Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Andy Dufresne

Andy and Red get close to equal screen time, and we actually get to hear even more from our kindly narrator, but this is Andy's story. When Red wants to spend twenty years digging a tunnel through solid rock and stage a daring escape, he can get back to us.

Without Andy there is no story. Even if you do find yourself more interested in Red's arc, well, Andy's the one who replants the seed of hope in his friend's brain to begin with. Otherwise, Red probably wouldn't have experienced his attitude adjustment and gotten released until he was getting ready to ring the bell on death's doorstep. (Death hates it when you knock instead of using the bell, btw. Just a helpful tip.)