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What is the smallest historical inaccuracy that has ever bothered you in a work of fiction? (hexbear.net)
submitted 4 days ago by to c/history@hexbear.net
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Bonus points of course if it has no plot relevance

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[–] 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

In regards to the Shutter Island thing, the quote is actually

Y'know this place makes me wonder; which would be worse—to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?

even so I think it is in line with the MKUltra subtext of the film for the older voodoo meaning to still work here.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 days ago* (1 child)

    I got it wrong, it was actually the psychiatrist played by Ben Kingsley who said the line. It's earlier in the movie where he's discussing the various treatments done on the island and he brings up lobotomies. He says "Some say the patients become reasonable, docile. Others say they become zombies."

    So saying the phrase like that would be a little anachronistic, since the conception of a zombie in 1954 would have been a magically bound slave. But I do kinda like the MKULTRA angle too.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

    I'm inclined to think it's intentional, because you can generally find this subtextual implication of deep politics looming around in the background of most of Scorcese's films. Like the Cuban gusano gunrunners/CIA agent that is obviously a stand-in for E. Howard Hunt (even making a joke about his ears!) in The Irishman as a fast example. To me, Kingsley's portrayal of the character is very obviously a stand-in for Sidney Gottlieb with his kind of urbane and new agey affect.

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