There are two themes that can really be seen in the book. The first would be The burden of isolation and imprisonment. Shawshank is so far off from any civilization that it chokes out the life of all of its inmates. Especially with Samuel Norton at its head. There are many different layers of confinement in the prison, from the recreation yard to the cell blocks, all the way down to the cells and even solitary confinement. The Sadistic guards and the menacing Sisters only add to the feeling of imprisonment.
The other theme would be the Power of Hope. Throughout the whole movie, Andy stays calm. He knows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, for all inmates at Shawshank. In Andy's case, it wouldn't be for the panel to give him parole, but it would be Raquel Welch, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth and that small little rock hammer that assisted Andy for two decades in his cell at Shawshank.
The other theme would be the Power of Hope. Throughout the whole movie, Andy stays calm. He knows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, for all inmates at Shawshank. In Andy's case, it wouldn't be for the panel to give him parole, but it would be Raquel Welch, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth and that small little rock hammer that assisted Andy for two decades in his cell at Shawshank.