Discuss Shutter Island
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to die a good man
posted by wilburKlickSTAFFMOD on November 12, 2017 at 6:45 AM
So, at the end, he wonders if it is better to live as a monster or die a good man?
So, what did he mean?
The crime fighting federal marshal is a "good man".
The man who murdered his wife - would be a monster.
By refusing to give up on his delusional existence (because he can't bear to be the man who murdered his wife - and in a sense his children) - he is heading for a lobotomy? a sort of death?
Was that where they were taking him - to his end?
And, on top of that - - - did he "really" slip back into the Teddy character - or was he faking it, because he wanted "to be set free"?
I guess that would be my guess; he pretended to be Teddy because that would mean the end of his suffering. Then he could "go out" fighting the good fight - heroic - a good man - sacrificing - his life in the death of his personality. And so he calmly and bravely walked - "dead man walking" to his punishment? and to be put out of his misery.
Thoughts?
Reply by tmdb53400018
on November 12, 2017 at 9:55 AM
Good points, I did believe that they were taking Leo's character to be lobotomized in that car.
Reply by Kylopod
on November 12, 2017 at 5:23 PM
This line was not in the original novel by Dennis Lahane, which ended strongly suggesting that “Teddy” had reverted. By adding that one line in an otherwise pretty faithful adaptation of the book, the movie did point in the direction that the character was aware of who he was and was more or less committing suicide, because he couldn’t bear knowing the truth about what he had done. He had regained his sanity but still didn’t want to face what had caused him to lose it in the first place.