Often times a struggle for power causes people to go against their own moral standards and negatively affects others. In the play Doubt by John Patrick Shanley, the characters Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn engage in a power play seeking the upper hand in the Catholic Church in which they are clergy. Sister Aloysius is more clever and effective than Father Flynn in their constant struggle for power. Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn have a major impact on Donald Muller with Sister Aloysius’ actions ultimately having the biggest impact. Donald Muller is the only black student at St. Nicholas School where the protagonists work and Father Flynn is Donald’s only friend. Sister James smelled alcohol on Donald’s breath one day in class and Sister …show more content…
Muller to her advantage in her power play with Father Flynn, however, this attempt winds up having a negative effect. Mrs. Muller was unaware of the issues with Donald until Sister Aloysius brought them to her attention. In Mrs. Muller’s conversation with Sister Aloysius, Shanley uses the motif of vision to illustrate Mrs. Muller’s thoughts on the issue. She says “Well, I would prefer not to see it that way if you don’t mind” (46) meaning she is refusing to see the truth about Donald and the negative consequences it may have on him. Mrs. Muller only cares about her son’s education and convinces herself to disregard the fact that her son may be in grave danger. She states, “Donald just has to make it here until June” (45) Sister Aloysius forces her to contemplate her son’s situation but Mrs. Muller opts to let Donald continue at the school despite the possibility that he is being preyed upon by a pedophile priest. Mrs. Muller sees graduating St. Nicholas school as more important than her son escaping a man that is molesting him. Mrs. Muller is even willing to admit that her son is gay to Sister Aloysius in order to try and make sense of the situation stating, “I’m his mother. I’m talking about his nature now, not anything he’s done” …show more content…
Both try to win Sister James over throughout the play, however, Sister Aloysius succeeds in the end. Father Flynn’s opinion of Sister Aloysius is made clear in the beginning of the film when he uses zoomorphism to describe her and says, “The dragon is hungry.” Sister Aloysius attempts to make the situation clear to Sister James and asks, “What have you seen?” (21). Shanley returns to the motif of vision to show that Sister Aloysius wants Sister James to open her eyes and see the truth about Father Flynn, that he may be molesting Donald Muller. Sister James is quick to switch sides in parts of the play though. When Father Flynn tells them that Donald stole the altar wine and he did not give it to him she is overwhelmed with relief saying, “Oh, what a relief! That explains everything! Thanks be to God! Oh, Sister, look, it’s all a mistake!” (34). In the epigraphs at the beginning of the novel, the quote “The bad sleep well” applies to Sister James at the end of the play and shows the effect that Sister Aloysius had on her. Sister James tells Father Flynn, Oh I can’t sleep. Actually one bad dream and then I haven’t slept right since” (58). Sister James finally sees the guilt in the world that Sister Aloysius wanted her to see. She is the good in the world and sees the cruelness of Father Flynn
John Patrick Shanley stresses doubt to be something “that changes things” (Preface To Doubt) rather than its typical depiction of disadvantageous in present day society. Growing up with a very Catholic background, Shanely’s childhood was marred with the belief that “We [Catholics] would all believe the same thing.” (Preface to Doubt). This relates with Shanely’s theory on our “culture of dogma” (Meanwhile: I am) which expresses how many choices we make today are influenced or even based on the authoritative figure(s) in our lives. However, Shanley urges you to not let respected figures in life sway your original opinion or response on a matter (Meanwhile: I Am). Furthermore, Shanley believes that without doubt (and living with complete certainty),
The play that was chosen to be read for the actor’s analysis was, “The Norwegians” which was written by C. Denby Swanson. As there is no specific style for this play, it is known to be categorized as a contemporary comedy as well as a character driven play.
A reputation can be so well established that if one person in power does a wrongdoing people will not believe it. For example when Mrs. Muller says, “Let me ask you something. You honestly think that priest gave Donald that wine to drink?” (47). Donald’s mother is questioning sister Aloysius because she does not believe Father Flynn would do something like that. He has a reputation of being a great priest and his reputation is better than Sister Aloysius’. Mrs. Muller states, “You’re not going against no man in a robe and win, Sister. He’s got the position.” (47). Just by Father Flynn being a male he has a higher reputation than a nun, which he knows and can accumulate for his actions. In the hierarchy of the Church, the head male priest is the most dominant. Therefore, nobody questions what he is doing; he has a reputation of being this influential priest who gives great sermons. He knows that he has the power to do what he wants and has his fellow Monsignor and other men in the ...
...der further than what we have in front of us. We want to impose our opinion on everything. We want to relate to it in a way that can only be done through out imagination. So, due to this, when we are not given the flexibility, then the context no longer becomes entertaining. The viewers do not want to be told how to think. Given these points, if they are influenced to believe that Sister Aloysius is a cruel individual like the movie portrays, then at the end of the movie and book when Sister Aloysius says, “ I have doubts! I have such doubts!” they will take that as a confession from her, and be further lead to believe that the accusations against Father Flynn are false. I think John Patrick Shanley chooses specific diction to create a conflict that has no precise resolution,he wanted the reader get lost in story and enter into their own story manifested within.
John Patrick Shanley creates a movie as a whole I feel was more informative than the play. In the play you have 4 characters Sister Aloysius, Father Flynn, Sister James, and Mrs. Muller. While the movie introduces a few other characters, for instance the children. For me the children made a difference because they for one made me understand what kind of kids Sister James was dealing with. I really thought that being able to see the way Father Flynn interacted with all of the young boys including Donald Muller was really helpful when trying to draw your conclusion of Father Flynn versus when reading it your left to imagine for instance; what some of the kids are like. The way the book sets you up your left leaning to Father Flynn being exactly what Sister Aloysius accuses him to be. We also get to see how sister James interacts with the kids and how Sister Aloysius influences her to change the way she deals with and teaches her class.
The world in which people live today is composed of hungry predators, forcing the innocents to shield by any giving power they get. In the play by John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, the principal of St. Nicholas school, Sister Aloysius, is trying to protect a fellow student from the hands of a possible sexual predator who is believed to be Father Flynn. Sister Aloysius feels worried about the situation and tries confronting Father Flynn but the lack of authority she has in the parish motivates her to break her vows in order to protect the student, Donald Muller.
At Evans Elemntary School District, we were about to perform an outstanding play. Our whole 4th grade class participating in this play, however some individuals had more important parts. This play was going to take place at the last week of school and we started to prepare for this in December. The play was about a 4th grade class that learn by singing. The teacher tought the classs all of the subjects by singing. The class was the main parts in the play and I was unfortunitly, not apart of the main cast. My role and many other students role was that we were the chorus for the class and sang along. We practiced many times and the play quickly approached us. Our music teacher directed the play and one of the teachers played the piano. The night
Their personalities are drastically different. Sister Aloysius was shown to be the not most agreeable person. Father Flynn was considerate and wanted to have a warm and loving relationship with the students so that the school will be a welcoming environment. "I think the message of the Second Ecumenical Council was that the church needs to take on more familiar face. Reflect the local community. We should sing a song from the radio now and then. Take the kids out for ice-cream." (Shanley 47) Sister James is naïve and innocent which allows her to be easily influenced. From the way that other characters relate to Sister Aloysius, it is learned that she is a fearful person. The students are afraid of her and Father Flynn is standing up for the students. Father Flynn is the type of person who liked his nails long and sugar in his tea. Sister Aloysius is so strict and she even mentioned how Frosty the Snowman shouldn’t be performed due to the magical element of the snowman coming to life. (Shanley 44) This causes an obstacle between the relationship of Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius. The conflict was worsened when Sister James reported to Sister Aloysius that Donald Muller was called out of class by Father Flynn and came back with alcohol in his breath and was acting unsettled. (Shanley 37) Sister Aloysius presented her id impulse, for Father Flynn to leave in an acceptable way
On October 3, 2016, I watched The Woodsman in class at Brigham Young University. James Ortiz directed the play, along with the production team Claire Karpen (Director), Molly Seidel (Costume Design), Catherine Clark and Jamie Roderick (Lighting Design) and Becca Key (Production Manager). A Broadway Production, The Woodsman epitomized the strength of technical design while allowing the audience to fall in love with the characters.
... Nonetheless, the signs also point to Father Flynn hurting him, because he was violating him. People’s assumptions are based upon personal experience and gut feeling, also on their upbringing; nature and nurture. Shanley uses inference in this play to create doubt in the audience’s minds'. The verdict is never in, on Flynn; guilty or not guilty. Shanley’s audience is left to be the jury.
Father Flynn tells Sister Aloysius, “Even if you feel certainty, it is an emotion and not a fact.” I think he means that without concrete evidence, you cannot rely on your emotions for the truth. In Father Flynn’s sermon he discusses doubt and truth. He says, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.” Sister Aloysius treats her doubt as the truth, and ignores any uncertainty she has. Throughout the story, Father Flynn denies and wrong doing and cites that there is no evidence of any misconduct. Doubt becomes battle with two viewpoints. When questions are asked, they are answered with more questions, leading to more
...d Macbeth change throughout the play, but in the end guilt takes over them, making them both weak in the end.
Written in 1962-3, Play depicts three characters, a man (M), and two women (W1 and W2) trapped in urns with only their heads showing. These characters each present their own version of a love triangle, which once occurred between them. It becomes clear during the play that the characters, once tortured by each other, are now tortured by their situation. A spotlight acts as a "unique inquisitor," compelling each to speak when it shines on them, and to stop when it goes out. As this assault continues, the characters become increasingly maddened by the light, and increasingly desperate to make it stop. The play repeats itself, providing the audience with a sense that these characters have been saying the same words for an eternity, and will continue to do so until the light decides they can stop. Beckett demonstrates how "A style of living, theatrically communicable, is used to express a state of mind."
Sister Aloysius has such different views from Father Flynn that she refuses to see any good in him. Due to this she always suspects the worst and, refuses to accept any other explanation. So when she finds out Father Flynn had a private talk with Donald Muller instead of thinking about what is best for the boy Sister Aloysius accuses Father Flynn of rape forcing Flynn to reveal what happened. This accusation not only forced Father Flynn to have to remove Donald Muller from the alter boys being the only group he enjoyed it also removed Father Flynn the only person Donald Muller would look for guidance from his
Everyman is English morality play written by an anonymous author in late fifteenth century. The play’s represent the values that Everyman holds on to by its characterization. The spiritual life of Everyman was neglected by him, but he is quickly repents of his sins as the play develops. After realizing Everyman is summoned by Death, he doesn’t want to die and die alone for that matter. Everyman soon realizes that when he is seeking for a companion to go on a journey that he wants to go but there is no one available. He soon comes to terms that everyone will soon abandon him who accompanied him on earth. The play is in allegorical characters that represents variety of concepts such as (Knowledge, Good Deeds etc.)