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Similes
Situational Irony
Explanation and Analysis—Gender Stereotypes:
Gender stereotypes are partially responsible for Andy’s imprisonment in Shawshank, but, ironically, they also help him escape. When Andy is on trial for the murder of his wife and her lover, the prosecution claims the killings could be “understood, if not condoned” if Andy were “a wronged husband seeking a hot-blooded revenge against his cheating wife.” This logic implies that murder is a reasonable response to infidelity and that male violence toward women can be understood—and even excused—under certain circumstances. In other words, the notion that Andy murdered his wife is a familiar, believable story, which contributes to the jury’s readiness to convict and send him to prison.
Related Themes:
