Shutter Island

Main Ideas

• Exploration of the workings of the mind and memory through characters suffering from psychological trauma
• Critique of mid-20th century mental health treatment methods, particularly the use of psychosurgery and lobotomy
• Examination of guilt and redemption through the eyes of the protagonist, who battles personal demons from the past
• Contemplation of the nature of reality and perception, illustrating how subjectively we perceive the world around us
• Discussion of moral and ethical dilemmas related to the treatment of the mentally ill and their rights
• Exploration of human identity and the question of who we truly are through the protagonist's complex story