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43rd out of 456 books
—
527 voters
Doubt
“A superb new drama written by John Patrick Shanley. It is an inspired study in moral uncertainty with the compellingly certain structure of an old-fashioned detective drama. Even as Doubt holds your conscious attention as an intelligently measured debate play, it sends off stealth charges that go deeper emotionally. One of the year’s ten best.”—Ben Brantley, The New York...more
Paperback, 58 pages
Published
September 1st 2005
by Theatre Communications Group
(first published April 26th 2005)
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The Pulitzer-prize winning drama for 2005. Set in 1964, Doubt revolves around the head of a Catholic school (Sister Aloysius), one of her teachers (Sister James), and the priest of the school’s church (Father Flynn). Father Flynn is or is not guilty of child abuse; Sister James is or is not a participant in the discovery of the truth; Sister Aloysius is or is not jumping to conclusions based on personal biases – hence, the title of the play. While set in 1964, the play resonates well in the post...more
I wish this book had been as mind-blowing for me as it is for so many others. It's gotten wonderful reviews from critics and audiences and readers; it's got a Pulitzer. I did not care for it very much. It was very short; it could have been longer and more involved. It could have made me doubt more. Ever read Life of Pi? It's a book about faith, but it makes you second-guess everything; it makes you doubt. So, having had experience with doubt-inducing stories, I expected more.
It is well-written,...more
It is well-written,...more
Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty. When you are lost, you are not alone.
I like the part that Father Brendan Flynn told this story:
A woman was gossiping with her friend about a man they hardly knew; I know none of you have ever done this. That night, she had a dream. A great hand appeared over her, and pointed down on her. She was immediately seized with a overwhelming sense of guilt. The next day, she went to confession. She got the old perish priest, Father Arrorick,...more
I like the part that Father Brendan Flynn told this story:
A woman was gossiping with her friend about a man they hardly knew; I know none of you have ever done this. That night, she had a dream. A great hand appeared over her, and pointed down on her. She was immediately seized with a overwhelming sense of guilt. The next day, she went to confession. She got the old perish priest, Father Arrorick,...more
i saw the film and thought it was quite well done. the play itself--as a reading experience--seemed a bit wooden. without the actors to bring the characters to life, it seemed to me that the characters represented ideas, or ideological positions, or effigies of attitudes, banging against one another without much in the way of real humanity, at least not the kind of complicated humanity i'm generally looking for in a fictional character (or, for that matter, a real person). with talented actors,...more
So, I saw the film version over the holiday break in 2008 and was in love. I immediately let the theater, walked down the block to the Barnes and Noble which is no longer in Squirrel Hill (dammit!) and bought the play. I read it that night and loved Shanley even more. What an artist, wordsmith, world crafter. Anyone studying play writing MUST read this play. It is a true example of the beauty of a play's economy, how so much can be said with so little words. When you do read this, be sure to rea...more
May 15, 2009
Lisa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
literature-fiction,
2009-reading-journal
Well I sunk to an all time low. I sat in B&N today and read this entire play. It wasn't that long; only around 60 pages. At least I bought 4 other books.
Doubt makes you question what you think is true. I recognized myself in some of the passages of this book. In the introduction, the author asks if there has ever been a time when you've argued a point to the point when you question yourself. Do you become blinded by your own convictions?
The play revolved around two nuns, a priest and a youn...more
Doubt makes you question what you think is true. I recognized myself in some of the passages of this book. In the introduction, the author asks if there has ever been a time when you've argued a point to the point when you question yourself. Do you become blinded by your own convictions?
The play revolved around two nuns, a priest and a youn...more
It's been a very long time since I've been made to think that much about what I've just read. Powerful? Very. Moments of amusement, for me, came in the sermons. How simply such lessons are presented (example: the feathers as gossip). Heartbreaking was the moment with Mrs. Muller, where not only do you find out her husband beats their son, but that the son is gay. Only, for me, that wasn't what was heartbreaking: it was that Mrs. Muller accepted what she had been given, worked with it, and seemed...more
This is a really brilliant play in the way that it actually delivers on the promise of its title. Not only do the characters never get a resolution (with the exception, of course, of Father Flynn who actually knows whether he molested Donald Muller), but the audience isn't given strong enough evidence one way or the other to come to a decisive conclusion about what happened. The conflict between Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn is really excellently balanced, leaving the audience in as much doub...more
Inspired by the shocking revelations of priest-abuse scandals Doubt is the story of a nun who suspects her parish priest of abusing one of the altar boys. The nun, Sister Aloysius, is overcome with feelings of doubt, knowing she will be unable to bring Father Flynn to justice and unsure of her own suspicions and the faith she is supposed to have in the priest. Finally Sister Aloysius confronts Father Flynn herself, and while she wins a small victory for her school is unable to put an end to Fath...more
During our moving frenzy a few months ago, I sat down one night while Eddie was working and watched Doubt on pay per view. Well, at least I tried to watch it. But I fell asleep within the first fifteen minutes. But it's been on my reading list for a while, so last week while we were on our Shakespeare festival trip, I read Doubt. I remember listening to a Fresh Air interview a few months ago with Phillip Seymour Hoffman about his acting in the film version, and it made the play sound so interest...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Short, but entirely amazing and thought provoking. I don't read much plays but this one read more as a story than a scene by scene transition. Probably because of the sparse use of stage direction/scene theatrics. It's very simple and non-distracting. "It is Doubt that changes things." As the play continues to unfold the reader's doubts begin to expand at the same time. Is there any "truth" left anymore? Anger out rules sensibility and reason. Everyone is afraid at some point to admit what they...more
Doubt is one of the many movies from 2008 that I am dying to see,with an all star cast including Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. But before I see that movie, I had to read the book first. My high expectations were not shunned at all. This is one of the best plays I have ever read. The only complaint that I have is that it is too short! The plot got more interesting as the book progressed, and the ending was one of those endings that just suprised you, and you have the utmost respect fo...more
Drama--Set in 1964 in the Bronx at a Catholic school/parish in an Italian- and Irish-American neighborhood, Doubt revolves around whether a well-liked and less-conservative priest has been abusing an altar boy in the school, who happens to be the first and only black student. There are four characters: the priest, the boy's mother, a young nun who is the boy's teacher, and an older nun who is the principal of the school. The nun/principal has no doubt of the priest's guilt, even though he denies...more
Oct 06, 2012
Chuck
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
namerica,
classic,
fiction,
pulitzer-or-nobel-prize,
plays-and-musicals,
religion,
owned,
review
I picked up this book as the result of my effort to read as many Pulitzer prize winning efforts as possible. This play won the prize for drama in 2005. It became a successful play and later a film starring Meryl Streep. When I opened the book the first page indicated that this is a parable. As a grown adult I should certainly know the technical definition of that term, so I won't admit to looking it up in my Webster's dictionary. However, if you did look it up it would say "A simple story illust...more
Not one I would have read if not for my f2f discussion group selecting it. The play seemed VERY brief and I could not believe it could take enough time to act out to justify a solo theatre bill. Even less could I imagine how it could be expanded into a feature length film [which I have still not seen]. I did appreciate the setting as 1960s was my teen era so I can remember a lot of what was going on at the time. While I'm not Catholic I live in a heavily Catholic area so was also familiar with...more
حبيت العقده اللى فيها اوى
فى حاجات بنبقى مقتنعين انها صح لكن عشان نقدر نوصلها لازم نعمل حاجات غلط !!!
فكرة ان الواحد لما بيحط حاجه فى دماغه - اعتقاد ما- ممكن الاعتقاد دا يسيطر عليه ويقتنع به بشده بدون ادله معينه او اى براهين منطقيه
لكن هو بيصدق اللى مصدقه عشان هو عايز يصدقه
المشكله ان الواحد مش هيقدر يهرب من الاعتقاد دا بعد كدا وهيبقى محتار
اللى فى دماغه دا حقيقه هو مش قادر يثبتها ولا وهم هو خلقه لنفسه ومش قادر يهرب منه
الشك لما بيدخل العقل مش مشكله اوى لان بتبقى المشكله بين الواحد ونفسه
لكن لما يطبق...more
فى حاجات بنبقى مقتنعين انها صح لكن عشان نقدر نوصلها لازم نعمل حاجات غلط !!!
فكرة ان الواحد لما بيحط حاجه فى دماغه - اعتقاد ما- ممكن الاعتقاد دا يسيطر عليه ويقتنع به بشده بدون ادله معينه او اى براهين منطقيه
لكن هو بيصدق اللى مصدقه عشان هو عايز يصدقه
المشكله ان الواحد مش هيقدر يهرب من الاعتقاد دا بعد كدا وهيبقى محتار
اللى فى دماغه دا حقيقه هو مش قادر يثبتها ولا وهم هو خلقه لنفسه ومش قادر يهرب منه
الشك لما بيدخل العقل مش مشكله اوى لان بتبقى المشكله بين الواحد ونفسه
لكن لما يطبق...more
Dec 25, 2008
Jen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction-general,
favorites
my favorite part of this book was the preface by the author. He redefines and captures the quintessential role of doubt in everyone's lives as something everyone deals with, some recognize, others are so crippled by that they struggle throughout their entire lives in a 'quest for self' without even knowing why, and very few recognize or understand. The parable itself was deep and compelling. At a couple of points I reacted out loud. I would highly recommend. Start with the preface.
Fav quote:
"Ar...more
Fav quote:
"Ar...more
This book does a good job of raising the paradox of doubt and proof in our world. However, the story or parable by which the author raises these questions is so terribly cliché that one can only wonder how many times this story has been told before the writing of the book.
--------------
Stars Earned:
2 Stars - Good at Initiating Discussion, Valid Points to Raise
1 Star - Length and Format fit the Tale
Stars Possible:
0 - Attempt the Story without using a Clichéd Example
0 - Add More on Ways to Avoid t...more
--------------
Stars Earned:
2 Stars - Good at Initiating Discussion, Valid Points to Raise
1 Star - Length and Format fit the Tale
Stars Possible:
0 - Attempt the Story without using a Clichéd Example
0 - Add More on Ways to Avoid t...more
After seeing Cherry Jones in the role of Sister Aloysius, I had to read the play. There are four characters dealing with the issue of whether or not the first black student at St. Nicholas Church School is receiving too much attention from Father Flynn. The fact that Sister, Father, and the young teacher Sister James have different temperaments and beliefs add fuel to the fire.
Many questions are raised and left to the reader to answer. Damage can occur when someone believes too easily in a spec...more
Many questions are raised and left to the reader to answer. Damage can occur when someone believes too easily in a spec...more
Another outstanding winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Confronting the abuse scandals of the Catholic Church, this play twists and turns without convoluting the plot (which is, in itself, an accomplishment). Centering on two nuns and a charismatic priest all assigned to the same parish, this is a beautiful piece of literature about a very ugly situation. What amazed me is that Mr. Shanley takes a black-and-white issue and adds in shades of grey but never moves from the black-and-white, righ...more
I saw the movie first; I would normally read the book before seeing the flick. I don't know if my review is slightly influenced by the superb acting in the film. Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep create magic on the screen.
Reading a play can be quite stimulating as the action unfolds so quickly. I LOVED the sermons given by the priest, the brilliant dialogue between the two main characters, etc. I DO think the ending was somewhat abrupt. Shanley tried to make his character react TOO quick...more
Reading a play can be quite stimulating as the action unfolds so quickly. I LOVED the sermons given by the priest, the brilliant dialogue between the two main characters, etc. I DO think the ending was somewhat abrupt. Shanley tried to make his character react TOO quick...more
Dec 18, 2011
Eric
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
gay and lesbians, theater majors, religious officials, critics
Recommended to Eric by:
Theater Class Read
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
OK, so my directed study drama student read this over the summer, and then I read it because it would be a good starting point. What's most impressive about this play is what a great job it does of giving the reader doubt. We not only wonder if Fr. Flynn is "guilty," we also wonder if Sr. Aloysius' methods are appropriate. I'd love to see a live stage production and how that plays out. However, Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman will be arriving through Netflix sometime next week, and that...more
I reread this play, because I have been cast as the bitter, old nun Sister Aloysius in our community theater production of it next month, that I have been championing that we do for several years. It’s an amazing play. It’s a four person play, with Sister Aloysius in five of the nine scenes. It’s 1964 and Sister Aloysius doesn’t approve of the way a young nun and young-ish priest want to be liked by their students and parishioners, so she sets out to destroy them. I have had several administrato...more
Read this after seeing the recent film. I actually felt that the book helped solidify my feelings about the story and as to whether or not the accused priest was guilty of the suggested crime. I thought this was a beautifully written story designed to make you think about all those times you were totally sure about something only to realize that when you really thought about it, you actually weren't.
I also really enjoyed the forward to this edition, especially the last paragraph. I thought it w...more
I also really enjoyed the forward to this edition, especially the last paragraph. I thought it w...more
RE: _Doubt: A Parable_ (2005) a play by John Patrick Shanley
Pulitzer Prize for Drama (2005)
3/31/11 - I did not read this play, but I saw the film which came out in 2008.
"DOUBT":
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Dou...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/
"In a Bronx Catholic school in 1964 a popular priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled 12 year old black student is questioned by the school's principal."
Below is a link to a discussion of the movie at Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/to...more
Pulitzer Prize for Drama (2005)
3/31/11 - I did not read this play, but I saw the film which came out in 2008.
"DOUBT":
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Dou...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/
"In a Bronx Catholic school in 1964 a popular priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled 12 year old black student is questioned by the school's principal."
Below is a link to a discussion of the movie at Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/to...more
Apr 12, 2009
Samantha
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Samantha by:
Naomi
Shelves:
2008-2009-advisory-books
Before reading this play, I heard about the movie that was in theaters after my parents had gone to see it. They really enjoyed the film and when I saw my friend Naomi reading the play one day in school, I asked for a recommendation, and she told me that I must read "Doubt" immediately. Once I began to read this play, I instantly became intrigued because of my love for the play format and because of the multifaceted nature of this story. This play begins with the introduction of the setting bein...more
Apr 15, 2010
Sherry (sethurner)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-to-movies,
drama-plays
I was fascinated by this play, which is not so much about priests who molest children as it is about the specific character of a priest and two nuns at a Catholic grade school in 1964. There is a priest who wants to be modern, wants to be friends with students, a young nun who is much the same, and an older nun who is basically a very suspicious and rigid person. To me, the struggle between the priest and the nun is as much about power as it is about possible inappropriate relationships. I loved...more
Double was a book that provoked thought in my life. I read this book after seeing the film version. The book was about how faith no matter how strong can be defeated if a person is not strong emotionally and morally. A sister of a congregation was strict and very traditional. The story focused on religion in a small community where for the most part, everything is good. Yet, the sister brings charges against the priest for a supisicion. The story ends with the priest transferring and the sister...more
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Shanley was born in The Bronx, New York City, to a telephone operator mother and a meat-packer father. He is a graduate of New York University, and is a member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre.
For his script for the 1987 film, Moonstruck, Shanley won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
In 1990, Shan...more
More about John Patrick Shanley...
For his script for the 1987 film, Moonstruck, Shanley won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
In 1990, Shan...more
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“Doubt requires more courage than conviction does, and more energy; because conviction is a resting place and doubt is infinite – it is a passionate exercise. You may come out of my play uncertain. You may want to be sure. Look down on that feeling. We’ve got to learn to live with a full measure of uncertainty. There is no last word. That’s the silence under the chatter of our time. ”
—
22 people liked it
“If I could, Sister James, I would certainly choose to live in innocence. But innocence can only be wisdom in a world without evil. Situations arise and we are confronted with wrongdoing and the need to act.”
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More quotes…
After seeing what Streep accomplished with the thin material in "The Iron Lady", you realize...more
Jul 03, 2012 05:12am