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Pyschological Torment in Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: English Literature
Abstract
This article delves into the psychological turmoil of the protagonist in Dennis Lehane's novel, ShutterIsland. The novel, a gripping and unpredictable psychological thriller published in 2003, explores the idea that an individual's mental state can significantly impact their perception of reality. The protagonist, US Marshal Teddy Daniels, is assigned with tracking down an escaped long sufferer from Ashcliffe Insane Asylum on Shutter Island. Teddy realizes, in a stunning twist, that he is a patient at the asylum and suffers from Delusional Disorder. He has built a new world in order to escape the hardships of his previous existence. ShutterIsland raises ethical concerns about psychological treatment and delves into various mental disorders, such as psychosis, delusion, hallucination, and amnesia, that feature prominently in the story. The novel's isolated and gothic setting of Shutter Island is a departure from Lehane's previous works. This article explores how a psychological thriller can effectively depict a character's psychological disorder, examining trauma through the lens of Freud and other leading predecessors to shed light on the various mental distortions that are prevalent throughout the novel.
Keywords
Delusional Disorder, hallucination, Mental distortions, psychosis, Reality, Trauma
How to cite this paper
@article{1704337,
author = {Vinothini S., Dr. R. Vithya Prabha, Dr. S. Sudha},
title = {Pyschological Torment in Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2023},
volume = {6},
number = {10},
pages = {653-655},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1704337.pdf},
abstract = {This article delves into the psychological turmoil of the protagonist in Dennis Lehane's novel, ShutterIsland. The novel, a gripping and unpredictable psychological thriller published in 2003, explores the idea that an individual's mental state can significantly impact their perception of reality. The protagonist, US Marshal Teddy Daniels, is assigned with tracking down an escaped long sufferer from Ashcliffe Insane Asylum on Shutter Island. Teddy realizes, in a stunning twist, that he is a patient at the asylum and suffers from Delusional Disorder. He has built a new world in order to escape the hardships of his previous existence. ShutterIsland raises ethical concerns about psychological treatment and delves into various mental disorders, such as psychosis, delusion, hallucination, and amnesia, that feature prominently in the story. The novel's isolated and gothic setting of Shutter Island is a departure from Lehane's previous works. This article explores how a psychological thriller can effectively depict a character's psychological disorder, examining trauma through the lens of Freud and other leading predecessors to shed light on the various mental distortions that are prevalent throughout the novel.},
keywords = {Delusional Disorder, hallucination, Mental distortions, psychosis, Reality, Trauma},
month = {April},
}