The prison guard in The Shawshank Redemption asked Andy to apply for an education fund for his son. Andy asked if you want your son to go to Harvard or Yale. Why is the prison guard talking to Andy with a smile? This may be because Harvard and Yale were one of the two most famous institutions of higher education in the United States at that time, with high reputation and prestige. In addition, the admission procedures of these two schools are very strict and demanding, so many people hope that their children can be admitted to these two schools.

Therefore, when Andy asks the prison guard whether he wants his son to go to Harvard or Yale, the prison guard may find this sentence very interesting because it represents social status and success. At the same time, Andy also knows this, so he may use this sentence to show his understanding of prison guards, so as to close the relationship between them and achieve his goals more easily.

In a word, this sentence may represent a reflection of cultural and social cognition, and also shows the relationship and communication mode between the characters in the film.