Andy Dufresne and Samuel Norton

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People’s actions cannot only affect them but also the people around them. In Stephen King’s novella, “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” Andy Dufresne was sent to Shawshank Penitentiary sentenced with two life sentences for murder, one for each of his victims. While serving his sentence he tries to continue his outside life by doing taxes and adding to his rock collection. As time goes by Andy was doing mostly everyone taxes in the prison, including Warden Samuel Norton. While Andy’s severing his time he later finds out who was the real murder of Andy’s wife and her lover. With this knowledge he asks the warden for another trail but the warden rejects his request because he wants Andy to stay in Shawshank and do his taxes for free. The character, other than Andy’s friend Red that has an effect on Andy is Samuel Norton because he is self-centered, cruel, and short-tempered.

Norton’s self centeredness affected Andy because Andy had an unlikely chance of becoming a free man. When Andy requested for a new trail the warden rejected his request because he wanted him to stay in Shawshank and help him with his finances. “I like you right where you are, Mr. Dufrensene, and as long as I am warden here at Shawshank, you are going to be right here.”(71) Samuel Norton denied Andy’s request because if he were to leave the prison and go to the outside world he would mostly likely not help him. But in the prison Andy is under Norton’s power and must do what he is demanded to do. If Andy were a free man and were would do Norton’s taxes he would mostly likely be doing it for a coast. In Shawshank Andy is doing the tax free of charges, since he is a convict and he has no need for money in jail.

Andy was also affected by Norton’s crue...

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... happened all he cares is it happened. The warden is not very patient with time, and wants everything possible solution to how Andy escaped, and when he demands it.

One person’s action can change everything. Andy was affected by Norton’s self centeredness because he was not going to leave Shawshank as long as he was saving the warden tons of money, all free of charge. Norton’s personality trait of cruelty also had an effect on Andy. If Andy were to disobey the warden’s directions he could get a harder punishment then the rest of the cons. Andy was also affected by Norton’s short temper because the smallest mistake could put Andy in solitary for a month. Norton knows what Andy’s prize possessions and will take them away. One persons problem can be another person’s solution.

Works Cited
Stephen Kings Different seasons "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption"

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