The much admired play and subsequent film, Doubt, by John Patrick Stanley covers a subject that has become ideal material for compelling drama in recent years: Abuse of children at the hands of priests. Set at a Catholic school, St. Nicholas, in the Bronx in 1964, Doubt tells the story of a nun and principal who suspects a new young priest is sexually abusing the school’s first and only black student. Doubt first premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club on November 23, 2004 before moving to Broadway, at the Walter Kerr Theatre in March of 2005. In addition to the United Sates, Doubt also premiered in several other countries, such as Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, New Zealand, England, Poland, and France. After 25 previews and 525 performances, it closed on July 2, 2006. It was made into a film in 2008, with stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Viola Davis. I would classify Doubt as a drama in terms of genre because it is a serious play that focuses on an issue; It portrays the trials of …show more content…
He is, unlike Sister Aloysius, more compassionate in his beliefs about discipline and convention. For example, he likes the idea of Christmas songs appearing in the church’s pageant, while Sister Aloysius completely despises such a notion, saying the songs are of evil and magic. He leans more toward the trends of modern times, rather than the strict traditional church views. Comfortable in his own skin, he uses his charm to earn the trust of others. Though greatly concerned about his reputation, his defensiveness is also a cause for question. I would also classify Father Flynn as a static character. As with Sister Aloysius, his defensiveness and his claims of innocence remain throughout the play. He makes a convincing case that Sister Aloysius’s persecutions against him are a result of her disapproval and disagreement with his values and
Nicholas. She asks Sister James how he is doing on several occasions. Her concerns seem justified at first, seeming like she wants to ensure his safety at school proclaiming “There is a statue of St. Patrick on one side of the church alter and a statue of St. Anthony on the other. This parish serves Irish and Italian families. Someone will hit Donald Muller.” In this statement she admits that the church is predominantly white and Donald is out of place. Her true intentions become clearer when Sister James replies “He has a protector” explaining that Father Flynn has taken interest in Muller. This threw Aloysius completely off balance. She starts interrogating James about Flynn and Muller’s relationship and implies there may be something wrong going on between them. Sister Aloysius doubt about this kind of sin was placed in her eight years prior at St. Boniface School, where a priest had committed these unspeakable acts with a student(s) there. After telling James about this, Aloysius decided Father Flynn must be stopped by the two of them alone, thus beginning her
In the story Father Flynn can be described as charming and caring. Although father Flynn can described with nice characteristics trait Sister Aloysius does not see the person
In perhaps the greatest addition to the credibility of Sister Aloysius, Shanley ascribes dialogues to her that states, “When you take a step to address wrongdoing, you are taking a step away from God” (20). In this, Aloysius appears to accept that chasing after someone who does wrong can be wrong in and of itself. She acknowledges the idea that fixing a problem can occasionally only be accomplished by working outside of the parameters set as morally or ethically good. She understands that by going after Father Flynn, she may sin. However, she proceeds anyways. She continues to attempt to protect the boys of her school and bring Father Flynn to the justice she believes he should be brought to. Through these words, she shows she is more than willing to put herself in harm’s way in order to protect her students. Self-sacrifice is oft times viewed in light of good moral standing. Through having Aloysius be
Doubt is a drama/mystery film released December 25, 2008, John Patrick Shanley is the director of the film and the screenplay Doubt: A Parable. The setting of the story takes place in
Sister Aloysius quickly made up her mind that Father Flynn was guilty of doing something to Donald before consulting with him. Although, before being told about the incident, Sister Aloysius had already been keeping a close watch on the two males. She seen Father Flynn grab a child’s wrist, and suspected something would happen to Donald due to race. Sister Aloysius is uncomforted by affection so she becomes concerned after the incident between Father Flynn and the child’s wrist, which creates some suspicion toward Father Flynn. In the end, of the play she tells Sister James about how she doubts herself because there was no actual
“What do you do when you’re not sure...” so begins Father Flynn’s sermon near the beginning of the play Doubt. Father Flynn delivers his sermon to the people of St. Nicholas Catholic church in the Bronx in the year following President Kennedy’s assassination. His sermon builds upon a story of a sailor lost at sea who has doubts about the course he has set and his doubt becomes the metaphor for the community who has lost its certainty. So, in other words, when someone loses certainty they doubt about someone or something and want to belief the uncertain is true. To do so they make anything in their power to find out that their doubt is a belief even if it means to lie.
Comparing the characters of Angelo and Isabella, one could argue that Isabella is ‘the symbol of goodness and mercy set against a background of moral decay’. Alternatively, one could see her character as self-righteous and hypocritical, as we later discover when she values her chastity higher than her brother’s life.
Algernon Moncreiff on the other hand, lied to get to the coutnry so he could find something more genuine as opposed to the false honesty of the city. Again, one sees the same dichotomy as one would see in Jack. Alge lied to get to Cecily, his true love, which again is genuine. Cecily Cardew has a dichotomous personality as well. On the outside, Cecily appears to be innotcent and very victorian like, which represents the victorian dewfinitionof honesty. However, if one dug a little deeper, they would see that Cecily is much like a female version of a dandy. She has wicked thoughts, which represent her genuine, truly honest self.
Isabella is of a cheerful disposition, but her soul is pure as virtue itself.” Matilda opposes “virtuous” with “cheerful,” the latter word given as an opposition to the suggestion that Isabella may have a flirtatious nature. It seems that one who is very pure and virtuous must not only hide sexual interest, but must curb evidence of any happiness or active enjoyment of life. This cheerfulness might indicate self-interest or a threateningly passionate nature. When Hippolita announces that a marriage between Frederick and Matilda has been proposed, Isabella says to Hippolita , “...But think not, lady, that thy weakness shall determine for me. I swear, hear me all ye angels—” (Walpole, 106). Matilda, who is in love with Theodore, cannot but agree to obey her mother.
I would say that this movie is an example of the genre drama. It's a historical drama film. That is a genre which examines a spesific time in history or group of people. In this case
Parris has an unfavorable disposition towards children and lacks an affable background. The selfishness that Parris encompasses is inexpressible, especially towards his niece Abigail who “compromise[s] [his] very character” (11). Parris affirms “Now look you child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it” (10).
A person’s doubts can cloud their judgment on certain tasks at hand. On the other hand, a person’s certainty can blind someone from the truth. The argument ofDoubt versus Certainty is relevant today in the sense that it is the main argument for and against religion. The theory of doubt can also be used in literary works for a number of reasons. In John Patrick Shanley’s movie/play Doubt, the theme of “certainty versus doubt” is shown throughout the story to signify the importance of characterization and to symbolize the importance that a person must be cautious of the people around them.
Dramatic irony is a very useful tool for comic situations. When the audience understand something that the characters in the play don’t, it creates a funny scene in the play. Shakespeare uses this a lot in Twelfth Night to create humor, as do other authors and playwrights. When characters in the play soliloquize, the audience finds out a lot of useful information, some information Shakespeare uses to create dramatic irony. When using dramatic irony, Shakespeare makes his plays way more comical.
In the novel, Shanley reveals the differences between the characters, of Sister Aloysius who is the stern traditionalist, the complete opposite of Father Flynn who is a very fun, kind, and a progressive person. Sister Aloysius thinks that Father Flynn’s ways of living life are very strange and is appalled by his habits, because she feels very nervous and threatened that Father Flynn will take over the church, and tradition will leave the system. Sister Aloysius likes to have her own specific list of beliefs, and traditions, so when she sees Father Flynn’s long fingernails, and the amount of sugars he puts in his tea, she becomes outraged, shocked, and appalled by the ways that he enjoys living his life. Sister Aloysius says: “Your fingernails.” Father Flynn replies
Defining play can be very difficult. The term play can be used to illustrate a wide range of behaviors and activities, and can be perceived as both essential and insignificant to the child at the same time. Santrock (2012, p.437) suggests a definition of play as "a pleasurable activity that is engaged in for its own sake." However, this is argued by Kernan (2007, p.5) who states that none of the potential definitions are broad enough to encompass all of the meanings associated with play. Despite the lack of such universal definition, Rennie (2003, p.22) claims, that "we can recognize play across barriers of language, of culture, even of species", which conveys its importance in the life and development of children, as it is