GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY: AMERICAN PLAYS AND MUSICALS
Dr. Estes
Doubt: A Parable, by John Patrick Shanley
ISBN-13: 978-1559362764
John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, which premiered in 2004, captivated audiences with its ability to grapple with difficult topics, while simultaneously never letting the reader nor the characters within the play have closure. Set at a Catholic school in The Bronx in the 1960s, the play contains only four characters: feared disciplinarian Sister Aloysius, meek novice Sister James, charismatic and beloved Father Flynn, and trepidatious Mrs. Muller, mother of the only African-American student at the school.
As you read the text I would like you to ponder the following topics:
What is a parable?
How do gender dynamics work within the narrative?
Power shifts abruptly in each scene. Who has power and how is said person wielding it?
What is Doubt conveying about race in 1960s America?
How do the accusations of abuse permeate the play?
What is known for certain about the plot? In what ways is the plot ambiguous?
Please note: Upon returning to school we will be discussing the play and watching the 2008 cinematic adaptation. I look forward to discussing this complex and thought-provoking play with you in September! Have a great summer!