Shutter Island suggests a wide selection of philosophical questions including “What truly is insanity?” And “Can it ever be cured?” This film speaks volumes to society’s conclusions on what is sane and what is not. And to some effect, calls all post-modern psychological diagnoses into question. Shutter Island takes the viewer on many twists and turns, but one question remains… is Teddy really insane or not? There are elements to say that both situations are probable but let us take a closer look.
‘Shutter Island’ is a water-bound mental hospital accommodating the criminally insane. The tale begins with U.S. Marshal and ex-war veteran named Teddy Daniels and his partner Chuck. Set during the early-mid 1950’s, they arrive on Shutter Island with
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The discussion he has with Noyce (the catalyst) cannot actually be clarified excluding if it was in the context of Teddy's past: He had many drawn-out verbal exchanges with Noyce after he was released from Shutter Island. Noyce is convinced that Chuck is working under Cawley and has been informed that he bound for the lighthouse because of the information he has, certain that Ted is being ‘played’. This discussion is only fathomable if Teddy is actually Teddy. The conversation with Dr. Cawley when he reveals Teddy has no associate (Chuck), that his investigation threatens to ruin everything Cawley has been working on and then tells Teddy to get on the ferry. In an attempt in making Teddy feel like he was crazy Cawley suddenly shift gears about Chuck being his partner, implying that this was all a fantasy. Dr. Rachel – of whom Teddy encountered in the cave - foretold that the workers on the island would use Teddy's history in addition to _____ laced drugs – to keep him docile and cause him to feel senseless. However, if she were in fact a figment of his imagination, she is very aware of Teddy's circumstances for an imaginary being. One of the most revealing plot-points is the reasoning as to why Cawley put Teddy's badge and gun on the table in the lighthouse. This may be attributed to Teddy being taunted into behaving aggressively so that he could once and for all be committed or lobotomized. Even after Dr. Sheehan revealed himself as his personal psychologist, he still kept on calling Edward/Teddy "Boss" at the end. It was an emotional moment - but it is up the audience to decide on whether he reverted back to his role in the made-up fantasy or whether he called Teddy by his real name. Teddy Daniels is an anagram for Andrew/Edward Laeddis, Dolores Chanel too, is an anagram for Rachael Solando. This proposition denotes that the names may have been altered in
Unexpectedly due to Teddy’s high intellect he is released on probation to G-PIP (a gang prevention intervention program).
To begin with, the author uses foreshadowing in the story to express one’s point of view, proving the hardships this character goes through. For example, Teddy is an ambitious child at the prime of his childhood being overruled by his unimaginative ridiculing aunt
The viewpoint of mental illness portrays that mental illness is a common mechanism when dealing with stress or drastic changes. Many people are not as exposed with people who have mental disorders. This movie brings in two extremely different people, but they find themselves falling for each other despite their extra baggage. Tiffany has a heavy baggage she is carrying around. She could not accept the fact that Tommy left her suddenly. Although Tiffany’s character seems odd and dysfunctional, this movie portrays Tiffany, as a woman and a person, trying to move on. This film accurately portrays this disorder. There are some Hollywood viewpoints of mental illness, but this movie accurately portrays Tiffany as someone with borderline personality disorder. She shows many signs of borderline personality disorder symptoms. Many viewers can sense that areas in her life are dysfunctional and not
Madness: A History, a film by the Films Media Group, is the final installment of a five part series, Kill or Cure: A History of Medical Treatment. It presents a history of the medical science community and it’s relationship with those who suffer from mental illness. The program uses original manuscripts, photos, testimonials, and video footage from medical archives, detailing the historical progression of doctors and scientists’ understanding and treatment of mental illness. The film compares and contrasts the techniques utilized today, with the methods of the past. The film offers an often grim and disturbing recounting of the road we’ve taken from madness to illness.
After he uncovers Teddy’s paper world, the uncle reacts in a manner of ignorance and derision, mocking him for his decision to occupy himself with paper dolls. The uncle dubs Teddy as a “great big lummox … playing with paper dolls”, insulting Teddy for his hobbies with a tone of amusement and hysteria. In spite of Teddy’s agitation, the uncle prefers to make a mockery out of Teddy rather than accepting his unique hobbies, suggesting the uncle’s belief that Teddy’s activities are unfitting of someone of his age. In addition, Teddy’s uncle further aggravates Teddy by continuously ridiculing him, leading him to eventually destroy his treasured paper world. Despite Teddy’s attempts at validating the reality of his paper dolls, the uncle “burst into laughter, his cheeks the colour of a tomato.” Teddy’s uncle persistence in mocking Teddy implies his disapproval of Teddy’s world, believing that his world is ludicrous and absurd for someone of his age to be occupied with. The sustained laughter of Teddy’s uncle is explicit and deliberate, intended to warn Teddy against his immature hobby, an evident symbol of society’s expectation of
In the first chapter during a tunnel search, Ted Lavender went off to use the restroom. When he was walking back and was close to the other soldiers, he was shot in the head and killed instantly. The book describes how his mouth was open, his teeth were broken, and his eyes swollen black. The book states that Jimmy Cross, “... felt shame. He hated himself. He loved Martha more than his men and as a consequence Lavender was now dead.” This would be something he would have to carry like a stone in his stomach for the rest of his life.” When Ted Lavender was shot in the back of the head, all the soldiers were in shock, but Lieutenant Jimmy Cross blamed himself because he was in charge of his men and was side-tracked by his love for, Martha, an old school friend. Later in the book, Jimmy Cross visits one of the soldiers from the war. They look through the photos and see one of Ted
... ahead of his men ever again, the letters he carried were only ten ounces but probably felt like a 1000 pounds. The morning after Ted was shot, Cross-burned his letters and even though he knew that he would always remember Martha, it meant a passage a lifting of the burden. No more wanting at night, no more wishing he was with her, no more letting his men die because of his love. He decided that he would become straighter, harder, a real leader even if his men didn’t like it. He would move on to the next village and after that the next until his tour was up and never again did he want to lose another man.
In the first place, despite the creativity and imagination of Teddy, he is harshly criticized by his uncle and aunt who do not know what he is thinking in his mind. Therefore, they do not understand him thoroughly. Teddy’s dominant character trait is shown in his handiwork of the world he has created: “The streets and alleys were full of nobles, peasants and soldiers, their two dimensional bodies scissored from paper, their faces and clothing down in crayons and lead pencils”. (Nowlan 41) Indeed, Teddy is very creative. He is able to build a paper-made kingdom, in which are present people of various social cl...
Here we recognize that David had no awareness that Teddy and he were super-toys and Monica’s heedless appearance scared him, possibly he could detect her melancholy but he didn’t comprehend why.
For instance, Ted Lavender was afraid of death. Jimmy cross dreams about the girl Martha and loses consciousness while marching and sitting. He also had some wild fantasies about her. He is a careless officer who doesn't pay attention, no matter how hard he tries. He felt guilty about the death of his coworker, Ted Lavender.
Brown characterizes Theodore as an intelligent, measured person. Clara states that he worked tirelessly to educate himself and enjoyed “bandying quotations and syllogisms” with Pleyel (28). However, when he is presented with evidence that Carwin has subverted their group, he is too analytical, and not in touch with his sentimentality (101-2). Theodore and Yates are presented as levelheaded, moral people. Even though their moral principles are derived from different sources, they appear very similar in their methodical approach to situations. They are both described as hardworking and clear-headed individuals, yet, both men are drawn into temptation and led astray by malevolent
Overall I would argue that Shutter Island is heavily influenced by the Hollywood film noir genre and psychological thrillers, and thus indirectly by Das Kabinett des Doctor Caligari. Shutter Island incorporates expressionistic elements in the underlying themes it encompasses, as well as the different symbolic features that are present, such as for example fire and water, light and dark, reality and imaginary worlds. It has taken clear cues from Caligari with similar plot twists at the end, unreliable narrators and ultimately leaving the audience guessing who is sane and who is not, what is real and what is not. The creation of their own imaginary realities allows Francis and Teddy to construct themselves in their own image and allows them to be great rather than to recognize the very fact that they are powerless, ordinary and flawed.
Teddy enjoys the stories Gordie writes about a certain character called Le Dio, because he is fascinated with his father's time with the army, but it is Chris who encourages Gordie to pursue writing as a career (379). During the course of the story, twelve year old Gordie Lachance is confronted with death for the second time in his life. The first time does indeed threaten Gordie's identity. Being an “invisible boy” (298) before Dennis' death, his sense of identity is further weakened because he is not able to escape from Dennis, and everything Dennis stands for; his athletic success, his reputation, the pride of his parents, expectations Gordie cannot seem to meet.
Shutter Island, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is a frightening film full of twists and turns that presents a highly dramatized depiction of mental health and psychiatric treatment. It fulfills a checklist of the classic elements of Hollywood’s psychological horror genre: foreboding asylums, psychiatric experimentation, dangerous mental afflictions, multiple personalities, intense hallucinations, and even lobotomy. The media’s portrayal of psychiatric disorders and treatment is an important contributor to the continued stigmatization of mental illness in our society. This paper will analyze which aspects of Shutter Island portray
Ted is deeply in love with his wife Elsie, and the reader sees this through his thoughts and actions throughout the story. Ted feels sexual lust every time his wife walks in front of him. The reader sees this at the beginning of the story: