The Shawshank Redemption and The Pursuit of Happyness

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Institutionalized Regulations and Pursuit of Dream in the films the Shawshank Redemption and the Pursuit of Happiness
Background
The Shawshank Redemption and the Pursuit of Happyness have different concepts, but they depict different aspects of the American Dream, and the Shawshank Redemption also highlights on institutional regulations. The American Dream is embedded in the American identity and the rags to riches story in the Pursuit of Happyness, captures this notion while also depicting the American Flag and Declaration of Independence that unite all Americans. Even though, Shawshank Redemption is mainly set in a prison, whereby the protagonist is hopeful that he can readjust to life outside the prison system where there are fewer institutionalized regulations having previously worked in the corporate world.
Institutionalized Regulations and degenerate ideologies
In The Shawshank Redemption, the theme of institutionalized regulations highlights that that the individuals may fail to function properly in cases where they do not follow the regulations. This is most apparent in the case of Red who tells Andy Dufresne, the main character that he would likely have to get used life outside prison if he were to adjust people. Red had been institutionalized for a bigger part of his life and it appears that Red only sees two options available to either be busy living or die. Even though, the main character in the pursuit of Happyness is free he also suffers from the institutional regulations that make it harder to improve his economic situation. According to Caie (24), social inclusion in prisons affects the wellbeing of prisoners as they find it hard to participate in the society especially then they have limited social capital and cannot access mental health services.
Institutionalized regulations affect the society since individuals then have to follow them or risk further punishments. In the Shawshank Redemption institutionalization is mainly through the prison system, where the power system is tilted in favor of the criminal justice system, but they may exercise undue power than is necessary. Consequently, the prisoners stay in prison for long, and have at times to result in corrupt practices to survive in the prison system. The prisoners who have feelings of hopelessness are likely to find it hard to cope in and out of prison, and increase the risk of self harming (Stinchcomb 126). On the other hand, Christopher Gardner in the Pursuit of Happyness has to understand how the systems work in the corporate world to move ahead (Muccino). The individuals have to find ways to live within the institutional regulations, but those who fail are likely to fall foul of the law, rules and regulation, to the extent that some are unable to cope with the situation.
The institutionalization of people in The Shawshank Redemption showed that they were at first scared of living in the institutional facilities, and as they stay longer in them they are more attached to the people around them. However, his also has a negative impact on their lives since they lose the hope. Redemption is critical for the previously incarcerated to move forward outside prison life. Chris in Pursuit for Happyne...