Using Relationships for One Purpose
Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is a young banker who is convicted in Shawshank for the murder of his wife and her lover. For the first two years of his imprisonment Andy mainly kept to himself. But one day when the prisoners were working on the Shawshank's roof, Andy helps a guard with his IRS problems. Andy gave the guard the information in exchange for the prisoners to have cold beer after their shift. Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman) thought Andy did it to "feel free."
Andy was displaying one of the three Goals in Relationships developed by Canary and Cody (1994). The instrumental goal is defined by Guerrero as "instrumental goals are task oriented." Dufresne was making relationships only to help his own causes. Later in the movie (many years later), Andy was helping the warden with the prison's, and his own, finances. Andy was also writing letters for six years to get a library for Shawshank. He was finally granted a collection of books and money for a library. Andy found a copy of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" among the collection of arts. He locked himself in the warden's office and played the record on the prison's PA system. Red stated that the women's voices made the prisoners feel free.
Andy was displaying one of the three Goals in Relationships developed by Canary and Cody (1994). The instrumental goal is defined by Guerrero as "instrumental goals are task oriented." Dufresne was making relationships only to help his own causes. Later in the movie (many years later), Andy was helping the warden with the prison's, and his own, finances. Andy was also writing letters for six years to get a library for Shawshank. He was finally granted a collection of books and money for a library. Andy found a copy of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" among the collection of arts. He locked himself in the warden's office and played the record on the prison's PA system. Red stated that the women's voices made the prisoners feel free.
Using Friendships for Survival (sorry for spoilers!!)
When Andy was first imprisoned, Red saw good in him and took an interest. When they first talked to each other, Andy requested that Red get him a stone hammer for sculpting. Toward the end of the movie, we see that Andy picked the wall of his cell and noticed that it was corroding and fragile. He planned the rest of his imprisonment to retaliate against the warden of Shawshank. He became the banker of the prison and took care of the finances. Andy became close with Red and his group of friends. After many years he even received the trust of the warden himself.
Andy escaped Shawshank and showed the local banks the bank accounts of the warden. His accounts were totaled close to $370,000. Hadley, one of the guards, was convicted of murder and the warden killed himself. Red wondered if the warden's last thoughts were of "how Andy got the best of him." Every relationship Andy was affiliated with are all examples of the Affection Exchange Theory. He was in those relationships because of his viability. Viability is defined as "the motivation to survive." Andy endured the many years in Shawshank because of his will to survive and live on.
Andy escaped Shawshank and showed the local banks the bank accounts of the warden. His accounts were totaled close to $370,000. Hadley, one of the guards, was convicted of murder and the warden killed himself. Red wondered if the warden's last thoughts were of "how Andy got the best of him." Every relationship Andy was affiliated with are all examples of the Affection Exchange Theory. He was in those relationships because of his viability. Viability is defined as "the motivation to survive." Andy endured the many years in Shawshank because of his will to survive and live on.
*For more information, see the "notes" page