Doubt, By John Patrick Shanley

Doubt, do you doubt yourself? In the play “Doubt” by John Patrick Shanley portraits the life of people in a uptight religious school in the 1960s’s. The doubt of the story is weather a priest has molested a child or not. Altering sides of the story can be easily seen weather Father Brendan Flynn committed the crime or not. Based on the evidence in Patrick Shanley's play, Doubt: A Parable, I can conclude that Father Flynn is innocent because people are innocent until proven guilty. Especially in this case, there is no real cold hard evidence rather just little hints and clues.

Innocent until proven guilty, the way the system of American Government works. Father Flynn has no actual signs to prove that he is guilty. If that isn't enough to back

up his innocence, Father has been seen to show his good side. Examples include giving kids care when they were in need and coaching them in basketball. Father Flynn shows his innocence in the quote “A woman was gossiping with her friend about a man whom they hardly knew… I know none of you have ever done this. That night, she had a dream: a great hand appeared over her and pointed down on her. She was immediately seized with an overwhelming sense of guilt. The next day she went to confession. She got the old parish priest, and she told him the whole thing. 'Is gossiping a sin?” (Shanley 49). The gossiping and rumors can be shown to be foreshadowing in this quote to what further happens in the play. The ‘Doubt’ is really just within the adults of the church, not the kids. Father Flynn knows what is going on within this group of people, which can be seen in many different occurrences. He states “You have no right to act on your own! You have taken vows, obedience being one! You answer to us! You have no right to step outside the church!” (Shanley 54). Further showing Fathers respectfulness to his peers, even though their opinions are against.
Giving, Welcoming and Animated emotions are all feelings Father Flynn possess.

The reader already knows there is a chance of Father being guilty, but in the given circumstance, you can see that he is innocent and here is why. Father gives to the church, he is seen coaching basketball, giving kids lessons on everyday life and gives kids a break from the traditional church. Not that this doesn't give him reason to be accused of sexual harassment, but accusations should be in his favor from the start. Father states “its me that cares about that boy, not her. Has she ever reached out a hand to that child or any child in this school? (Shanley 40). Father shows examples of being a good guy in many occasions such as in this quote. There is no reason to favor a nosey sister who has been against anybody's modern hobbies. Sister Aloysius, a negative old sister who seems to be breaking any attempt for modernism in her church. A guy could see her actions as a way to expel Father Flynn’s modern ways to the church. Examples of this can be seen in the quote said by Sister Aloysius “I'll bring him down, with or without your help” (Shanley 35). The quote shows sher wittiness in bringing down Father Flynn. In this case, Father Flynn almost seems defenslise as his side of the story is being shot down almost every time he talks. Overall, Sister Aloysius is a ruthless women, making her seem almost artificial in hopes to finish Father

Flynn.
One can say there has been a history of a sketchy relationships between priests and younger boys. In this case, a person could have a pre-set biased opinion from the start because of that. One of the only strong claims that came from the offensive side of the case is that Father would physically grab kids in situations that were not needed. The offensive side of opinions also state that Father Flynn kept the alter boy after he drank the alcohol, which was against the rules of the church. “There was alcohol on his breath, when he returned from his meeting with you” (Shanley 33). This information is the only lead the pro-guilty side could have on Father Flynn. Although it seems as if this could be enough at first, to prove someone guilty you’re going to need a lot more information. “You have the slightest proof of anything,” (Shanley 54) Father shows there is nothing to prove him guilty. Over and over, Sister Aloysius “claims” have been seen to be cloudy and fraud.
Innocent until proven guilty, Father Flynn can be seen as guilty based off of some absurd evidence. The grabbing of the kid, the alcohol and other examples can be used against him but possesses nothing that could prove of him being guilty. Father Flynn is an innocent man, the evidence against is the changes he wanted to see in the church. This wasn't a crime.