Moral Sequence of Sister Aloysius in Shanley's Doubt - Essay Example

Issues about Which Sister Aloysius Could Have Doubts, Going From the Least Important To the Most Important The moral sequence in Sister Aloysius who is the main character in the play, Doubt, is clearly elaborated in the last line of the play which also happens to be the best line that the play has. As a matter of fact, it is at this point of the play that a complete reversal of roles that the Catholic nun who I sat the same time very old school reveals to the viewers through Sister James that she then realizes that she has “doubts”. This is despite the fact that Sister Aloysius has been presented all through the play as a hard line absolutist. It is very shocking that Sister Aloysius could have the potential of turning into a doubting Thomas given the dogmatic image of one who never had any doubt in her life (Shanley 22). In an effort to make this issue sink even further, it is revealed that Sister Aloysius told a lie. This is against the fact that it is a very strong Catholic dogma that no any lie of any sort ought to be encouraged leave alone being told (Waldmeir 34). This very rigid law is held even in circumstances where the lie could be the solitary tool in defeating the devil. Despite being a very sincere and devoted servant of God, Sister Aloysius finds herself in a very compromising situation. She is unwillingly introduced to the Machiavellian relativism. Sister Aloysius goes further to encapsulate humanity’s doubt in its last century. It is at this very point that Sister Aloysius openly abandons absolutism (Books Llc 43). The very step that Sister Aloysius takes in abandoning absolutism violates greatly the vow that she had personally taken in an effort to affirm her obedience to the church which was aimed at catching the pedophile (Waldmeir 79). As the play progresses, it comes to the realization that Sister Aloysius is very important when the hierarchy fails to work. At this point in time, Sister Aloysius transforms into the prosecutor, the jury and even the judge. This step marks the beginning of Sister Aloysius to fall in the slippery tracks already built by the principle of moral relativism. This rings a question to the mind of the reader as to whether it is really possible for anyone to offer any defense or support to moral absolutes if at all Sister Aloysius cannot do it. It therefore possesses yet another doubt on how truly the aspect of evil could be effectively stopped (Shengold 51). A heavy doubt lingers on whether there can be any staged war against the issue of evil if at all the absolutes being in place. Faith has now escaped and the only thing that is present is doubt which is being portrayed as having captured every individual. As the play progresses, it is notable that boundaries are being set for the rapid spread of doubt. This can be seen in the case that involves Aloysius the pedophile. It is very clear that Sister Aloysius is borrowing heavily from intuition in handling these particular cases (Bryer 61). The evidence that is presented by Aloysius proves to be more flimsy as compared to the evidence that comes from WMDs who are located in Iraq. In this particular case, Sister Aloysius is vey much in doubt about the case since the audience is further informed that if at all she could have been successful in accessing the right results then only luck could be the propelling force (Books Llc 82). The doubt that Sister Aloysius has is in regard to the spiritual issue. This is brought out clearly in the book. It is in regard to this that Sister Aloysius argues that if at all by any chance the society is filled with evil doers as he presumes, then she could put in contribution to the evil activities and move away further from God. Despite the fact that history was filled with evil doers who were acting from fierce conviction such as suicide bombers, witch hunters, Mullahs and the Inquisitors these people act form the conviction that they are protecting children (Shanley 19). As a matter of fact, it is in reference to these very sentiments that Sister Aloysius expresses her doubt once again by revealing the fact that for an individual to clearly and effectively offer service to God one has to take a step away from the Lord Himself. It is as a consequence of this doubt in her religious mind that Sister Aloysius at times is prone to acting even before she is aware that evil has been done. This can be seen in the pre emptive Jihad that Sister Aloysius launches (Books Llc 37). This launching is based on mere suspicions and as it is portrayed, the Jihads are more often than not indicated as being wrong on the long run or later on. In such cases that are brought about by the mere fact that doubt is an aspect that is existent among the characters and in particular Sister Aloysius, moral authority is taken away form the various heads that are accorded the power (Shanley 13). It is in the absence of these moral authorities that people go ahead to take action into their own hands. It is due to this fact that the principle of University is introduced in the play. This is in an effort to curb the effects of doubt that are being developed in Sister Aloysius who in this case is the leader in the institution. According to the principle, Sister Aloysius is heavily failing due to the basic fact that there exists no difference at all in trying to use a lie to stop evil or even using a lie to forge head to war. The leaders of moral standards such as Sister Aloysius ought to create this steel that is required from a leader yet she is falling victim of her own leadership weaknesses (Shanley 15). On the other hand, victors such as Sister Aloysius are not expected to return as humble even after the moral standards that are presented in the law. As is portrayed in the play, the lack of holding evil accountability by priests has led to Sister Aloysius launching her solo campaign as a woman. As a mater of fact, doubt continues in the life of Sister Aloysius throughout the entire play. At this point, it is presented in the form of lies that Sister Aloysius has involved directly with so as to buy her way out of the tight situation. She uses the fact that the best secret of hell is the fact that human beings do create hell for themselves (Shanley 18). Sister Aloysius is putting in to use lies so as to create doubt in the minds of people and as is clearly elaborated in the play, this is a wrong act as it results to greatly new minds in the audience. Finally, Sister Aloysius is in complete doubt over her own individual self. She no longer lives in the world of strict precision that she is in as the play is introduced. As the play unfolds in the beginning parts, it is clear that Sister Aloysius is living in a world of high secrecy levels and despair that they were born to set things right. In a sudden twist of events, Sister Aloysius is finding herself in a world where she is asking herself the question “to be or not to be” (Shanley 31). She admits that this is not a very healthy state for anyone to be in and is in great suffering after loosing the precision that she once had in life. Sister Aloysius therefore ends the play as a character that is full of despair and doubt over the events that have occurred in her life. Doubt can be said to be the focal point shaping different events of the life led by Sister Aloysius (Books Llc 67). As it is clearly elaborated, the doubts that Sister Aloysius is boldly highlighted in the play as being the doubt that he has over himself. As a matter of fact, it is this doubt that is used to end the book at a climax point, qualifying it more for the most important aspect of the doubts that Sister Aloysius had. Work Cited Books Llc. Plays by John Patrick Shanley. Washington: General Books LLC, 2010 Bryer, Jackson. The Facts on File Companion to American Drama. Chicago: Infobase Publishing, 2010 Jenkins, Jeffrey. The best plays theater yearbook. Boston: Limelight Editions, 2007 Shanley, John. Doubt: a parable. London: Theatre Communications Group, 2005 Shengold, Jennifer. River of Words. Illinois: SUNY Press, 2010 Waldmeir, John. Cathedrals of bone. California: Fordham Univ Press, 2009 Read More