1. Relationships That Develop Between Characters
1.1. Teddy and Chuck
1.1.1. Was formerly U.S. Marshal partners, but then became a Doctor / Patient senerio
1.1.1.1. Close relationship between the characters through meaningful dialogue, similar costumes to show that they are both "on the same page" in the sense of they are equals, very different costumes at the end to show how separated they are in the doctor patient relationship.
1.2. Teddy and Dr. Cawly
1.2.1. The relationship between the two changes over the course of the film. At first it has Teddy as the more superior person in the relationship, but over the course of time as things start to unravel, Dr. Cawly slowly rises to the more superior person in the relationship. He could be considered at first the antagonist of the film, but when more information is revealed, the audience starts to see him as a good person trying to help teddy.
1.2.1.1. Separation from them being show talking to each other is opposite shots. Other separations like smoke from Crawly's pipe. With Teddy asking questions to Dr. Cawly at the beginning of the film, shows he is superior, as well as other shot types like low angles in some scenes. When Doctor Cawly starts telling Teddy things like how he never had a partner, he starts to become more dominant.
1.3. Teddy and his wife
1.3.1. Teddy clearly was in love with his wife, though could not come to terms with the her actions, and so she was a major influence on his current state. The relationship between them varied from his delusion, to the reality of it.
1.3.1.1. Whenever Dolores was shown, it was in a flashback or vision. The clothing she wore was always of a bright colour, which symbolises happiness, and though it is a fond memory of Teddy's. The lighting around her is usually high key which gives the scene a more positive feel, though the events may not be of a positive nature, it shows that Teddy still loves his deceased wife.
2. Key Events / Moments That Develop the Narrative
2.1. Meeting Rachel Solando in the cave
2.1.1. This scene questions Teddy's sanity. It helps Teddy develop and explain his conspiracy theory, which contributes to his fantasy of why he's on the Island in the first place.
2.1.1.1. The flash of light when Teddy wakes up in the cave is a symbol that represents him snapping back into reality and you know he's not hallucinating anymore. The fire is what is keeping Teddy and Rachel Solando apart and also adds some danger to the scene. Fire is what supposedly what caused the death of Teddy's wife and somewhat scares Teddy and poses a threat to him.
2.2. Discovering the truth in the Lighthouse
2.2.1. This scene explains the truth about Teddy's past and the reason why he's on the Island. It makes all the hallucinations make sense so that audience understands why he's hallucinating about his wife and the little girl in Dachau.
2.2.1.1. Teddy's shaking hands and twitching eyes make him look crazy and make the audience look down slightly on Teddy because of his mental state. Dr. Cawley's explanation makes the audience question what they've seen and heard already in the movie and analyse their significance again.
2.3. Choosing to be lobotomised
2.3.1. This is a very powerful scene after Teddy has accepted the reality of why he is on the island and then decides that he would rather "die a good man" than "live as a monster." He chooses to let the doctors believe that he is still in his fantasy world so that they will lobotomise him and he won't have to live with the pain and guilt believing that he is responsible for the death of his wife and children. When Teddy says "don't worry partner, they're not going to catch us," it seems like Teddy is assuring Chuck that he's made the right decision and he's choosing to be lobotomised.
2.3.1.1. When Dr Sheehan shakes his head at Dr Cawley and Dr Naehring from across the lawn, it is a key moment where all hope for Teddy's future is lost. Before the orderlies come to take Teddy to be lobotomised, both Dr Sheehan and Teddy are very sombre when they are discussing how they are "too smart for [the doctors]."
2.4. Hallucination at the Lakehouse
2.4.1. This scene explains Teddy's past to the audience and shows the audience why he's so traumatised and unstable. The scene is, in a way, the beginning of the end and confirms that his wife was also mentally unstable and he was responsible for the death of his wife and somewhat responsible for the death of his children.
2.4.1.1. The stillness and silence at the beginning of the scene is a hint that something is wrong. The way that Teddy's wife smiles when he asks where the kids are allows the audience to see how mentally unstable she is. Throughout the scene, you can see how reasonable and normal Teddy is and how strongly affected he is by the death of his children. This clearly shows the audience that this was the point in time when Teddy became mentally ill.
3. How Characters Develop and Change: Their Decisions, What Influences Them, Motivations
3.1. Edward 'Teddy' Daniels
3.1.1. He uncovers the imagined secrets of Shutter Island that he has created in his head
3.1.1.1. His visions and dreams influence his decisions because his wife will tell him to do something specific. At the end of the movie he learns to go against her word and makes his own decision.
3.1.1.1.1. His wife will randomly appear at important decision making scenes. At the end of the movie, he decides to blow up the tie, which signifies him letting go of her and his children.
3.1.1.2. He has been in the Shutter Island mental institution for about 2 years and every 9 or so months the treatment back fires and he forgets what has happened. Because of this he therefore creates his own world which he wishes was true
3.1.1.2.1. Teddy is the boss and he has a partner Chuck. His psychiatrist (chuck) has enabled him to be the boss because that is what Teddy wants. He wants to be in control of the case which could represent how he wants to be in control of his own life as Andrew.
3.1.1.3. He creates his own fantasy world in order to forget that he killed his wife and regret for not finding her help so his children wouldn't have been murdered.
3.1.1.3.1. Teddy's fantasy land is well thought out but it is slowly hinted that he is insane as we see him go through graphic visions and dreams particularly involving his wife and his daughter Rachel. We are lead to believe that his wife died in a fire but in one of his dreams when he is holding his life she is dripping his blood which is unexplained but it is foreshadowing the truth of Andrew setting free his wife by killing her.
3.2. Andrew Laeddis - Commits mental suicide
3.2.1. Wakes up from fantasy. With help from his psychiatrist, and the leading doctor he comes to terms with reality and decides to not remember what he has done and not forget then have to remember again his insanity.
3.2.1.1. His decisions become more mature and thought out throughout the film and his life. The end of the movie suggests that he commits mental suicide
3.2.1.1.1. Andrew leaves shutter island walking to the same scary music as he was when he arrived. This suggests that the situation is just as daunting as he heads towards what we believe to be the lighthouse to have his memory and all pain erased. The production of this ending scene leaves what happens to Andrew up to us as we aren't sure if he is pretending to forget what happened or he actually has.
3.2.1.2. He wakes up from his fantasy is encouraged by his psychiatrist and doctor to come to terms with what he has done so they don't have to mentally kill him
3.2.1.2.1. Production techniques lead the audience to believe that Teddy is a real person and not Andrew for the majority of the movie by showing us the life that Laeddis, as Daniels has created. We are lead to believe that Teddy is going insane by showing flashbacks of past events on his life which his mind has modified.
3.2.1.3. Andrews motivation is to die with out remembering what he has done, what he has been through and to free his wife.
3.2.1.3.1. The movie shows this by giving us flashbacks and dreams to reveal the truth about his life as well as special effects.