The Impact of Doubt Movie - Essay Example

It was in the early years of the 21st century when scandalous rumors shattered the Catholic Church. It did not just involve its parishioners but its priests nonetheless. This scandal became the plot of playwright John Patrick Shanley which eventually was produced into film in 2008. Doubt was originally shown off-Broadway in 2004 and was just a 1-act play. It was quite intriguing why it was done in such a way where people’s mind would be left hanging as to what had happened between the characters. Maybe that is the intention of the writer. For him, the said method will give greater impact than to write an ending since every ending created by each audience evidently apply in their own lives. By having personal conclusion as to how the story will end, analysis can be undertaken and the impact of movie will be greater (Pinto). Due to the heightened tension as to what was really happening in real life, people went out of their way to watch and see the play when it was first portrayed on stage. They were hoping that the play would shed some light as to what have transpired in the past. However, that was not the intention of the play. People who would like to see films that are neatly plotted and will have a happy ever after ending would not be pleased with this film. However, it is not just an eye-opener as to what is happening within the church but also the way how the audience would be thinking. The film tested the capability of the audience to accept what the film has to offer. The movie not only tested the artistic limitations of the people in understanding the perspective of the story (Pinto). Though the plot of the story was based on the scandalous rumors going around during the time the play was originally shown, Shanley said in one of his interviews that it is not all about the church or the topic that is hitting the core of Catholicism. In his interview, he elaborated that the message of the film barely touched religion and abuse. Rather it was about people who lives with doubts and prejudice in their daily lives. In life, there are no what if’s, right now is what a person only has. If a person has doubts in his heart and mind, he would not have anything at all when his presumptions are proven to be false. “When your assumptions are overturned, what are you left with to look at,” Shanley stated (Fine). It is not just doubt which is present in the story. There is also the undying inequality factor. In the movie, it was shown that the nuns and the priests are not having the same privileges though they are on the same inclination. It just shows that inequality is still very much present in this world, inequality between men and women, blacks and whites, rich and poor. Does being on the upper hand of things makes a person better than another (NPR.Org)? “You can't hold a child responsible for what God gave him to be,” the character of Mrs. Miller expressed in the film. Since her son is the only black student in school, it is not his fault that he is black. He is not lesser than the other students because of the color of his skin. Malice enters the story as the factor which drove Sister Aloysius to think that Donald was exploited by the priest. It is simply because then, until now, people are still being judged because of the color of their skin or the way they speak. Prejudice is also one of the factors present in a person’s daily life. Usually, these prejudices arise when a person’s background became known to another. When such prejudice enters the scene, inequality is not far behind. These prejudgments tend to label people because of some other things besides the fact of who they truly are. Though a person may have a clean record, there are minds that are just full of embedded stories which are waiting to be said out loud. It is because of these things why people perceive something as right and wrong and see people whether they are good or bad. It is only the outside which is being taken in consideration and not what is inside which matters the most (NPR.Org). Sister Aloysius’ character is the typical conservative thinker who has the tendency to put malice in things which are not considered usual. What may have transpired at the rectory between Father Flynn and Donald, who was a black student at the school, is one of the things she does not consider to be acceptable. Though the sister’s character only looks after what is believed to be right, her way of thinking is left behind and still considers a person’s outside characteristics in judging who and who are not they should be mingling with. Since she has stayed in the school longer than Father Flynn, there is that feeling of superiority for her. There is that belief that since she is there longer, what she knows and what she thinks would always constitute to the better of the institution and the students. When such power and certainty is emanating in a person, that person can deceive others and make believe that what he is saying is the truth regardless of the facts. This is what happens with Sister Aloysius as she was convincing Sister James of what have transpired at the rectory. Though Sister James still believes in the credibility of Father Flynn and has faith in what the priest have said, there is that doubt building in her that will begin malicious thinking as to what have truly transpired. As Father Flynn expressed in one of the scenes, “Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty. When you are lost you are not alone.” Doubt is like a domino effect on people. It brings out questions that need to be answered. If the answer cannot be found anywhere, the more certain accusers would be on their accusations (IMDB.Com). In a sermon that Father Flynn delivered, there was a comparison where he made between a man’s credibility and feathers from a pillow which has been ripped open. Once the pillow case was torn apart and feathers flew all over, it would be impossible to gather every feather and make another pillow of what have been remained. It can be compared to a man’s credibility being stabbed by malicious gossips and prejudice. When a man’s life is ripped open just to prove innocence or guilt, there is nothing left for him. Such malicious information being thrown at him was the feathers that flew everywhere. Though that man can try to put everything back in a decent package, it will never be the same. Maybe faith is the factor that Sister Aloysius lacked. If she has faith towards Father Flynn, she would not think that he would do such being a servant of the church where she also belongs. Instead of struggling who should be more “powerful” in the school, they can just work hand in hand and the academy itself would be the benefactor. Due to malicious thinking, instead of building a good foundation for an institution, they themselves ruined the institution that they are fighting for. It would not be a bad thing if we do have a benefit of a doubt towards a person who is new in a community. However, that doubt is not a reason to spread malicious rumors. A person deserves a chance to gain somebody else’s trust. It is not also right to label somebody something that he is not just because there is a negative feedback of where he came from or where his roots originated. Sister Aloysius has met a pedophile man in her earlier years but she does not have the right to judge another person the same because somebody else has a common denominator with the pedophile man. “There are people who go after your humanity, Sister, that tell you that the light in your heart is a weakness. Don't believe it. It's an old tactic of cruel people to kill kindness in the name of virtue,” Father Flynn addressed this to Sister James. This line should be addressed to people who does weighs the facts and not just believe in hearsays. There are only a few people of this kind left in this world. That is the reason why gossips, chaos and wars are present in this world. If a person does not have peace in their hearts, how can they sleep peacefully at night when they have caused or done something which is not right towards their fellow? How can a person live every day and just make somebody else’s life miserable? People may not like everybody but nobody has the right to excommunicate a person in this world. Besides the fact that Shanley would want to eliminate the doubt factor in a man’s daily life, he also wants to invite the acceptance of changes in this world. What may be right for a certain group of people may not be same right thing for another. It is acceptance written all over. It is not who is more superior to whom but would it be beneficial to the most. Shanley attacks something in people that no director has ever done. People think that what they have heard and seen is full of certainty and is the truth. They should have doubt in their minds and be curious of what is around them. People should open their minds to possibilities that may happen. People should learn as to what have happened in the past and not stereotype every event to it. What can be right at this moment may not be right tomorrow or in the future. Works Cited: Carr, David. Film: John Patrick Shanley's 'Doubt'. New York Times. 8 December 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/arts/09iht-shanley.1.18479430.html?pagewanted=all. Doubt. Dir. John Patrick Shanley. Perf. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. Miramax. 2008. Douglas, Edward. Exclusive: John Patrick Shanley Has No Doubt. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2011. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=51110. Fine, Marshall. John Patrick Shanley Discusses His Doubt. 22 December 2008. Mondello, Bob. In 'Doubt': Adapting A Parable Proves Problematic. NPR.Org. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2011. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98101151. NPR.Org. John Patrick Shanley On Dogma And 'Doubt'. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2011. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98142901. Pinto, Leonora. Doubt - John Patrick Shanley. 23 February 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2011. http://www.culturazzi.org/cinema/doubt-john-patrick-shanley. Schilling, Mary Kaye. Un-''Doubt''-edly Good. 28 March 2005. EntertainmentWeekly.Com. retrieved 4 December 2011. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1041504,00.html. Shanley, John Patrick. Doubt: A Parable. Theatre Communications Group. 26 April 2005. Read More