Exploring Freedom: My Journey with 'Shawshank' and 'Monte Cristo'
Have you watched The Shawshank Redemption? Read The Count of Monte Cristo? Then you know that feeling of freedom, patience, and justice that fills every page and frame. That’s exactly why I love these stories—they feel like they’re made from the same substance. The imprisonment of Andy Dufresne and Edmond Dantès is like the daily grind for any of us who carry the weight of other people’s demands, dreaming of freedom like a ray of light at the end of a long night.
Andy and Dantès are symbols of freedom that push through prison walls. Andy digs a tunnel for twenty years; Dantès sits, slowly shaping his plan for revenge. Their fight against the system is something I understand all too well. Skipping classes, quitting any job where you stop feeling alive for even a day—that’s the thrill. When you pull that door open, ignoring the looks of confusion and judgment around you, the sense of freedom rises inside, like fresh air pouring into a stifling basement.
I remember my first escape from school: like Forrest Gump, running with an impossible speed, breaking away from the metal restraints. I was just barely off the ground. I still wonder how I was even born on time, rather than breaking free early.
Justice. It stands as a guiding principle for each of these characters. Edmond wants to get back what’s his, with revenge in his teeth, while Andy simply craves freedom and dignity. Justice is a delicate, shaky thing. I’m always for it, though I’ve never reached the point of revenge. Maybe the situation hasn’t come up yet. Or maybe, in these characters, I see a reflection of what I might not have dared to do.
Patience. These stories are about that, about thousands of days etched into walls, about steps on sandy roads. I’ve never understood where they get so much resilience. They know what they want, and they don’t give up. And me? I also believe that if you don’t give up, eventually you’ll get there. Only, sometimes, you want it sooner, you know?
Money. In the end, both Andy and Dantès find themselves with pockets full of cash. They weren’t after it, but ultimately, they gained freedom and control over their lives. I’ve never chased after wealth, but who knows? Maybe someday I’ll stumble on a bag of cash somewhere around the corner. So be it—as long as there’s freedom.
If you love The Shawshank Redemption and The Count of Monte Cristo, maybe we’re not so different. These stories are like scars on the soul—they remind us that there’s always a way out of any hole. It might not be visible yet, but it’s there.
The photo was taken by Roman Odintsov and sourced from pexels.com.
https://www.pexels.com/@roman-odintsov