Doubt: A Parable

Father Flynn is described as a man in his late thirties from a working-class family in the Northeast. He teaches religion and basketball at St. Nicholas School in the Bronx, and also gives sermons to the church’s congregation. His sermons contain parables, or short allegorical stories, to prove larger points. He is somewhat progressive, and feels that the Church is becoming more familiar and empathetic. He believes in being warm and friendly with the boys, instead of holding them at a distance. After a new student comes back from a private meeting with him seeming frightened, and with alcohol on his breath, he is confronted by Sister Aloysius about his suspected inappropriate relationship with the boy. He denies the accusation, saying instead that the boy was caught sneaking alcohol, and that his private meeting was to confront him about it without forcing him to leave the altar boys, or otherwise making the matter public. He pushes Sister James, who witnessed the confrontation, to take his side, and to distance herself from the coldness of Sister Aloysius, whom he accuses of taking their humanity and compassion away from them. After he gets Sister James to confess that Sister Aloysius has taken her joy of teaching, she comes to his side.