What doubts does Sisters Aloysius have?
I remember watching Doubt (2008) and just always thought that Sister Aloysius is such a difficult person to be around and all that she did was just because she just didn't like Father Flynn because of some personal reasons.
Towards the very end of the movie, she breaks down and admits to having doubts.
What exactly is she admitting here?
Does she doubt her judgment of Father Flynn or is she starting to doubt her religious beliefs?
Best Answer
I interpreted Sister Aloysius as doubting whether Father Flynn was guilty or not. Her passion and condemnation were appropriate if Father Flynn was guilty, and although she couldn't be 100% certain that he was, the idea of his guilt was so reprehensible that should couldn't withhold her judgment while waiting for it to be proved one way or the other.
I suspect the John Patrick Shanley, who wrote the play that the movie is based on, intentionally left the line vague ("I have such doubts!") so the audience would be left uncertain as well.
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What does Sister Aloysius lie about?
In her final conversation with Flynn, Aloysius lies by saying that she called his previous parish and discovered that he has a history as a sexual abuser.What does Sister Aloysius not like about Father Flynn?
Immediately, Sister Aloysius says that she thinks Father Flynn is planning inappropriate behavior with the vulnerable boy. Sister James recalls that Father Flynn took Donald for a private talk to the rectory and that, when he came back, Donald had alcohol on his breath.How are Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn different?
Father Flynn is a priest at St. Nicholas Church and School whom Sister Aloysius accuses of sexually abusing a student. Unlike Sister Aloysius, he believes that the Catholic Church needs to make an effort to be more progressive and relate to the general public.Sister Aloysius Beauvoir
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Answer 2
She might well have doubted her faith. But I think she doubted the way she handled the Father Flynn situation.
In the final scene she makes it clear that he was simply transferred to another school and was not sanctioned in any way. In fact he was given a promotion.
Sister Aloysius thinks he should have been taken further to task. Much further. Because as things stand he can continue to abuse children.
Therein lie her doubts; that she wasn't strong enough, tough enough, diligent enough, thorough enough to take all the steps necessary make sure Flynn never harmed another child even if it caused harm to the church,or in spite of the fact that it would cause harm to the church, because anything short of the steps she did not take will allow abuse not just to proliferate but to do so systemically.
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