Doubt Literature and Society: Doubt Term Paper

In this case, it is doubt that drives the play and leas to irresolute action and unresolved conflicts.

In the Penn State scandal, the same doubts and power machinations can be seen in much of the story's progress. In contrast, however, it appears as though defensive coach Jerry Sandusky's acts of abuse were known by his bosses and other administrators at Penn State for years before the scandal broke; though Father Flynn's transfer could be seen either as a cover up or simply an easy solution to a complex problem full of doubt, Penn State officials were all but certainly aware of the abuse yet specifically avoided reporting it (Boren, 2012). The administration's guilt in covering up Sandusky's guilt became one of the lasting elements of the story, as it was a lack of action in light of certain evidence that was found truly unconscionable. The impact of the abuse and the cover-up also extend much further in the Penn State scandal than they do in Doubt, in large part because of the wider knowledge of the scandal that exists in the real-world case. There are many "uninvolved victims" of the Penn State scandal, including the football players who "had done nothing wrong, but now have to do everything right," while the impact of the alleged abuse in Doubt is far more localized and not even negative in outcome according to all perspectives (Lopresti, 2012).Literature always reflects the society that creates it. In the case of Doubt, Shanley's play was both reactive and prescient. It also illustrates a divergence in progression between the public and the private doubts and acts of all of us.

References

Boren, C. (2012). Graham Spanier charged in Penn State scandal; charges added against two other administrators. Washington Post.. Accessed 2 December 2012. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2012/11/01/graham-spanier-charged-in-penn-state-scandal-charges-added-against-two-other-administrators/

Lopresti, M. (2012). One Year After the Penn State Scandal. USA Today. Accessed 2 December 2012. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2012/10/31/penn-state-jerry-sandusky-scandal-one-year-anniversary/1671501/

Shanley, J. (2004). Doubt. Dramatists Play Services......