Unreliable Truths and Buried Traumas: The Craft of Suspense in Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island and Mystic River
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1511.16Keywords:
suspense, memory, trauma, violence, investigationAbstract
This paper examines the role of suspense in Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island and Mystic River, focusing on the themes of unreliable truths and buried traumas. Both novels create a sense of uncertainty by employing unreliable narration and fragmented memories, which keep readers questioning the nature of reality. In Shutter Island, the blurring of madness and reality challenges the reader’s perception of truth. In Mystic River, hidden traumas from the past continuously shape the present, creating an underlying tension that unfolds gradually. The construction of suspense is achieved not just through plot developments, but by exploring the emotional and psychological complexities that arise from unresolved past experiences. The paper argues that Lehane’s use of suspense goes beyond traditional thriller tropes, serving as a tool to delve into deeper themes of trauma, identity, and moral ambiguity. The study demonstrates that suspense in Lehane’s work is a means to explore the instability of truth and the long-lasting impact of the past, creating a more profound narrative experience that challenges the boundaries of reality and perception.
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