'Shutter Island'- "Live as a Monster or Die a Good Man" Scene

' Shutter Island'- "Live a Monster or Die a Good Man" Scene

This is the last scene of the movie which inhabits a different style to the rest of the movie. The pathetic fallacy hints to that day being a better day as the weather is bright and lovely giving the spectator hope. This is captured by a wide establishing shot which helps the spectator have an understanding of the surroundings and is made to believe that Teddy is now come to terms with reality as he is sat outside on the step smoking. 

It is clear Teddy is being observed as there is a very long shot where we see three men watching from the distance but off to the side of the frame. All anticipating whether their treatment worked.

We then change to a medium shot of Teddy as Chuck comes over to him. The camera pans up to show it is Chuck and then back down as Chuck sits next to Teddy. The medium shot and closeness of the characters show that they trust one another and are comfortable around one another. This is why Teddy chooses Chuck to be his partner as he feels he can trust him. We then have a close medium shot of Chuck and Teddy. The camera is slightly off to the side so Teddy’s face is closest to the camera and Chuck is further away. This draws in the spectator to what Teddy is about to say. This directs our focus as we realise Teddy has gone back to his reality and hiding from the truth. The camera then moves to the other side to show Chuck’s face as he shakes his head at the three men, the camera keeps the focus on Chuck and Teddy is out of focus in the background. This head shake determined Teddy's fate. Unfortunately, they could not help him.

 We have a long shot on Dr John Cawley which then switches to a medium shot to capture his disappointment as he clearly wanted Teddy to recover and to come to terms with reality. It is clear Cawley is saddened that the breakthrough did not stick as he cared for Teddy. 

We then have another close up on Teddy and Chuck. This could insinuate that Teddy is unaware of what is happening around him as he only sees it as Chuck and him against everyone else when in reality everyone is actually trying to help him.

We then have another close up shot on Teddy and Chuck. The camera is placed so Chuck is the closest yet he is out of focus and Teddy is in focus. Even when Chuck is talking our focus is still placed on Teddy. Perhaps showing we are back in Teddy’s world and perspective. 

We are then brought away from Teddy and are focused on men walking, we wonder what will happen to Teddy now. We then have a close up on a sharp object in a man’s hand bringing our point of focus to it, giving it significance and importance. It is covered by a white cloth at an attempt to conceal it. This perhaps foreshadows that Teddy will be sent to the light house as he cannot be treated. Teddy does now seem aware of what is happening around him as if he knows his fate. It raises questions that that he wanted his suffering to end and not have to live with the reality of his actions. 

Teddy is kept in focus this whole time as he looks at his surroundings. The camera draws us in as Teddy says, “which would be worse, to live as a monster or die as a good man?” 

This shot tracks Teddy as he stands up. We then change to a long shot. The camera is at a low angle making Teddy appear bigger and more powerful. Perhaps showing his mental growth and that he feels stronger as he has come to terms with the fact he no longer has to live as a monster. Or it could show he now has power over his fate and his reality. Teddy leaves the shot as we see Chuck at a long shot stood behind confused over Teddy’s words. 

We then have a medium shot of Dr Cawley as he look at Teddy. They share a look of perhaps knowing that Teddy is aware of his fate or has excepted it. It then changes to a wide shot as Teddy walks off. 

The final shot we see a rocky beach at a wide shot. The camera slowly pans to reveal the light house at a low angle making it look powerful. This gives us an answer on Teddy’s fate as the lighthouse is a metonymy of death. Yet you can’t help but wonder whether he knew he was Andrew and just no longer wanted to live as a monster.