Freudian(Psychoanalytical) Literary Analysis of Doubt
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley is about a nun who is entirely convinced that a priest had done something inappropriate with one of the students and taken advantage of the fact that the student (Donald Muller) is an African-American. Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the nun, concluded that Father Flynn, the priest, had been forcing Donald Muller to drink wine and molesting him. With the help of a naïve nun named Sister James, Sister Aloysius attempted to investigate her assumption of Father Flynn’s actions even if it meant contacting Donald’s mother. Sister Aloysius is a stereotypical splenetic Catholic School nun who believes that being an unsympathetic and oppressive person to the students is the …show more content…
Father Flynn liked to keep his fingernails and said that it was fine because they were clean. The fingernails might be representing a certain action, such as his interest in Donald Muller which is not acceptable, just like his fingernails, but it is “okay”. Father Flynn’s notebook can be a symbol of his secrecy with his activities (possibly inappropriate) and his ideas for sermons. This is suspicious because he will typically not show what is written in the notebook with anyone. The ballpoint pen is a symbol of how Father Flynn embraces the modern world. Frosty the snowman and Sister Aloysius not liking the idea of it reveals that Sister Aloysius is a woman who holds traditional values and is a conservative person. Father Flynn likes plenty of sugar in his tea. (Shanley 43) This shows that he is unable to control himself of elements and circumstances that gives him pleasure, even though it is considered wrong according to the church, giving into his irrational impulse of id. Crows have been associated with bad omen. The crow provided an atmosphere of darkness when Sister James and Father Flynn were conversing. The crow symbolizes as a sinister activity that is possibly done by Father Flynn that makes the reader doubt his innocence. The bloody meat shown during the film eaten by Father Flynn shows his predatory nature. …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Father Flynn said during his sermon, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.” (Shanley 8) Sister Aloysius was usually doubtful of others and mistrusts them. When Sister Aloysius confronted Father Flynn of her suspicions in front of Sister James, he furiously disagreed. Sister James was then quickly convinced that he was innocent, but Sister Aloysius still didn’t trust him. Sister Aloysius then lied to Father Flynn that she called one of the nuns from his last parish and discovered his past infringements. She then blackmailed him and said that if he doesn’t resign, then she will spread the news of his past infringements as well as what happened with Donald Muller and he will become notorious.(Shanley 84) Father Flynn gave up defending himself and called a bishop for a transfer so he can be a priest at a different school. He then received a promotion at that school and was offered to be a pastor. Father Flynn’s id would’ve wanted to attack Sister Aloysius but his ego intervened, which is why he was only yelling at Sister Aloysius. In that situation, Father Flynn’s superego influenced him by allowing him to understand that Sister Aloysius will not change and it is a better option to transfer to another
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley is about a nun who is entirely convinced that a priest had done something inappropriate with one of the students and taken advantage of the fact that the student (Donald Muller) is an African-American. Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the nun, concluded that Father Flynn, the priest, had been forcing Donald Muller to drink wine and molesting him. With the help of a naïve nun named Sister James, Sister Aloysius attempted to investigate her assumption of Father Flynn’s actions even if it meant contacting Donald’s mother. Sister Aloysius is a stereotypical splenetic Catholic School nun who believes that being an unsympathetic and oppressive person to the students is the …show more content…
Father Flynn liked to keep his fingernails and said that it was fine because they were clean. The fingernails might be representing a certain action, such as his interest in Donald Muller which is not acceptable, just like his fingernails, but it is “okay”. Father Flynn’s notebook can be a symbol of his secrecy with his activities (possibly inappropriate) and his ideas for sermons. This is suspicious because he will typically not show what is written in the notebook with anyone. The ballpoint pen is a symbol of how Father Flynn embraces the modern world. Frosty the snowman and Sister Aloysius not liking the idea of it reveals that Sister Aloysius is a woman who holds traditional values and is a conservative person. Father Flynn likes plenty of sugar in his tea. (Shanley 43) This shows that he is unable to control himself of elements and circumstances that gives him pleasure, even though it is considered wrong according to the church, giving into his irrational impulse of id. Crows have been associated with bad omen. The crow provided an atmosphere of darkness when Sister James and Father Flynn were conversing. The crow symbolizes as a sinister activity that is possibly done by Father Flynn that makes the reader doubt his innocence. The bloody meat shown during the film eaten by Father Flynn shows his predatory nature. …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Father Flynn said during his sermon, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.” (Shanley 8) Sister Aloysius was usually doubtful of others and mistrusts them. When Sister Aloysius confronted Father Flynn of her suspicions in front of Sister James, he furiously disagreed. Sister James was then quickly convinced that he was innocent, but Sister Aloysius still didn’t trust him. Sister Aloysius then lied to Father Flynn that she called one of the nuns from his last parish and discovered his past infringements. She then blackmailed him and said that if he doesn’t resign, then she will spread the news of his past infringements as well as what happened with Donald Muller and he will become notorious.(Shanley 84) Father Flynn gave up defending himself and called a bishop for a transfer so he can be a priest at a different school. He then received a promotion at that school and was offered to be a pastor. Father Flynn’s id would’ve wanted to attack Sister Aloysius but his ego intervened, which is why he was only yelling at Sister Aloysius. In that situation, Father Flynn’s superego influenced him by allowing him to understand that Sister Aloysius will not change and it is a better option to transfer to another