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Sister James
Donald Muller is an eighth grader at St. Nicholas School. The school’s first black student, Donald is new to St. Nicholas and—as a result—doesn’t have any friends. Sister James and Sister Aloysius talk about him rather frequently, as Aloysius asks James to give her updates about how he’s doing, since she thinks someone will eventually start bullying him. She thinks this, she explains, because not all of the families who send their children to St. Nicholas School are particularly open-minded when it comes to racial integration. However, Sister James says that none of the other students pick on Donald because Father Flynn has become his “protector.” This disconcerts Sister Aloysius, and Sister James adds that Donald acted a bit off in class one day after spending one-on-one time with Father Flynn in the rectory. Worse, Sister James smelled alcohol on the boy’s breath. Sister Aloysius jumps to the conclusions that Flynn has sexually abused Donald. But when she later tries to find out more about the situation by talking to Mrs. Muller, the boy’s mother is unwilling to pursue the matter, believing that it will be better for Donald if he simply finishes the year under the current circumstances. Sister Aloysius finds this abhorrent, but Mrs. Muller refuses to do anything, saying that Donald’s father beats him because he is most likely gay. She thinks that if it comes out that Flynn has molested Donald, this will only exacerbate her husband's violence. As a result, she does nothing to help Donald, though Sister Aloysius manages to force Father Flynn to relocate. This upsets Donald, which is complicated by the fact that neither the audience nor the characters (besides Flynn and Donald) know for sure whether Flynn is truly guilty.
Donald Muller Quotes in Doubt: A Parable
The Doubt: A Parable quotes below are all either spoken by Donald Muller or refer to Donald Muller. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Scene 2 Quotes
I’m sorry I allowed even cartridge pens into the school. The students really should only be learning script with true fountain pens. Always the easy way out these days. What does that teach? Every easy choice today will have its consequence tomorrow. Mark my words.
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Sister Aloysius says this to Sister James during their conversation about how Sister James should conduct her class. She has just informed Sister James that William London—one of James’s students—had a ballpoint pen with him when she last saw him. Sister Aloysius reveals her fondness for old, traditional practices when she says that every student “should only be learning script with true fountain pens,” a practice that would be a bit dated even in 1964, when Doubt takes place. Nevertheless, she believes that certain forms of change and progress do nothing but offer “the easy way out.” This idea accords Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore l
Look at you. You’d trade anything for a warm look. I’m telling you here and now, I want to see the starch in your character cultivated. If you are looking for reassurance, you can be fooled. If you forget yourself and study others, you will not be fooled.
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Sister Aloysius says this to Sister James after telling her that she needs to embody a stricter, more fearsome presence when dealing with her students. Sister James eagerly tells her that she will do her best to adopt a cold and unforgiving attitude, but Sister Aloysius chastises her for trying so hard to please her. “Look at you,” she says. “You’d trade anything for a warm look.” Although Sister James is just trying to please Sister Aloysius, Aloysius scolds her for caring too much about what other people think. This is because she believes that a person who’s in desperate Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corru
Scene 4 Quotes
SISTER JAMES: I’ve been trying to become more cold in my thinking as you suggested . . . I feel as if I’ve lost my way a little. Sister Aloysius. I had the most terrible dream last night. I want to be guided by you and responsible to the children, but I want my peace of mind. I must tell you I have been longing for the return of my peace of mind.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: You may not have it. It is not your place to be complacent. That’s for the children. That’s what we give them.
SISTER JAMES: I think I’m starting to understand you a little. But it’s so unsettling to look at things and people with suspicion. It feels as if I’m less close God.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: When you take a step to address wrongdoing, you are taking a step away from God, but in His service. Dealing with such matters is hard and thankless work.
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This exchange takes place after Sister James reveals that Donald Muller was behaving strangely in class after spending time alone with Father Flynn in the rectory. Although she’s the one to relay this concerning information to Sister Aloysius, James is hesitant to jump to conclusions about what might have happened in the rectory. Consequently, Aloysius urges her not to feign ignorance. In response, Sister James admits that she has been making a concerted effort to “become more cold in [her] thinking.” She has done this, she explains, because Aloysius wants her to embody a strict and discerning presence in the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Eight years ago at St. Boniface we had a priest who had to be stopped. But I had Monsignor Scully then . . . whom I could rely on. Here, there’s no man I can go to, and men run everything. We are going to have to stop him ourselves.
SISTER JAMES: Can’t you just...report your suspicions?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: To Monsignor Benedict? The man’s guileless! He would just ask Father Flynn!
SISTER JAMES: Well, would that be such a bad idea?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: And he would believe whatever Father Flynn told him. He would think the matter settled.
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In this conversation, Sister Aloysius explains why she can’t make use of the Catholic Church’s standard “chain of discipline.” Although she has dealt with situations similar to the one she now faces regarding Father Flynn, she has always had the support of an attentive monsignor. Now, though, she can’t trust Monsignor Benedict to actually look into whether or not it’s true that Father Flynn has molested Donald Muller. This implies that Monsignor Benedict will protect Father Flynn no matter what, indicating that the power structures of St. Nicholas Church and School enable immoral people to avoid taking responsibility for their Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellendus. Do
Scene 5 Quotes
FLYNN: […] I think a message of the Second Ecumenical Council was that the Church needs to take on a more familiar face. Reflect the local community. We should sing a song from the radio now and then. Take the kids out for ice cream.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Ice Cream.
FLYNN: Maybe take the boys on a camping trip. We should be friendlier. The children and the parents should see us as members of their family rather than emissaries from Rome. I think the pageant should be charming, like a community theatre doing a show.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: But we are not members of their family. We’re different.
FLYNN: Why? Because of our vows?
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Precisely.
FLYNN: I don’t think we’re so different.
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When Sister Aloysius meets with Father Flynn in her office, she pretends that she wants to discuss the Christmas pageant. In truth, she wants to ask him about his relationship with Donald Muller, but he doesn’t know this, which is why he begins by suggesting that the choir should sing a secular song at the pageant. Demonstrating just how fundamentally different their opinions are when it comes to tradition and change, Sister Aloysius immediately takes issue with the idea of presenting secular music at a religious event. In response, Flynn references the Second Vatican Council, a meeting that took place Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliqui
FLYNN: Well. I feel a little uncomfortable.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Why?
FLYNN: Why do you think? Something about your tone.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: I would prefer a discussion of fact rather than tone.
FLYNN: Well. If I had judged my conversation with Donald Muller to be of concern to you, Sister, I would have sat you down and talked to you about it. But I did not judge it to be of concern to you.
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Once Sister Aloysius reveals to Father Flynn that she called him to her office to talk about his relationship with Donald Muller, he tries to dodge her underhanded accusation that he has sexually abused the boy. She doesn’t immediately tell him that she thinks he has molested Donald, which is why he begins his defense by simply saying that he feels “a little uncomfortable” about her “tone.” Not wanting to let him off the hook, Sister Aloysius says that she would “prefer a discussion of fact rather than tone,” a statement intended to force him into speaking more specifically about Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic temp
SISTER ALOYSIUS: No. If the boy drank altar wine, he cannot continue as an altar boy.
FLYNN: Of course you’re right. I’m just not the disciplinarian you are, Sister. And he is the only Negro in the school. That did affect my thinking on the matter. It will be commented on that he’s no longer serving at Mass. It’s a public thing. A certain ignorant element in the parish will be confirmed in their beliefs.
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After Sister Aloysius tells Father Flynn that Sister James smelled alcohol on Donald’s breath, the priest claims that Donald was caught drinking altar wine on his own. According to this story, Flynn decided not to say anything because he didn’t want Donald—the school’s first and only black student—to be kicked out of the altar boys. Now, though, he has no choice but to remove Donald, since word has gotten out about the wine. By making these claims, Father Flynn tries to make Sister Aloysius feel guilty for investigating what happened between him and Donald Muller. “A certain ignorant element in Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferend
Scene 6 Quotes
So she went home, took the pillow off her bed, a knife from the drawer, went up the fire escape to the roof, and stabbed the pillow. Then she went back to the old priest as instructed. “Did you gut the pillow with the knife?” he says. “Yes, Father.” “And what was the result?” “Feathers,” she said. “Feathers”? he repeated. “Feathers everywhere. Father!” “Now I want you to go back and gather up every last feather that flew out on the wind!” “Well,” she says, “it can’t be done. I don’t know where they went. The wind took them all over.” “And that,” said [the Father], “is gossip!”
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Father Flynn says this while delivering a sermon about the nature of gossip. He tells a parable about a woman who unfairly speaks disparaging words about a man she hardly knows. When she goes to confession and admits that she was wrong to say such things, the priest tells her to go home and cut a pillow open on her rooftop. Confused, she follows his instructions and then returns, at which point he suggests that taking back gossip would be like trying to collect all of the feathers that flew out of the pillow on the woman’s rooftop. Using this Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi e
Scene 7 Quotes
FLYNN: There are people who go after your humanity, Sister James, who tell you the light in your heart is a weakness. That your soft feelings betray you. I don’t believe that. It’s an old tactic of cruel people to kill kindness in the name of virtue. Don’t believe it. There’s nothing wrong with love.
SISTER JAMES: Of course not, but...
FLYNN: Have you forgotten that was the message of the Savior to us all. Love. Not suspicion, disapproval and judgment. Love of people.
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In this passage, Father Flynn tries to convince Sister James that she shouldn’t adopt the “cold” and strict worldview that Sister Aloysius has foisted upon her. “There are people who go after your humanity, Sister James,” he says, subtly implying that everything Sister Aloysius stands for is at odds with the kind of person Sister James has always tried to be. By telling her that Aloysius’s strictness is “an old tactic” that people use to “kill kindness in the name of virtue,” Father Flynn tells Sister James exactly what she wants to hear—namely, that it’s perfectly acceptable to be warm Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque
Scene 8 Quotes
Why you need to know something like that for sure when you don’t? Please, Sister. You got some kind a righteous cause going with this priest and now you want to drag my boy into it. My son doesn’t need additional difficulties. Let him take the good and leave the rest when he leaves this place in June. He knows how to do that. I taught him how to do that.
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Mrs. Muller says this to Sister Aloysius when Sister Aloysius informs her that there might be something inappropriate going on between Father Flynn and Donald. Rather than worrying, Mrs. Muller chooses to ignore the situation. This reaction unsettles Sister Aloysius, who believes that adults have a responsibility to protect children and therefore can’t simply turn away from ugly matters. However, Mrs. Muller insists that finding out more about this situation will only invite more trouble for Donald. “You got some kind a righteous cause going with this priest and now you want to drag my boy into it,” she says. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti n
SISTER ALOYSIUS: But I have my certainty, and armed with that, I will go to your last parish, and the one before that if necessary. I will find a parent, Father Flynn! Trust me I will. A parent who probably doesn’t know that you are still working with children! And once I do that, you will be exposed. You may even be attacked, metaphorically or otherwise.
FLYNN: You have no right to act on your own! You are a member of a religious order. You have taken vows, obedience being one! You answer to us! You have no right to step outside the Church!
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After Mrs. Muller leaves Sister Aloysius’s office, Father Flynn enters and yells at Sister Aloysius for talking to her behind his back. This sets off an argument, in which Sister Aloysius informs him that she will go to his previous parishes and find people willing to speak out against him. Father Flynn sees this as her “step[ping] outside the Church,” an idea that recalls the institution’s clear-cut chain of command, which Sister Aloysius has blatantly circumnavigated. “You have no right to act on your own!” Father Flynn yells, trying to frame her as a renegade. Above all, this is a Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate
Scene 9 Quotes
SISTER JAMES: I wish I could be like you.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Why?
SISTER JAMES: Because I can’t sleep at night anymore. Everything seems uncertain to me.
SISTER ALOYSIUS: Maybe we’re not supposed to sleep so well.
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This exchange takes place between Sister Aloysius and Sister James shortly after Father Flynn is given a position as a pastor of another parish. Sister Aloysius has just told Sister James that, though she failed to prove to the greater public that Father Flynn is a sexual abuser, she proved it to herself. In response, Sister James says, “I wish I could be like you,” going on to indicate that she admires Sister Aloysius’s certainty and convictions. She, on the other hand, finds it difficult to sleep now that “everything seems uncertain.” Because Sister James is a kindhearted person who Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus q
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Donald Muller Character Timeline in Doubt: A Parable
The timeline below shows where the character Donald Muller appears in Doubt: A Parable. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Scene 2
Sister Aloysius asks Sister James about a student named Donald Muller. When Sister James says that he’s doing fine, Aloysius asks if anyone has hit...
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Scene 4
Moving on, Sister Aloysius asks Sister James how Donald Muller is doing, wondering if anyone has hit him yet. When James says that nobody...
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...James wonders if she shouldn’t have told Sister Aloysius about Father Flynn’s “special interest” in Donald Muller, but Aloysius doesn’t listen. “I knew once you did [come to me], something would...
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...James insists that she’s not “certain” that anything inappropriate is happening between Father Flynn and Donald Muller. However, Sister Aloysius says that they can’t “wait” until they know for sure that...
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Sister James reveals that Donald had alcohol on his breath after spending time with Father Flynn in the rectory. Deep...
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Scene 5
...she returns to the subject of the Christmas pageant, saying, “We must be careful how Donald Muller is used in the pageant.” When Flynn asks if this is because Donald is...
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Father Flynn plays dumb, acting surprised that Donald Muller seemed off in class after spending time with him in the rectory. Nevertheless, Sister...
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...Flynn stops and tells Sister Aloysius that she shouldn’t have brought up the alcohol on Donald’s breath. He then claims Donald was caught drinking altar wine and that, when he heard...
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...Aloysius remains true to what she believes, so she picks up the phone and calls Donald’s mother, inviting her to come to the school at her earliest convenience.
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Scene 7
...suggests that she visit her brother, but she says she can’t leave her class. “How’s Donald Muller doing?” Flynn suddenly asks, explaining that he himself has stopped talking to the boy...
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Continuing to defend himself, Father Flynn claims that he cares about Donald’s wellbeing more than Sister Aloysius does. “That black boy needs a helping hand or he’s...
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...ill,” he adds, at which point she tells him that she doesn’t think he abused Donald Muller.
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Scene 8
Mrs. Muller visits Sister Aloysius’s office. She is hesitant and clearly afraid that Donald has gotten into trouble. She admits that he made a mistake by drinking altar wine,...
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Mrs. Muller says that Donald talks about Father Flynn at home, saying that the “looks up to him.” “Mrs. Muller,”...
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Mrs. Muller points out that whatever is happening between Father Flynn and Donald isn’t Donald’s fault. Sister Aloysius agrees with this, believing that Father Flynn should get in...
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Mrs. Muller tells Sister Aloysius that Donald doesn’t need “additional difficulties.” “Let him take the good and leave the rest when he...
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Appalled by Mrs. Muller’s reaction to Donald’s alleged abuse, Aloysius threatens to throw the boy out of school just to protect him....
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...if this means the end of her affiliation with the Church. “Now, did you give Donald Muller wine to drink?” she asks, to which he says, “Have you ever done anything...
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Father Flynn continues to deny that he abused Donald. “Very well then,” Sister Aloysius says. “If you won’t leave my office, I will. And...
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Scene 9
...asks where he’s been sent. “St. Jerome’s,” Sister Aloysius says. Sister James points out that Donald Muller is “heartbroken that he’s gone,” but Aloysius assures her that nothing can be done...
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...she adds. She says that she informed Monsignor Benedict about what happened between Flynn and Donald, but Monsignor Benedict didn’t believe her. “Then why did Father Flynn leave? What did you...
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