The Shawshank Redemption remains one of the highest-rated films of all time. Its gripping story continues to draw in fans. However, the characters in the movie like Brooks Hatlen and Heywood help make it memorable. Andy Dufresne meets several interesting personalities within the walls of Shawshank prison.
His close friends like Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding help him throughout his journey, while villains like Warden Samuel Norton stand in his way. When audiences see these characters, they get a sense of their intelligence. Not everyone can match wits with Andy.
Bogs Diamond
Bogs is one of the least developed inmates audiences see in The Shawshank Redemption. His arc involves attacking Andy before being beaten and moved to another prison. With his short plotline, fans may have a difficult time unpacking Bogs' smarts.
However, in Bogs' attacks against Andy, he doesn't present intelligence. He is not sneaky about it, and simply tells others around to leave when he corners him. Bogs seem to be driven by pure aggression. It is implied that Bogs lacks the intellectual curiosity to learn reading when Andy challenges him, calling him ignorant.
Byron Hadley
Byron is Warden Norton's right-hand man. He follows his orders and appears to be a blind lackey to Norton's desires. While villains like the warden show off their intellect in their actions, Byron doesn't seem to have a mind of his own.
Byron proves to be more intelligent than characters like Bogs in his relationship with Andy. He uses reasoning to make a deal with Andy in a trade for tax work. However, he is easily manipulated by Andy in this exchange. Furthermore, Byron's mind is clouded by his aggression and he acts without thinking, like when he accidentally beats a man to death on Andy's first night.
Heywood
Heywood is one of Andy's inmate pals. He is an affable character and is presented as a goof amongst his peers. However, Heywood's dim wits are showcased almost like a running gag in the movie. One of his most memorable scenes is when he stumbles through the titles of books in the prison library.
The sequence gives one of its funniest quotes. Heywood's thick-headedness is displayed early on in the movie when he mistakes petrified animal manure for a precious stone saved for Andy. Heywood is lovable, but not the smartest man in Andy and Red's group.
Tommy Williams
Tommy is one of the younger inmates in Andy and Red's group and appears in the film during its later half. He is one of the more likable characters in The Shawshank Redemption. However, he shows his lack of intelligence in his immature behavior. When he throws a tantrum during his GED prep, he seems to lack wits.
Furthermore, when he trusts the Warden with his information about Andy's innocence, he appears naive. However, Tommy is more intelligent than some of his peers because he has intellectual curiosity. He has a desire to learn and proves his smarts when he es the GED after studying and using critical thinking to learn new concepts.
Brooks Hatlen
Brooks is one of the oldest inmates fans see in Shawshank. As such Brooks is one of the more wise characters of the film. He has spent his days in prison working for the library, and audiences can only imagine he absorbed a great deal of information over his years. Furthermore, Brooks shows his smarts in his actions.
When Brooks realizes he will be released soon and fears "the outside," he comes up with a plan. He prepares to attack Heywood in order to be charged for another crime and remain in prison. He doesn't follow through with the plan after he calms down. However, his behavior is the result of critical thinking and proves Brooks retains a supple mind.
Warden Samuel Norton
Warden Norton is perhaps the most vicious character fans see. His well-developed villainousness helps make The Shawshank Redemption one of the highest-rated films of all time. However, Warden Norton isn't stupid.
Norton shows his intellect in his schemes against Andy. He uses critical thinking to eliminate avenues for Andy's freedom. He kills Tommy when he learns information about Andy's innocence. He threatens Andy to subdue him into servitude. However, anyone who has seen the film knows Norton may be smart, but he isn't as smart as Andy.
Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding
Red is one of the smartest men at Shawshank. He proves his intelligence in his actions and reputation. Red's known as the man "who can get things." Audiences never see him caught for his contraband enterprise. He's never revealed by the warden or guards because he uses his smarts to remain undetected.
Red is implicitly smart because an inmate couldn't run a contraband business without wits. Furthermore, Red shows his ability to reason in his final parole hearing. After attempting to tell the parole board what they want to hear over the years, Red finally realizes it won't help. He is honest upon his last meeting, and they release him.
Andy Dufresne
It is hard to argue that Andy isn't the smartest character in The Shawshank Redemption. He shows his intelligence in several actions. He comes up with a plan to exchange tax work for beer for his buddies. He does taxes for nearly the entire prison staff and teaches Tommy how to the GED.
However, Andy's most brilliant accomplishments are revealed during the film's finale. Audiences see just how smart Andy is when they learn he has been planning his escape since his early days in prison. His meticulous planning shows patience, critical thinking, and impressive attention to detail. It is Andy's brains, along with hope and patience, that break him out of prison.
