Character Analysis
Snitches Get…Special Treatment?
Tommy is a young prisoner who brings in key plot information when he reveals that someone else probably killed Andy's wife. He's a professional thief, and as Red explains, "he probably should have picked another profession" (229) judging by how often he's in prison. Like a lot of supporting characters, he delivers the information we need and disappears, shipped off to a much nicer, much lower-security prison in exchange for his silence.
An important development in the story comes when Andy refuses to go after Tommy once he leaves Shawshank. Our hero drops any hope of getting Tommy to testify on his behalf. Why? Because in his new digs, Tommy has "a chance to live like a normal man, at least on the weekends. A chance to build a model plane with his kid, have sex with his wife, maybe go on a picnic" (304). Tommy won't talk, but more importantly, Andy won't snuff out someone else's better life for a shot at his own happiness. He's too decent.
Plus, he's digging a hole.