One of the major ideologies in the novella, “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption”, is displayed as the ‘power of hope’, which is shown on more than one occasion by both Andy and Red. Andy Dufresne displays his everlasting line of hope on many occasions; when any other detainee would have given up, Andy didn’t. His hope is displayed through his battle with “The Sisters”, his work with the guards, and his posters.

Andy didn’t surrender to anyone, when “The Sisters” repeatedly beat and raped him, he fought back. Andy spoke of his willingness to bite down on Bogs member so hard that it would cause serious damage, “…I’m going to bite whatever you stick into my mouth. You can put the razor into my brain, I guess, but you should know that a sudden serious brain injury causes the victim to simultaneously urinate, defecate, and bite down… In fact, I understand that the bite-reflex is sometimes so strong that the victims jaws have to be pried open with a crowbar or a jack handle.” Needless to say, they left him alone that night.

He clawed his way up, through the changes in guards and wardens. Dufresne displayed his hope once again when he approached Byron Hadley whilst they were fixing the roof of the old plate shop. He asked the gentlemen if he trusted his wife and after being threatened he explained that Hadley has an opportunity to be receiving even more money that he originally would have. Andy became the “prison banker”, he helped the officials and they helped him, they no longer allowed “The Sisters’” abuse towards Andy. They allowed him to have his library and through this he became an almost god-like figure in the prison system. Most importantly they allowed him to be in a cell alone, without a roommate.

This alone time opened up many windows for Andy, almost literally. He was able to dig/tunnel his way out of his cell, undetected. “I liked it there. He never made fun. But he didn’t want me there. I could tell,” said Big, Andy’s only cellmate. “I was glad to go, me. Bad draft in that cell. All the time cold. He don’t let nobody touch his things. That’s okay. Nice man, never made fun. But big draft.” Andy’s only cellmate explained to Red that Andy’s cell had a big draft which would have been caused by the whole Andy dug in the wall.

He hoped to become Peter Stevens, the millionaire down in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Will he, you’ll have to read to find out.