Doubt: A Parable

by

John Patrick Shanley

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Doubt: A Parable makes teaching easy.

Sister James Character Analysis

Sister James is a young nun at St. Nicholas School. A person with “sunshine in her heart,” she wants to be the kind of teacher students feel comfortable talking to about their problems. However, her generous disposition also contains a certain amount of innocence and naivety, which Sister Aloysius criticizes, encouraging Sister James to be more authoritative and discerning. Sister James tries to follow these instructions, but she finds it exhausting to be constantly suspicious, since doing so makes her feel less of a connection with God. Still, she agrees to be on the lookout for anything that seems amiss at St. Nicholas School, which is why she tells Sister Aloysius when her student Donald Muller comes to class with alcohol on his breath after spending time alone with Father Flynn. Having noticed Donald’s strange behavior, James informs Aloysius what happened and is horrified when the older woman immediately draws the conclusion that Flynn is sexually abusing Donald. “I’m not telling you that!” Sister James says. “I’m not even certain what you mean.” Despite her naivety, though, it’s clear to Aloysius that Sister James knows exactly what she means, and though James admits that she misses the “peace of mind” she had before becoming such a suspicious person, she goes along with Aloysius’s idea to confront Father Flynn. At the same time, though, she remains hesitant about accusing Flynn, which is why he’s eventually able to convince her that he’s innocent. And yet, she’s forced to face her own uncertainty when Sister Aloysius tells her that she's proven to herself that Flynn has a history as a sexual abuser (though, importantly, Aloysius doesn't have definitive evidence). This troubles James, as does the fact that Aloysius had to lie to Flynn in order to get what she believes is the truth. However, Aloysius assures James that sometimes it’s necessary to commit a small sin in order to do a greater good.

Sister James Quotes in Doubt: A Parable

The Doubt: A Parable quotes below are all either spoken by Sister James or refer to Sister James. 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:
Moral Responsibility Theme Icon
).
Scene 2 Quotes

SISTER ALOYSIUS: Usually more children are sent down to me.

SISTER JAMES: I try to take care of things myself.

SISTER ALOYSIUS: That can be an error. You are answerable to me, I to the monsignor, he to the bishop, and so on up to the Holy Father. There’s a chain of discipline. Make use of it.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Monsignor Benedict
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn, Sister James, Donald Muller, William London
Related Symbols: Ballpoint Pens
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:

SISTER ALOYSIUS: […] Do you think that Socrates was satisfied? Good teachers are never content. We have some three hundred and seventy-two students in this school. It is a society which requires constant educational, spiritual and human vigilance. I cannot afford an excessively innocent instructor in my eighth grade class. It’s self-indulgent. Innocence is a form of laziness. Innocent teach­ers are easily duped. You must be canny, Sister James.

[…]

The heart is warm, but your wits must be cold. Liars should be frightened to lie to you. They should be uncomfortable in your presence.

[…]

SISTER JAMES: But I want my students to feel they can talk to me.

SISTER ALOYSIUS: They’re children. They can talk to each other. It’s more important they have a fierce moral guardian. You stand at the door, Sister. You are the gate-keeper. If you are vigilant, they will not need to be.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Father Flynn
Page Number: 12
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn, Sister James, Donald Muller
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Father Flynn, Donald Muller
Page Number: 20
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Father Flynn, Donald Muller, Monsignor Benedict
Page Number: 22
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn (speaker), Sister James, Donald Muller
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn (speaker), Sister James, Donald Muller
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn (speaker), Sister James, Donald Muller
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Father Flynn (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Sister Aloysius, Donald Muller
Page Number: 41
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Father Flynn, Donald Muller
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Doubt: A Parable LitChart as a printable PDF.
Doubt: A Parable PDF

Sister James Quotes in Doubt: A Parable

The Doubt: A Parable quotes below are all either spoken by Sister James or refer to Sister James. 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:
Moral Responsibility Theme Icon
).
Scene 2 Quotes

SISTER ALOYSIUS: Usually more children are sent down to me.

SISTER JAMES: I try to take care of things myself.

SISTER ALOYSIUS: That can be an error. You are answerable to me, I to the monsignor, he to the bishop, and so on up to the Holy Father. There’s a chain of discipline. Make use of it.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Monsignor Benedict
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn, Sister James, Donald Muller, William London
Related Symbols: Ballpoint Pens
Page Number: 8
Explanation and Analysis:

SISTER ALOYSIUS: […] Do you think that Socrates was satisfied? Good teachers are never content. We have some three hundred and seventy-two students in this school. It is a society which requires constant educational, spiritual and human vigilance. I cannot afford an excessively innocent instructor in my eighth grade class. It’s self-indulgent. Innocence is a form of laziness. Innocent teach­ers are easily duped. You must be canny, Sister James.

[…]

The heart is warm, but your wits must be cold. Liars should be frightened to lie to you. They should be uncomfortable in your presence.

[…]

SISTER JAMES: But I want my students to feel they can talk to me.

SISTER ALOYSIUS: They’re children. They can talk to each other. It’s more important they have a fierce moral guardian. You stand at the door, Sister. You are the gate-keeper. If you are vigilant, they will not need to be.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Father Flynn
Page Number: 12
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn, Sister James, Donald Muller
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Father Flynn, Donald Muller
Page Number: 20
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Father Flynn, Donald Muller, Monsignor Benedict
Page Number: 22
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn (speaker), Sister James, Donald Muller
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn (speaker), Sister James, Donald Muller
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Father Flynn (speaker), Sister James, Donald Muller
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Father Flynn (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Sister Aloysius, Donald Muller
Page Number: 41
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Sister Aloysius (speaker), Sister James (speaker), Father Flynn, Donald Muller
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis: