"I'm not crazy. I'm not. Of course what else would a crazy person claim? That's the Kafkaesque genius of it all. If you're not crazy but people have told the world you are, then all your protests to the contrarynjust underscore their point... if you are deemed insane, then all actions that would otherwise prove you are not do, in actuality, fall into the framework of an insane's persons actions. Your sound protests constitute denial. Your valid fears are deemed paranoia. Your survival instincts are labeled defense mechanisms. It's a no-win situation. It"s a death penalty really. Once you're here, you're not getting out" (Lehane 319).
One of the major themes developed in the book is the inability to escape insanity. Frequently throughout the novel, many characters have been deemed insane, and it is imposible to return to sanity, whether you are insane or just labeled insane. Here, escaped Rachel Solando tells Teddy how she protested the methods of the island. The other doctors on the island told the world she was insane, so now she can never leave the island, because no one believes she isn't. Even though Rachel isn't insane, all of her protests are considered insane, so now there is no way for society to ever believe she is insane again. In a similar manner, the book also shows how those that are insane can never return to sanity, in the examples of interviewed patients, and Andrew Laeddis.
"I believe in talk therapy, basic interpersonal school. I have this radical idea that if you treat a patient with respect and listen to what he's trying to tell you, you just might reach him" (87).
Another major theme of the book is that even in the most extreme cases, mental patients deserve humanity. Dr. Cawley explains to the marshals that while others believe in radical treatments for patients, Cawley wants to treat patients with humanity. He sees that while the insane may have many problems, they are still people. A few times in the novel, Cawley fights to keep patients safe, and his entire focus of the book is to save his humane method.
"She died in a fire. I miss her like you...If I was underwater, I wouldn't miss oxgen that much" (226).
A major them explored in the book is the undying power of love.
"The brain sends neural transmitters down through the nervous system. The brain controls pain... It controls fear. Sleep. Empathy. Hunger. Everything we associate with the heart or the soul or the nervous system is actually controlled by the brain. Everything... What if you could control it? Re-create a man so he doesn't need sleep, doesn't feel pain. Or love. Or sympathy. A man who can't be interrogated because his memory banks are wiped clean...They're creating ghosts here, Marshal. Ghosts to go out into the world and do ghostly work" (320).
Frequently, Lehane displays the theme that if possible, some people are capable of achieving great evil.
One of the major themes developed in the book is the inability to escape insanity. Frequently throughout the novel, many characters have been deemed insane, and it is imposible to return to sanity, whether you are insane or just labeled insane. Here, escaped Rachel Solando tells Teddy how she protested the methods of the island. The other doctors on the island told the world she was insane, so now she can never leave the island, because no one believes she isn't. Even though Rachel isn't insane, all of her protests are considered insane, so now there is no way for society to ever believe she is insane again. In a similar manner, the book also shows how those that are insane can never return to sanity, in the examples of interviewed patients, and Andrew Laeddis.
"I believe in talk therapy, basic interpersonal school. I have this radical idea that if you treat a patient with respect and listen to what he's trying to tell you, you just might reach him" (87).
Another major theme of the book is that even in the most extreme cases, mental patients deserve humanity. Dr. Cawley explains to the marshals that while others believe in radical treatments for patients, Cawley wants to treat patients with humanity. He sees that while the insane may have many problems, they are still people. A few times in the novel, Cawley fights to keep patients safe, and his entire focus of the book is to save his humane method.
"She died in a fire. I miss her like you...If I was underwater, I wouldn't miss oxgen that much" (226).
A major them explored in the book is the undying power of love.
"The brain sends neural transmitters down through the nervous system. The brain controls pain... It controls fear. Sleep. Empathy. Hunger. Everything we associate with the heart or the soul or the nervous system is actually controlled by the brain. Everything... What if you could control it? Re-create a man so he doesn't need sleep, doesn't feel pain. Or love. Or sympathy. A man who can't be interrogated because his memory banks are wiped clean...They're creating ghosts here, Marshal. Ghosts to go out into the world and do ghostly work" (320).
Frequently, Lehane displays the theme that if possible, some people are capable of achieving great evil.