Raymond Klassen – Ideals and Identities

The Only Guilty Man in Shawshank 

In the movie “The Shawshank Redemption,” the prisoners of Shawshank Prison all claim their innocence. Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, asks Red, played by Morgan Freeman, if he is innocent. Red declares that he is “the only guilty man in Shawshank.” Until this point in the movie, the viewer thinks Andy is the movie’s main protagonist. Upon hearing this line, it begins to dawn on the viewer that the main character is indeed Red. 

The Only Guilty Man in Shawashank – The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Movie Clip HD Scene 

I have struggled my whole life with the institution of the Christian religion – not with the Christ – but with the institution. While watching this scene, I realized why: the people who have most belonged to Christian institutions have never faced their guilt. In fact, they have done everything to avoid facing their guilt. I have been deservedly suspended from Christian institutions, and I have undeservedly been released from them. But my unease with them is that they do everything in their power to avoid their guilt. And most leaders do the same thing. 

I have been the only guilty man in Shawshank. 

Red works through fear and trembling and many trips to the parole board before he finally wins his parole. This weekend, I finally received mine. 

The most common thing we have come to know is how an innocent person suffers, like Andy Dufresne. The most uncommon is when a guilty person becomes free. And today, we guilty people shall be with Jesus in paradise.