Purpose of Carving Name?

Purpose of Carving Name? - White Concrete Stone on Green Grass

In the Shawshank Redemption, what is the purpose or significance of leaving your name on the wall?

Andy saw the previous names in his cell, and wanted to add his, however, Brooks in his new place carves his name before hanging himself. When Red sees Brooks' name, he adds "so was Red". There is no guarantee that anyone after Red will know who he is.

Now, the movie shows that Red occupied the same room as Brooks, but this was to show they were on a similar track, both being released from prison, taking the same job, it's just that Red had hope of seeing Andy.



Best Answer

They wanted to leave something behind -- anything however small.

Brooks had been in prison for fifty years. The movie plot shows nothing of having family visit him or communicate with him. When he was paroled, he had only one friend on the outside, Jake the crow who never showed up. He had friends on the inside, but now they were cut off. Greater society shunned him, as the grocery double-bagging scene indicated. So he decided not to stay. He was going to be a man that had been forgotten completely. The only thing he could control was choosing his last day and leaving a mark with a pen knife. Brooks knew nobody would know who he was. He just wanted to leave the world just one tiny bit different.

Red was the same way, and would have probably had the same fate. But he had Andy. And that allowed Red to have his out. He left his mark also, but this time as a sign that this chapter of his life was over and there would be another one to begin.

Within the plot of the movie, the marks were not really about people understanding the who and why of it all. It was only about the fundamental concept of knowing you were here in this life, and left something -- however insignificant -- behind.

Cinematically, the stark contrast between the two marks makes for good, heartfelt drama.




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What is the purpose of carvings?

Carving is the act of using tools to shape something from a material by scraping away portions of that material. The technique can be applied to any material that is solid enough to hold a form even when pieces have been removed from it, and yet soft enough for portions to be scraped away with available tools.

What is the name given to wooden carving?

Wood carving is a form of woodworking by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object.

What are carved artwork called?

From the Latin sculpere "to carve," sculpture often is carved out of a block of wood, stone, or other material. Statues and outdoor artworks are one type of sculpture, and they are freestanding \u2014 you can walk around them, under them, or even over them.

What are the benefits of carving?

  • Body \u2013 Wood carving lowers down stress, blood pressure and heart rate.
  • Mind \u2013 Wood carving is like a meditation. Supports mindfulness and concentration.
  • Spirit \u2013 Wood Carving reconnect us with Nature.




Bench Talk #2 Letter Carving




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