# Shawshank Redemption Question... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926 "2018-06-11T23:25:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/41 "2018-06-14T14:04:40Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I find it unrealistic that the ultrareligious warden never took down Andy’s cheesecake posters to punish him. I find it unrealistic to believe that a prison warden would have even known about the posters. I don’t imagine most wardens go about a prison looking into the cells. The one time it does happen, he leaves on pretty good terms with Andy as they banter bible quotes back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/42 "2018-06-14T14:07:50Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I find it unrealistic to believe that a prison warden would have even known about the posters. I don’t imagine most wardens go about a prison looking into the cells. The one time it does happen, he leaves on pretty good terms with Andy as they banter bible quotes back and forth. Except that [the poster is clearly present](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFxAsYVVN7A), in the scene you’re talking about. He even tells Andy that he doesn’t approve, but “exceptions can be made.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/43 "2018-06-14T14:09:39Z")
I now wonder if Andy’s ability to get along with people and have them do his bidding is the sign of a sociopath. He is obviously a very intelligent person, and people simply like him and are on his side. The whole thing about someone else confessing to his wife’s murder could be a hoax he would be able to conceive and carry out. I’m going to have to re-read the original story from the view point of that idea. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/44 "2018-06-14T14:17:02Z")
He is innocent. Everyone’s innocent in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/45 "2018-06-14T14:22:34Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > He is innocent. Everyone’s innocent in prison. Good one. Except for Red, self-admittedly the only guilty man in Shawshank. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/46 "2018-06-14T14:24:56Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > Assuming it was taped to the wall at all four corners (either double-sided tape, or tape doubled over itself), when Andy crawled through the last time, it would have settled against the wall. Depending on how sticky the tape was, the bottom corners might’ve adhered themselves to the wall naturally – not very strongly, but enough to avoid immediate notice. Or Andy might have put fresh tape on the bottom corners after climbing in the tunnel so that they would stick after he let it fall back into place. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/47 "2018-06-14T14:29:48Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And despite the fact he couldn’t keep his nose out of people’s problems. > > Of course, it’s all a fantasy - Andy couldn’t have escaped through the sewer. he died down in there. The whole escape is a dying hallucination ala Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. 🙂 This. I’m no chemist or expert but I imagine a long sewer pipe that… “Andy Dufresne, the man who crawled through 500 yards of shit and came out clean the other end…” would have insufficient oxygen, what with the chemical reactions from all that foul shit decaying in there. What an inglorious end of life that would’ve been, right? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/48 "2018-06-14T15:24:48Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > He is innocent. Everyone’s innocent in prison. “Lawyer fucked me!” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/49 "2018-06-14T15:28:02Z")
He tunneled through the wall with a little rock hammer, but how did he cut through that thick piece of rebar visible in the escape scene? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/50 "2018-06-14T15:31:27Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > How can you be so obtuse? > > 🙂 Damn it - you are right. I went back. I had it confused with something else. :o ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/51 "2018-06-14T15:56:14Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Lawyer fucked me!” For the win! ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926/52 "2018-06-14T17:40:11Z")
New theory: Andy made an escape attempt, but died in the sewer tunnel. His body was never discovered/recovered. Red was eventually paroled, and struggled just like old Brooks had, and, like Brooks, committed suicide. The whole trip to Mexico/meeting up with Andy was an “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” fantasy on Red’s part. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shawshank-redemption-question/815926.md?page=2)