"They've got their rules and we've got nothing to do with that" or "He has to learn the rules, just like anybody else" are key phrases which sustain this idea. The two opponent groups are both looking to improve their performances in terms of privilege and power. The scene in which the prisoners are working and the pavement of the street and become motivated to work rapidly is also representative, as it points out their success in front of the authorities, therefore the earning of a privilege, more free time. On the other hand, the working conditions, the punishments they are being submitted to ("spending a night in the box") show the difference of status and the inequality between the two groups, which is the genesis of the conflict. Same does the appellative "boss" used with high frequency along the movie.

It is interesting to analyze the concept of "group cohesion" which is extremely obvious at least in the case of the prisoners. The way they manage to live together and somehow make their common life easier, their emotions, all of these are a result of their social interaction and a proof that they adhere to the same values and principles. The group cohesion is mostly obvious through the touching scenes in the movie, like the one where Luke returns from his attempt to escape and peers treat him with compassion or through the relationship of sincere friendship that Luke and Dragline develop.

Another sociological concept that appears in the construction of characters and that explains events and behavior is the term of "deviant behavior" that one can attribute to the main character, Luke. He ignores laws when being arrested and overlooks the sheriff through his attitude, and in general, he does not seem to conform to the prevailing rules and norms of living imposed, which is exactly the definition of a "deviant behavior."

Although the general line of the action follows the idea of conflict among individuals, one must take...

Society is "dynamic" and complex, which means that one can observe various aspects of her. In "Cool Hand Luke," an extremely important part is represented by his transformation in front of the authorities, in his pursuit of freedom. This way of acting is what sociology labels as "interaction," defined by roles and actors and by living the social live as a drama, concept introduced by Erving Goffman. Luke plays his part in front of the authorities and he does it that good that he manages to fool them in an extremely funny way for the audience and also, in a very representative way for the idea of symbol in human interactions.
I believe that this personal analysis, although not being complete as both the subject and the movie are very complex, still manages to explain the events and behaviors presented from a different point-of-view that the common sense would do.

Gaining a better understanding of our peers and of the events that define our social lives can be nothing but a positive aspect, as it will lead to an improvement of our relationships and also, to an ability to cope with deviant behaviors and situations, by finding scientific reasons and explanations for them.