Is Shutter Island Really Insane?

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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 …show more content…

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

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