Mental Illness
The movie also deals with Mental Illnesses since it does take place in a mental institution. The patients have been removed from society because they are too dangerous to be around the general public. Illnesses of the mind are, in my opinion, the scariest illnesses because the people are trapped in their own minds. For Laeddis, he has trapped himself in his own alternate reality.
For this movie, it brings up the idea of how we should treat mental illnesses. Dr. Cawley and Dr. Sheehan are character representations of this theme. They both want to help Laeddis overcome his guilt and accept reality. It hurts them to see that he chooses not to.
The movie makers want people to open their eyes to mental illnesses, like PTSD, and understand how the patients or victims feel. They do not understand what is going on, and they do not necessarily understand reality. So, Shutter Island gives a good representation of what it is like to have reality flipped on you.
For this movie, it brings up the idea of how we should treat mental illnesses. Dr. Cawley and Dr. Sheehan are character representations of this theme. They both want to help Laeddis overcome his guilt and accept reality. It hurts them to see that he chooses not to.
The movie makers want people to open their eyes to mental illnesses, like PTSD, and understand how the patients or victims feel. They do not understand what is going on, and they do not necessarily understand reality. So, Shutter Island gives a good representation of what it is like to have reality flipped on you.
This scene shows how Laeddis is suffering from slight PTSD but also having problems letting go of the memories of his wife.