Summary Of Doubt: A Parable By John Patrick Shanley

In the play Doubt: A Parable, John Patrick Shanley tackles the ever-important issues of abuse of power, oppression of minority groups, and, of course, certainty versus doubt in an enthralling account of sexual misconduct allegations within a Catholic school. Shanley explores several avenues of such overarching ideas through his drama and ultimately arrives at the conclusion that certainty and moral obligations ought to override faith and traditional order. This theme is developed through Shanley's impeccable use of foreshadowing, symbolism, and tone and ultimately leaves the audience in deep consideration of their own values of doubt and faith. From the title of the play to the opening scene, Shanley intricately weaves foreshadowing throughout his work. For instance, in Part I, Father Flynn gives a sermon on the dangers of doubt and the importance of faith (5-6), ironically foreshadowing a central

Shanley himself was a Catholic school graduate, though he was expelled many times throughout his childhood. His personal experiences growing within the confines of the Catholic school system likely informed much of his writing and theme development in this play. As stated previously, is work highlights some of the most pressing issues within society, including gender and race relations, sexual misconduct, and the role religion plays in shaping one's moral and ethical compasses. Doubt: A Parable, touches on each of these ideas in varying degrees of plainness. Shanley is ultimately successful in constructing a play in which all debates are considered but left open to interpretation. The anticlimactic ending of the play, in which Father Flynn is transferred to a different job, leaves many of the audience's questions unanswered while still hinting at the pervasive and complex nature of the aforementioned