Friday, 31 January 2014

Shutter Island Character Analysis - Teddy Daniels

Teddy Daniels has a troubled past that is reflected in flash backs and dream sequences. Prior to being a U.S.  Marshal, he was a veteran of war, where he saw some of the most brutally horrific and mind-scarring scenes imaginable, the kind of things that could poison a person’s mind and leave him haunted by them for life. He is also a retired alcoholic and his alcoholism is later elaborated on in a flashback scene where his late wife asks him why he drinks. Not only is Teddy haunted by war and alcoholism, but also by the fact that the man who set fire to his home and killed his wife and children, that somehow lead him to Ashecliffe Hospital, in what he believes to be ‘fate’ when he discovers that this man who killed his family is a patient at the hospital: Andrew Laediss. Before long, Teddy soon learns of the corruption on the island. Peculiar experiments are being carried out which are later revealed to be lobotomies. Once Teddy discovers the “truth” he tries to leave the island but is unsuccessful. This is when the twist starts to become evident. Teddy Daniels is not a U.S. Marshall. He is actually a patient at Ashecliffe Hospital, and has been for several years. Mentally scarred by the issues in his life, which are revealed not only to be the toils of war, but also the fact that his wife went insane and drowned their children, it was Daniels, actually revealed to be Andrew Laediss, who killed his wife out of revenge. Throughout the film, teddy suffers headaches which are actually withdrawals from his medication which he suffers when he creates his alternate personality.

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