the end, Red is paroled and finds his well deserved freedom. He leaves behind a big legacy that it’s never too late to start over. 

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption had a great plot, and it had very funny, but intriguing dialogue. The different relationships among characters kept me very interested and prevented me from being bored. Another notable part of the novella was its profound language use. Written in 1982, Stephen King included a wide variety of phrases that would make the average reader scratch their head, being puzzled. I would highly recommend this book to teens or young adults. I’d say this as there is some explicit language, and lots of injustice. At less than 150 pages long, this book is a perfect conversation starter or pick for a book club. Overall, this novella is a powerful and inspiring story that shows how hope and perseverance can overcome dark situations. Its very significant themes and strong characters make it a memorable and impactful read. This story reminds readers that even in tough situations, your hopes should be kept up. If you are considering a story that will make you think and stay with you after reading, this is the book for you. Warning: this book may cause you to feel inspired, tear up, and think about how bad prison life seems.