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Chapter 23
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Shutter Island, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Mental Illness and Delusion
Conspiracy and Paranoia
Guilt and Grief
Violence and War
Isolation
Summary
Analysis
Dr. Cawley has Andrew sent back to Ward C. Once he arrives, a nurse gives him a sedative. Before passing out, Andrew recognizes the nurse as the woman who said she was Rachel in the cave. He tries to bring it up but the nurse acts like she does not know what he is talking about. The sedative puts Andrew to sleep and he starts dreaming about his past. In the dream, Dolores burns down their apartment building. She shows extreme signs of delusional behavior but Andrew refuses to take her to a psychologist. He thinks that doctors are only for people who are crazy, and he does not think Dolores falls under that category.
The nurse likely did pretend to be Rachel in the cave, as Dr. Cawley would not trust that job to a patient at the institution. Most likely, a different nurse played the other version of Rachel as well. Additionally, Andrew’s dream suggests that the story he told about Laeddis being a pyromaniac is grounded in some truth—the difference being that, in reality, Dolores burned down the apartment. Contrary to his previous memories, Dolores was not the one standing in the way of improving her own mental health. Rather, Andrew is the reason she did not get treatment.
Themes
Following the apartment incident, Andrew dreams about the day Dolores murdered their children. At the time, Andrew had just come back from a job in Oklahoma. When he arrives, he sees Dolores stumbling around in wet clothes. After examining her for a second, Andrew realizes she swallowed a full bottle of laudanum that he accidentally left out.
The reason Andrew associates Dolores with water throughout the novel is because of this moment. In fact, it is possible that Teddy’s fear of water is a fabrication that Andrew applies to that side of his personality to protect him from the truth.
Themes
Dolores stumbles outside and Andrew follows her. Before he can get ahold of her, he sees his children’s bodies floating in their pond. He runs out to the pond and tries to save them, only to realize they are already dead. He pulls them out one by one, weeping the entire time. Dolores appears next to him and suggests they put the children inside and stage them like dolls. Andrew tells her he will not do that. Then, Dolores asks Andrew to set her free because she cannot go on living in her current state. Andrew pulls out his gun, tells Dolores he loves her, and shoots her.
Andrew wakes up crying, only to find Dr. Sheehan and Dr. Cawley examining him. Andrew admits that he knows what the doctors told him is true. He is Andrew Laeddis, and he came to Shutter Island after he murdered his wife, Dolores. He repeats the story of his life, which essentially matches his dream.
Themes
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Dr. Cawley is glad Andrew is finally admitting the truth, but he warns him it will not be enough. In the past, Andrew has had other moments of clarity where he has acknowledged reality. However, he always relapses back into his fantasy world. Andrew promises Dr. Cawley that things will be different this time and Dr. Cawley says he hopes that is the case. He plans to check up on Andrew the following day. If Andrew reverts back into his fantastical world, he will have to get a transorbital lobotomy.
Themes
