In John Patrick Shanley's Doubt: A Parable, the theme of doubt is played out in multiple ways, showing that every character experiences doubt-even the seemingly doubt-free Sister Aloysius, who seems to have the certainty of conviction. Doubt is pervasive in the play, but it occurs for a variety of reasons, some commendable and others not. During the course of the play, doubt results from suspicion, a sense of responsibility, questionable appearances, and a desire to be fair.
Doubt because of suspicion is Sister Aloysius's purvey. She suspects that Father Flynn is molesting Donald Muller, and from that suspicion she builds a case against him, using input from Sister James as fodder for it. She questions Sister James closely about the situation and then calls Father Flynn into her office for a conference with Sister James present to confront him about it. Although he denies any wrongdoing, her confronting him forces him to remove Donald as an altar boy, something Father Flynn was hoping to avoid. To Father Flynn and to Sister James, Sister Aloysius maintains a stern resolve and a steely certainty that Father Flynn is guilty, right until the very end of the play when he has been transferred to another parish. Then she admits, "I have doubts! I have such doubts!" (Shanley 52).
Both Sister Aloysius and Sister James experience doubt about what went on between Father Flynn and Donald because of a sense of responsibility for the children, although Sister James is inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. When Sister Aloysius wants to press ahead to convict Father Flynn, Sister James says, "But I feel. Wrong. And about this other matter, I don't have any evidence. I'm not at all certain that anything's happened" (Shanley 24). This comment demonstrates a desire to be fair on Sister James's part. She feels responsible for the children's well-being on one hand, but she als
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