Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
Symbolism In "Doubt"
9
Thank You!
Symbolism in Doubt
Symbolism Prompt
Prompt
In Scene 7, Sister James and Father Flynn discuss Flynn’s use of stories in his sermon:
James: Did you make up that story about the pillow?
Flynn: “Yes. You make up little stories to illustrate. In the tradition of the parable.”
James: Aren’t things that actually happen in life more worthy of interpretation than a made-up story?
Flynn: No. What actually happens in life is beyond interpretation. The truth makes for a bad sermon. It tends to be confusing and have no clear conclusion. (39)
Discuss the significance of this conversation as it relates to the purpose of this drama. Include evidence, either from the text and consider using examples from real life.
Plot and Character Analysis
Analysis 1
This conversation has multiple reasons for its significance to the purpose of Doubt as a whole. Firstly, it encourages reflection on the purpose of Doubt as a story, which, while very present, can be difficult to concretely define. Doubt is primarily focused on its characters, their beliefs, and the way they interact and clash with one another. Despite being categorized as a parable, however, it does not have very explicitly clear lessons or themes to convey as one would expect from a parable. The story takes place in a realistic setting with realistic characters, and it concludes in a realistic way: with loose ends, unanswered questions, and a bittersweet final scene with uncertain consequences for the characters. This realism and ambiguity simultaneously compliments and contrasts Flynn's ideas about reality and fiction expressed in the quote, because it creates inconclusiveness in the story, but it also encourages much more thought and contemplation from the reader.
How Shanley Creates Dynamic Characters
Textual Evidence
For example, in the final scene's conversation between Sister James and Sister Aloysius, a rather unique series of events unfold: "SISTER James: 'You lied?' SISTER Aloysius: 'Yes. But if he had no such histroy, the lie wouldn't have worked. His resignation was his confession. He was what I thought he was. And he's gone.' 'I can't believe you lied.' 'In the pursuit of wrongdoing, one steps away from God. Of course there's a price.' 'I see. So now he's in another school.' 'Yes. Oh, Sister James!' 'What is it, Sister?' 'I have doubts! I have such doubts!'" (51-52). This scene is the first and only time Aloysius shows weakness to anyone by allowing Sister James to know of her internal struggle with her actions, which helps portray her as a more realistic and flawed character despite the appearance she attempts to maintain. It also makes the ending more ambiguous and thought-provoking by showing that even Aloysius, who seemed so unwaveringly confident in her beliefs about Father Flynn, doesn't know the absolute truth of the situation.
Character Developments Timeline
- Confident, unflappable, powerful
- Concerned with the efforts of her teachers and students
- Stoic and uncaring
- Determined outwardly...
- ...but consumed by doubt
- Emotional and regretful
Aloysius
- Alert, paranoid, scheming
- Preoccupied by her suspicions of Father Flynn
- Stoic around Flynn, but internally distressed/upset
Visual Example
- Quite suspicious
- Aggressive and panicked
- Frantic, upset, and desperate
- Mostly inconspicuous
- Passive and content
- Calm, collected, formal
Flynn
- Somewhat suspicious
- Passive-aggressive and concerned
- Cool, stoic, tense
Design and Genre Analysis
Analysis 2
From the perspective of Shanley as the creator of Doubt, why conclude this story in such an inconclusive way? Ending the story without confirmation of Father Flynn's guilt, true victory for Aloysius' crusade against him, or any mentions of the forseeable of the characters leaves the readers with an incentive to discover the purpose of the story themselves, rather than rely on answers Shanley gives them. This decision is an ingenious one, as it perfectly compliments the design of Doubt as a realistic story and greatly enhances its memorability and impact. It encourages the reader not only to reconsider their beliefs on Flynn's innocence, but also to question their beliefs on justice, truth, and many other fundamental principles of human behavior, philosophy, and society.
The Self-Referential Aspects
Textual Evidence
Despite being categorized as a parable, Doubt does not have very explicitly clear lessons or themes to convey as one would expect from a parable; rather, it poses many subjective questions for the reader to answe which still encourage learning, thinking, and evaluation of one's beliefs much like a parable should. It plays out similar to an excerpt from a historical fiction novel, but is designed to instigate introspection in its readers. Shanley's inclusion of the ideas this quote expresses about parables and interpretation of reality simultaneouly acclaim and criticize Doubt, the genres it falls into, and all similar media in general, collectively and masterfully wed into a few sentences of dialogue between two characters. All of this connects back to the preface of the play, where Shanley claims that "It is Doubt (so often experienced initially as weakness) that changes things. When a man feels unsteady, when he falters, when hard-won knowledge evaporates before his eyes, he's on the verge of growth" (6), and it was upon this belief that Doubt was conceived.
Visual Dissection of the "Parable of the Sower"
Visual Example
To conclude...
...this excerpt represents ideas of realism, fiction, personal beliefs, and of doubt itself that are present throughout the play and support the purpose of encouraging self-evaluation and introspection into the reader's beliefs on principles within human life and society.