20 Things You Somehow Missed In Shutter Island
8. The Symbolism Of The Band-Aid
From the film's very first scene, Teddy wears a distinctive band-aid above his left eye, though if you pay close attention, you might notice that the band-aid disappears at a specific point in the movie.
At the start of the third act, Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley) informs Teddy that he came to the island alone and without a partner, after which Teddy takes a shower.
From this point on, the band-aid is absent for the rest of the movie, as Teddy's delusions start to melt away and he sees the truth for what it is.
It's both the literal and metaphorical pulling off of the band-aid, if you like.