Andy proclaims his innocence, but no one believes him.
At Shawshank, he meets Ellis Red Redding (Morgan Freeman) and a number of other prisoners.
In terms of the latter, its usually death that comes knocking.
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When Andy asks if hes innocent, Red shakes his head and says, Only guilty man in Shawshank.
When another prisoner mentions how Andy asked for rope, Red fears the worst for his friend.
He believes Andy has finally lost all hope of being released.
However, he doesnt know that Tommys death only fuels Andys fire to get out faster now.
His very being becomes so entangled with Shawshank that he can no longer function without it.
In a way, the prison already took his life a long time ago.
He loves nothing more than to see the inmates living by the same mantra.
Instead, hes free to write the next chapter in a warm place with no memory.
His quote about the rapid pace of life hits on so many different levels as its even relatable today.
Where is the time to breathe and just be?
Ultimately, he ends up laundering money for the warden in Shawshank.
However, Red recognizes that this might never happen.
Red sees hope as dangerous, rather than as empowering.
In a letter to his friend later, he harks back to the concept of hope.
However, he doesnt share Reds pessimism about it.
Instead, he suggests an alternative viewpoint.
He explains how hope is good, and because its good, it can never die.
More importantly, it appears as if he finally convinces Red about it, too.
