The term institution does not completely relate to the government,

rules and regulations but also refers to the boundaries in life such as
your own ability, knowledge and body. The prison system in most
countries is designed to both punish offenders for the crimes they
have committed, but also to rehabilitee them. Scott monk in his
novel Raw (1998) encounters how this experience may allow an
individual to question their behaviours and perceptions of others
through institutions. This is also seen throughout the movie
Shawshank redemption as it projects the personal experiences
between the characters and the institution. These texts reveal that
when an individual is open to change they re-evaluate their past
attitudes and potentially seek to alter them.
Throughout the novel Raw, Monk demonstrates how the experience
of being sent to prison can have a significant impact upon an
individual, inclining them to questioning their past and possibly
leading them to alter their attitudes, as seen through the main
character Brett who has been sentenced to serve time a the farm
expectantly to be rehabilitated. Bretts perception of the farm was
just like any other institution , full of inmates who were being
punished for crimes theyve committed, his initial attitude was full of
hate and disgust as he projects it as just old mcdonald and a couple
of gesses. Monk does this through the major theme of protest, as
seen in Bretts statement of I dont want to stay here and I dont
want to follow any rules this reinforces his idea of hate and disgust
towards the institution and enables us to understand his opinions
and attitudes. The concept of changing attitudes is also influenced
from minor characters in both texts as seen from Tyson the resident
bully at the farm who continually played mind gamed with Brett like
the eggs? I made that batch especially for you, notice how there
extra yellow, like urinal? , which influences Bretts attitudes towards
more hate for the farm and encourages him to use his rebellious
nature. Although Bretts attitude throughout the novel changed
through the role of a women, Caitlan, who changed Bretts view on
the whole situation. Bretts mischievous and rebellious nature was
persuaded more to actually care for what was commencing around
him and perceived to improve his people skills and knowledge, this
portrays how through the institution Brett altered his attitudes.
Dissimilar to Raw , Shawshank redemption a film directed by Frank
Darabont, focuses on the negative effects of the individual while in
an institution and how these negative effects lead an individual to
question their behaviours and perceptions of others through
institutions. Shawshank focuses mainly on the themes of physical
abuse and punishment, this is reinstated when Warden Norton is
shown laying out the rules: no blasphemy but verbal and physical
abuse is condoned.. Shawshank prisons plot was to keep the
criminals Inside the dull grey walls away from colourful society and
to perceive their state of mind as Andy Dufresne states on the
outside I was an honest man, straight as an arrow, I had to come to
prison to be a crook. This is an individual effect Andy had because of
the institution; he is now a criminal. The negative effect of the
institution is also portrayed through other characters in the film. The
character of Brooks served his 50 year sentence in Shawshank as the
prison librarian, upon his releasement he is given a place to stay and
a source of employment but states all he wants to do Is get a gun,
rob the food way so they would send me home . Brooks refers to
the prison as home , the institution has left him with a negative
effect of the outside world and relies on the support of the
institution, his hands on the bus seat is symbolic of his lack of
experience in the real world. Brooks was rendered so incapable of
independent thought and human operation in society that he was
led to suicide. Although Shawshank has an overall negative effect on
an individual Andy communicates that he will never be
institutionalised and uses the mistakes of the Warden to escape
Shawshank and create a new life for himself. This portrays how
Shawshank as an institution has changed the behaviours and
perceptions of individuals but influences some individuals to view
their past decisions and create a better life for themselves.
Another outcome explored through the texts is how the experience
of being sent to prison reveals that when an individual is open to
change, they may reassess their previous attitudes to the people in
their lives and potentially forge better relationships with them. Monk
in raw portrays this through compliance with Brett and Josh. Brett
realises his wrong actions, mistakes and attitudes and admits this to
josh you know how you told me I was hurting my friends , I didnt
know I was until you told me. From this we see a dramatic change in
Brett as he comes to full discovery, thus forming a stronger
relationship between Josh and Brett all from the experiences of the
institution. Compliance is also seen in Shawshank redemption
through dialogue from Red I liked Andy from the start shows the
friendship formed between Andy and Red inside the institution .This
is also met with Andy accepting to help Brooks with the library , after
Brooks releasement Andy continues to run the library and collect
many books to continue Brooks ideas also showing the strength of
the relationship formed .
Through the actions and attitudes of Tyson and other characters in
raw and Andy Defresne in the film Shawshank Redemntion
encounters how this experience may allow an individual to question
their behaviours and perceptions of others through institutions.
These texts reveal that when an individual is open to change they re-
evaluate their past attitudes and potentially seek to alter them.