A Doubt Question

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A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 9:33am

After seeing "Doubt" several months ago, I have been pondering over Mrs. Muller's character.

I understand that she wants the best for her son and that he is going to a primarily white school and he is an outcast. What I don't understand is why she wants to keep him there even after Sister Aloysius (spl?) comments.

I can see that she would keep him there because Father Flynn is the only loving figure at the school to him; but one would think that the boy switching schools would be more beneficial than having sexual encounters with a priest.

Please try to explain her motives and I'd love to hear your opinions on the topic.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 10:26am

This kind of thing you have to look at from the character's perspective -- to her it is the best of all possible options, none of which are "good" options. If she forces him to switch schools, she feels he'll be in an even worse position, both with his father and with his chances of getting into a good high school and college. She's willing to take the risk, knowing that any choice she makes will cause him damage. I don't think there's a 'right' choice here -- you could make a different one and it would make as much sense to you as this one does to this character. It's cut & dried to Sister Aloysius, but not so much to the mother of the child, who is also not entirely convinced the nun is telling the truth.

Just my thoughts.

Updated On: 4/14/06 at 10:26 AM

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 10:43am

I think its also important to look at the context of which this show takes place. It is generally known that back in the 1960's, you could get a solid education in a white neighborhood rather than a primarily black one. That being said, Mrs. Muller knows the impact changing schools will have on her son's education and home life for that matter. She is willing to sacrifice one aspect of his life for another. In those times and maybe even now, you have to decide what's more important sometimes...a good education where a child can grow up and be sucessful verses something else.

Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 10:52am

Thanks for the responses! I did forget about the father and his poor relationship with his son.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 11:02am

I think that it is mainly that she does not wish to realize that in realtity there is a problime. She wants to pretend that there is nothing wrong, and so nothing has to be done, also if you think about it this is a Black woman in the Bronx whos son attends a Catholic school in 1964 does not want to have any probime, just because of the racial barriars. Also, you have to remember that this boy is the only back student in the school.

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 11:09am

I think Mrs. Muller believed her son was gay, and she either said that was the reason for his father's beating the son, or she implied it.

I think Mrs. Muller believed her decision was the lessor of two evils. Mrs. Muller wanted a good education for her son, and at the same time, I don't think she saw the 'damage' being done to her son - I think she rationalized that her son was gay anyway.....etc. I also do believe that Mrs, Muller felt that her son was benefitting, 'in some way' from his relationship with the priest. She said something to that effect, I believe.

I don't think Mrs. Muller really cared whether Sister A. was lying or not.

I really enjoyed this show, but the seats in the theater were terribly uncomfortable.

"Doubt" is coming to Chicago!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!

There is a curious paradox that no one can explain; Who understands the secret of the reaping of the grain, Who understands why spring is born out of winter's laboring pain, Or why we all must die a bit before we grow again. -from "The Fantasticks"

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 12:33pm

Good interpretation!

I saw the show from the last row of the balcony and had to lean over so far i was on the person in front of me's head to see.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:46pm

I didn't see it as her thinking her son was "gay anyway". It was more of, well this already happened to him, and he would only be in this bad situation for a few more months then he'd be at another school. Also that this coming out would make the father angrier. Sure this priest might be doing some terrible things to him for a couple months, but in the long run if his father knows about it, could be years of abuse.

I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:24pm

A valid point. This is why I love theatre and literature, so many people can interpret things so differently.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#10

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:43pm

Actually, the mother does believe her son is gay -- she says so very specifically: "Well, maybe some of them boys want to get caught. Maybe what you don't know maybe is my son is...that way. That's why his father beat him up. Not the wine. He beat Donald for being what he is."

Updated On: 4/14/06 at 02:43 PM

#11

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:46pm

I agree with Faith. And the validation presented by kgee at least partially backs that up.

#12

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 5:00pm

Thank you kgee30 - that is exactly the passage/line I was trying to remember. Also thanks to WickedGeek28 and to DG!

-----------------------------------------

kgee30's quote:

Actually, the mother does believe her son is gay -- she says so very specifically:

"Well, maybe some of them boys want to get caught. Maybe what you don't know maybe is my son is...that way.

That's why his father beat him up. Not the wine. He beat Donald for being what he is."

I love discussing literature!

#13

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 5:30pm

haha

OMG MB looks so much younger in your pic. I was watching Les Mis in concert last night and he changed so much!

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#14

re: A Doubt Question

Posted: 4/14/06 at 5:35pm

LOL I think MB is gorgeous in that pic - I really prefer the younger MB, especially when he had long *HAIR*!!!!!!!!!

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