Defining the Theme of Doubt - Essay Example

Defining the Theme of Doubt Introduction The ability to work with specific thematic material is one which is able to provide viewers and readers withspecific conclusions. In the screenplay and movie Doubt, there is a distinction between the theme of doubt as well as what one is led to believe. However, the interpretation and presentation of both the screenplay and movie lead to different kinds of doubt while revealing specific aspects about the characters and their relationship to the movie. While both of the mediums allow the viewer to recognize the theme of doubt and how it relates to human nature, both lead to different conclusions that are specific to both the medium and other social themes that are issues in the current time. Examining the relationships between these two mediums then displays an understanding of both the universal theme of doubt as well as how different forms of doubt arise according to specific needs. Definition of Doubt The similarity that the play and the movie have is the definition of doubt and what this means. The author speaks about doubt, specifically to show what the meaning is and to represent it through the different characters. The definition is to show when individuals are not sure, which leads to a breakthrough in surety. The definition is then furthered with the idea of different types of doubt, such as having doubt that sways one back and forth or the doubt one has when they have done something wrong. Each of these themes are introduced from the beginning of the play and movie, both which are stated by the Father. “What do you do when you’re not sure?...You see the world through a window. On the one side of the glass: happy, untroubled people. On the other side: you. Something has happened, you have to carry it, and it’s incommunicable” (Shanley, 6). The concept of doubt, described from this viewpoint, as well as the differing definitions that take place through the various characters then become the main component that is related to doubt and the complexities which are associated with this, specifically because of the several types of doubt which can arise at different times. The play and the movie both become a representation of types of doubt as well as how this affects various characters and actions. Different Types of Doubt The concept of Doubt is first portrayed in the stage play by John Shanley. The main approach which Shanley takes is to lead the viewer into a belief that the Father is guilty. The dialogue and the different meanings which are seen through the stage play are missing from the movie and define doubt in a different manner. For instance, Shanley displays dialogue about how the Father is more intimate with the boys and tries to befriend them. This is displayed in the play, specifically to show that the Father is guilty and conveys a different understanding of what it means to love with the children. For instance, when Sister James and Sister Aloysius are speaking, there is a feeling of conviction about the Father’s guilt before the assumptions from the Principal are displayed. “Sister Aloysius: And the boys? Sister James: They’re in the rectory. Sister Aloysius: With Father Flynn. Sister James: Yes. He’s giving them a talk. Sister Aloysius: On what subject? Sister James: How to be a man” (Shanley, 17). The parts of the dialogue that show the conviction of Father Flynn in the movie are removed but are continuous in the stage play. This shows that there is a different understanding of doubt that doesn’t come from the conviction of the father, but instead from the doubt of the establishment of belonging to a Catholic Church and school. The concept of doubt in the movie is not displayed through the hidden theme of having a Catholic school that has a guilty Father. Instead, the doubt is created by an understanding of whether the Father is guilty or not. The theme takes out the main concept of doubt from this theme and instead creates the doubt through the disbelief in the Father’s actions. This is displayed through the youngest nun who notices the father’s actions with Donald and asks about it. Even though she has caught the Father Flynn, she is the one who has her doubts about his actions and what has occurred. The Father is never caught within the movie and there is no evidence of what has occurred. The dialogue, actions and the different relations to the characters combine together to show that the doubt is toward the Father and the main way in which he associates with the boys. Taking out the dialogue and actions then carries through with the doubt that the Father has done anything wrong then becomes the main type of doubt, as opposed to the doubt in the church. The difference between the movie and the stage play are then related to the concept of types of doubt that can take place surrounding one theme. Universal Themes and Doubt While both of the stage play and the movie have different types of doubt associated with the main association in the play, there are still same concepts that are more universal in nature. The doubt is associated with personal belief and affiliation which creates the doubt and is outside of the main concept of Father Flynn abusing the boys at the Catholic school. The doubt is one which relates to the concept of doubt in the personal belief in which the nuns hold toward the school. The Catholic School, as the nuns relate to it, is a place where there is a sense of safety, holiness and a relationship with God that can be practiced, specifically through the school. Sister James in the stage play is a representation of this, specifically because of her demeanor and the character that is represented. When Flynn tries to convince her of his innocence, he states “There are people who go after your humanity, Sister James, who tell you the light in your heart is a weakness. That your soft feelings betray you. I don’t believe that. It’s an old tactic of cruel people to kill kindness in the name of virtue” (Shanley, 41). The concept which the Father Flynn is speaking of is one which is the representation of the church and what the nuns and the Father are supposed to stand for. The idea of displaying virtue, humanity and the ability to help others is the main concept which is stated. However, when the Father breaks this, the doubt comes with the question of what the Catholic school is for as well as what the level of sincerity is for those that are the leaders in the church. The same universal theme of doubt is present in the rendition of the movie, Doubt. The Sister Aloysius is a representation of this at the end. After she is exposed to the truth and stands in full conviction, she begins to cry and tells the Sister James “I have so much doubt.” When she states this, it can be seen that there is not a representation of the doubt coming from the Father Flynn, specifically because she has evidence that confesses what he has done. She states this by saying his resignation and the guilt associated with the way he reacted to the questions she brought up showed his confession. One then has to question what doubt the Sister is speaking about, as opposed to the actions of Father Flynn. The structure of the church, ideas of virtue and the main ways in which the church is supposed to stand for reverence and attributes can be assumed as the main association with doubt that the sister experiences after seeing the actions and the results of Father Flynn. A Reasonable Doubt The presentation of doubt in both the movie and in the stage play also lead to an understanding of the difference between doubt and being firm in one’s actions. The reasonable doubt presented in both is shown between the contrasts in characters. The doubt of Sister Alyousis is non-existent until the end. The Sister remains convinced in her convictions about Father Flynn as well as the actions which she has taken. She states this in the movie through her words “I know from experience.” Even before she has evidence, she believes that there is no reasonable doubt that the priest would act in a manner that he is not supposed to and would continue with the actions, specifically because it was accepted in the church. When she does receive conviction, it comes from small parts of the movie and screenplay, such as the Father touching someone’s hand or when the Sister speaks to Donald’s mother. Each of these parts shows that the conviction is one which is coming from instinct, as opposed to true conviction. The representation of having reasonable doubt comes from the other characters that are in the play, such as Sister James. There is a continuous question of being certain as well as her belief going back and forth. At points, Sister James sees the actions of Father Flynn and believes that he should be convinced of the crime. However, when the Sister speaks to the father, she states that she believes him and that she doesn’t think he has done anything crime. The doubt which Sister James shows goes back from one action and to the other. Since there is no reasonable doubt about the belief in the Father or the need of believing in the crime, there is more doubt that raises on both sides. This leads to the Sister speaking about how she can’t sleep and that she doesn’t want to leave the convent to meet her brother because of the love and care that she wants to show the children. The reasonable doubt is then noted through the actions as well as different sides that Sister James shows throughout the movie. The same type of reasonable doubt that is seen through different layers of the characters is also presented in the book through the same characters. However, there is less of the persuasion on both sides with more conviction from both of the sisters about Father Flynn’s actions. The way in which he speaks, the mannerism which is pointed out in the screenplay and the different actions which are taken that don’t leave as much doubt with the viewer about the Father’s actions. The Father is constantly viewed in the light of befriending the boys, planning trips with them and having close talks with them. These are significant to the play, specifically because it points to the guilt that the Father may have with the children. More important, there is the ability to create more conviction because of the actions which are associated with the Father. Even though the actions are prevalent through the Father, the reasonable doubt is still similar in the screenplay as in the movie. This comes from the Sister James first, specifically because she continues to have less conviction when she is working through the different concepts associated with the school. The reasonable doubt first comes from the lack of evidence associated with the way that the priest attends to those in the school. The second is from the mannerisms of the other sister, which she isn’t sure whether to trust or not. More important, Sister Aloysius isn’t convinced either through the rumors of Sister James or through the need to bring up the issue because of William. She states “We simply have to get William through, out the door, and then he’s somebody else’s project” (8). These types of statements provide more doubt in whether the topic should have been approached and whether it will cause more harm or good to the school. The reasonable doubt then begins to build because of the environment and internal dialogue that is a part of the play. Conclusion The concept of doubt as portrayed in both the movie and play Doubt, show that there are various layers that are associated with the concept of doubt. This first begins with the ideology of what it means to be in doubt and how this is often associated with other complexities. This is furthered with the universal theme of doubt, and how this is one which is prevalent in both plays. However, the doubt is divided by the lack of conviction as well as the persuasion that the Sisters go through as well as the Father. The layers of doubt that come through in both the play and the movie then relate to the varying definitions of doubt as well as the inability to create conviction about what has occurred through the movie. References Shanley, John Patrick. Doubt: A Parable. New York: Theater Communications Group, 2005. Print. Doubt. Dir. John Patrick Shanley. Per. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Miramax. 25 December 2008, Film. Read More