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Analysis Of John Patrick Shanley's 'Doubt'

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Topic: What elements existed or were created within the Church to allow fathers to have power over the sisters in Doubt, a Parable? Discuss.

Doubt, a Parable by John Patrick Shanley is a successful and immortalized drama. The play is an open-ended construct, allowing each reader or spectator to build his own interpretation of the facts implied. In this article, the elements existed or were created within the Church to allow fathers to have power over the sisters in the play will be deeply analyzed and explored.

John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable takes place at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church and School in Bronx, New York, 1964. Father Brendon Flynn is new to St. Nicholas, and his contemporary take on Catholicism seems to immediately clash with Sister Aloysius’ though traditional beliefs. Sister Aloysius believes Father Flynn to be a sexual predator and wishes to enlist the wide-eyed optimist Sister James to help keep a watchful eye on him.

First and foremost, the entire play mainly deals with issues of sexual abuse, race, religion, relations of power and gender. Also, the main theme that is underlined by the playwright of Doubt: A Parable is the abuse of the power. Shanley suggested an up-to-date topic, considering several scandals about the Catholic Church’s priests who had had sexual relations with young parishioners. This play with no proofs and it ends with an open-ended. Although in the play Sister Aloysius and Sister James try to judge whether the priest –

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