rebellion vs. conformity
If one believed only in laws or rules that applied to evil, selfish, violent and mala in se crimes and followed only the laws that were for the protection of others, he would still be a criminal. Because he did not conform to some laws that were unjust, even if he hadn't ever hurt a soul, he might be called a non-conformist at best, as well as a criminal. If one believed that some of the laws were unjust but mostly that the system itself acted unjustly and unfairly, he'd be considered a rebel. Had he accused the whole system of downright cruel and unusual and unfair treatment of minorities and of the indigent and could prove and convince the public of such, he'd most likely be institutionalized. But should he not let the system suppress him, he'd be declared dangerously deviant and probably criminally insane and then he'd be lobotomized or killed. Even though the "dangerously deviant, criminally insane rebel" would be trying to fight for the good of a great many, the authorities would take it as a personal threat, because after all, should the public be convinced of a cruel and unjust system, they would then have the power to change that and Mr. Big Shot would be fired.
Red, Andy DeFrense's close friend at Shawshank, at first looked forward to his parole hearings. Hoping the highest hope to fool those "damn parole board bastards" (a tone similar to that reflecting the opinion of all inmates) or maybe convince them that for one reason or another he deserved to go free. But it was only after multiple times getting his hopes up, getting fixed up and acting timid, soft and harmless as a sheep and kind as a saint, he gave up and pretty much sold his hope to the system. He made the parole board think he didn't care what they thought of him by ceasing his "brown-nosing" (so to speak). He gave up trying, and gave up hope, so they set him free. What is rebellion after all? McMurphy at the mental institution and Andy at the Shawshank correctional institution never gave up, never laid down and always looked ahead. The system beat McMurphy, because he failed to realize that in fact they were brutal and inhumane, and they were in truth guarding all the doors and holding all the keys. Sometimes the authorities against which one would rebel are too powerful and, even if by deadly force or the like they can stop a rebellion. Andy remained patient and never once became hostile. He waited, he hoped, he dreamed, and he thought. Andy won. For years Red had relied on that single tangy hope for parole and he clung to it for a while, but after a good amount of bright red DENIED stamps, he gave up. When he ceased to agree with the method of talking and living in hope colored water meant to convince the prison of a reason for parole and fermented into "gave up" colored oil. Only when he laid down did he float above and with his give up/submission, he went free, he conformed and he was left alone. McMurphy dared to step forward and demand some rights, but no one stood behind him until he befriended and gave confidence to the repressed. He then grew a following. He was a Jesus figure. The war between McMurphy (the rebel) and the big nurse (abusive authority) only truly
Some common words found in the essay are:
Andy Shawshank, Andy DeFrense's, McMurry I'm, VS CONFORMITY, RP McMurphy, Aide Williams, McMurphy Disturbed, TV Nurse, Red Shawshank, laws unjust, dangerously deviant, parole board, unjust system, criminally insane, believed laws,
Approximate Word count = 1354
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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