Father Flynn May Have Made Sexual Advances with a Youth Boy
Many servants of God are generally transferred to other churches after some misconduct to clean them from the act. This action is the same for Father Flynn in the play Dilemma directed by Patrick Shanley whereby, he is accused of molesting a boy of tender age by the name Donald. Father Flynn is reported to have wicked behavior, and after doing such acts, he is transferred to another Parish to cover the shame. Father Flynn may have molested the boy since when Sister James notices the smell of alcohol on the boy’s breath, Sister Aloysius is persuaded by Father Flynn’s remorse. Established on the proof in Shanley’s drama, Father Flynn may be embarrassed built on his questionable actions. We also learn that Father Flynn has been so far transferred to five parish due to his evil behavior. Every time he is caught in any scandal, he is transferred to another Parish, probably to clean him from the deed.
Father Flynn may not have molested the boy because when Sister Aloysius asked him what he was doing with the boy in a secret room, he said he was only having a conversation with the boy. Sister James stands firm that father Flynn is an innocent man of God who was trying to protect Donald. Sister James stands firm that father Flynn is an honest man of God who was trying to protect Donald (Gale, 2016). Sometimes it is good to be kind and show kindness to others. The father was trying to protect the boy by helping him so that the boy never feels alone. Donald may have felt lonely and neglected since he is a single Negro learner at St. Nicholas. Because Father Flynn is the cleric at the school, Sister James believes he is acting in the boy’s best concern (Gale, 2016). Father Flynn tells Sister James that we should love and show mercy to one another as Jesus Christ did to humankind but not being suspicious, condemning, and judging each other. The servant of God finds an impressionable chance with Sister James for persuading her that Sister Aloysius is an unpleasant individual after her humankind. By convincing Sister James to feel helpless for believing in nothing else but love, he plays on her remorseful for being condemning since, before God, those kinds of acts are immoral.
The moment Sister Aloysius claims that having a private talk with a young boy can never be confidential, the man of God quickly becomes quarrelsome over Sister Aloysius’ voice. Moreover, he tries containing his remorse by adjusting his facial expressions (Gale, 2016). Afterward, the man of God tries deflecting the discussion with Sister Aloysius for not being satisfied with his reasoning for having a secret dialogue with a boy of tender age. He dismisses Sister Aloysius claiming that if she is not contented with what he had told her to go and talk to Monsignor Benedict. Father Flynn is superior to her; therefore, he uses the power of position for being priest of St. Nicholas, which is a Catholic church apart from being a school to suppress the conversion with her (Gale, 2016). By sending Sister Aloysius to talk to Monsignor Benedict, the priest ends the conversion before she can trap him in any more deceits. When he goes further to suggest to her that she may require a leave of absenteeism, Father Flynn once more enforces authority over her position by intimidating her with the proposal of a short vacation.
Reference
Gale, C. L. (2016). A Study Guide for John Patrick Shanley’s” Doubt (Film Entry).” Gale, Cengage Learning.