Psychoanalytic Analysis of The Main Characters in The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Movie

Abstract

The current study focused on analyzing the personalities of the two main characters of the movie (Andy Dufresne and Ellis Boyd Redding alias Red) in light of the Freudian personality theory. Sigmund Freud provided the concept of personality dynamics known as the Id, Ego, and Superego. He also proposed the idea of ego defense mechanisms: used when a conflict between the Id and Superego arises. Therefore, the characters above were examined using the psychoanalytic structure of personality: id, ego, and superego. The id includes impulses, the ego demonstrates rational thinking, whereas the superego introduces moral standards. The data was obtained by watching the movie, selecting the quotes, and studying the theme and story plot of the movie. According to the findings, the two characters used various defense mechanisms such as intellectualization, regression, and rationalization. Andy Dufresne is also presumed to have a more powerful ego and superego than Red. The study also discusses the theme of the movie and one of its important lessons.