To Hold on or to Let Go
Faith in an idea provides a person an unshakable asylum of truth within a constantly evolving world; no matter what challenges confront an individual, the moral benchmark that a person’s faith creates provides solace and direction. But faith is not something constant in a person’s life; it constantly seeks confirmation as the person goes about their life and learns details which complicate their perception of the world. This uncertainty forces a person to question whether that doubt is useless paranoia or a sudden realization about the very legitimacy of his or her ideals. This is what John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt forces the reader to consider as he or she watches the characters desperately search for clear answers where there are none. Faced with challenges to their faith,…show more content… Serving as the principal of St. Nicholas School, Sister Aloysius has developed a fiercely protective nature and cares deeply for all those who walk through her doors. Because of this, she has found it is her obligation “…to outshine the fox in cleverness” (Shanley 22); she must adopt a tenacious vigilance and active skepticism in order to protect her students. Thus, when Father Flynn’s relationship with his male students arouses Sister Aloysius’ suspicion, she is quick to act in her students’ defense. By arranging inappropriately privates meetings with Father Flynn, refusing to communicate with the pastor, and by generally maneuvering outside of what she is authorized to do by the Catholic Church, Sister Aloysius does whatever she must to protect her students, even if she is “…damned to Hell” (54) in the process. Although she can find no concrete evidence of wrongdoing, she has enough faith in her instincts to risk her job and her relationship with God in the prosecution of Father Flynn if that guarantees that her students are
