Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the novella by Stephen King, has great literary value. A book with literary value influences its reader and keeps them interested from start to finish. This book most certainly meets these criteria. First, it contains themes and life lessons that can be learned throughout life. One of the themes is the hypocrisy of the prison system; guards that can be influenced for the right price, and a warden, a "man of the church," who is downright evil and accepts bribes from corporations to compete with his slave labor "Inside-Out" program. Another theme is the strength of the human spirit; "King's visionary flight in [this novella] shows us the natural shape of the human soul" (Atchity in SSC 263). Andy manages to maintain hope throughout his duration in prison. Also, the inmates looking out for themselves show the life lesson of "every man for himself." Tommy Williams, a prisoner who knows the real killer of Andy's wife and her lover, agrees with the warden not to release this information in exchange for money and a transfer to a different prison. These themes and life lessons are present right through the novella, adding to its literary value.
Secondly, this book has great literary value because it does not use flamboyant or bombastic language; it speaks right to the common person. Everyday language is one of Kings" key elements in making him a successful author. He can take any subject, use understandable language and make it interesting; "King is a master storyteller, no matter what kind of subject he writes about" (Morrell in SSC 265). This everyday language is a way to get occasional readers more interested in books, because it appeals to the common person. This attraction to everyday people is of great importance in this novella's literary value.
In conclusion, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is a great story with much literary value.
