In the play, Doubt, the writer is making the point that doubt plays a significant role in our lives. Too often, doubt is present where certainty would be ideal. The writer speaks of doubt with what almost seems to be a sense of awe. “Doubt requires more courage than conviction does, and more energy; because conviction is a resting place and doubt is infinite – it is a passionate exercise.” (preface, page 7)
It is, of course, the intention of the play to create a feeling of sympathy toward Father Flynn, at least in the beginning. I found myself sympathetic toward Flynn throughout, despite the accusations that he formed an inappropriate relationship with the child. At no point did I find myself believing the accusations might be true.
For this reason, I also found Flynn to be admirable. Oddly enough, I found Sister James to be rather admirable as well. While she fumbled in the beginning, trying to decide how she felt toward both Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius, she behaved as she saw fit. She followed orders despite feeling that she was behaving unjustly; that is, without truly understanding the situation. This is admirable, to an extent. By the end of the play, Sister James was willing to stand for her belief that Flynn was innocent. This is even more admirable than her initial behaviors.
Because of the differences in ideas regarding the proper relationship between the ministers and those ministered, the ways in which Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn interact and view interacts would be very different. This is important to understanding why it is that Sister Aloysius beliefs what she does about Flynn, and why she makes the claims about him. Despite the suggestions that Sister Aloysius makes these claims merely because of her disdain for Flynn, it is possible to look at their differences of opinions and attribute her accusations simply to a different understanding of the roles they fill.
To borrow the quote provided in our syllabus, “Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith.” Dynamics of Faith