Task 5 Graphic Organiser Reflection

The graphic organiser explores two main ideas represented in each of the texts: confliction in the different notions of truth; and in religion. The different notions of truth is explored in the texts The Herbal Bed by Peter Whelan where the characters Susanna Hall and Rafe Smiths sexual relationship causes concern and conflicting perceptives in these characters; the Film Doubt directed by John Shanley, where the feeling of doubt concluded in differing conflictions on whether he was really guilty; and finally the documentary Scientology: the ex-files where the differing opinions of a father and a church official resulted in conflict on who was right and wrong. Another confliction all these texts reflect is the differing values of religion and of the religion being misunderstood. There are common morals and immorals commonly accepted in a society, however, these morals to different individuals can differ, which might not necessarily be right. In Peter Whelans play The Herbal Bed, these differing notions of truth are represented mainly through the character Susanna Hall through the metaphor loves alchemy. Her belief and self-deception is shown through this metaphor as she is justifying that her liaison with Rafe Smith is morally correct since love is a truth and powerful enough to change people. Susanna and Rafe has pledged our love and therefore that [the liaison] is no sin shows her ability to twist and bend words to suit her own needs and to convince her internal self that this is morally correct. However, this is a direct contradiction to societal expectations and to her marriage vows, as both only allows her to any sexual relationship with her husband only. Susannas perceptive is not, however, shared by her partner in crime, Rafe, as he strongly expresses that what they did was unlawful. This shows that he knows and acknowledges that his love for his friends wife is immoral and is further reinforced by his words to

Susanna, You cant change right and wrong. His awareness that this relationship was a sin is also made double by the fact that he and John have high regard for each other and is the man that he most admire. This shows that on one side, Susannas perceptive is correct since people are involved sexually with whom they love; however it is also true that a woman must be loyal to her husband since marriage is sacred. Doubt is a strong emotion that can be sowed in peoples hearts; however, once taken seed, it is extremely difficult to see others without this clouding emotion. John Shanleys film Doubt explores the main idea of this emotion in the nun Sister Aloysius. She, portrayed as a suspicious, fundamentalist nun, seeks to protect Donald Muller, a young, only black boy in a white school, from the sexual abuse of Father Flynn. When the doubtful nun is approached and asked directly by Father Flynn of having any proof to these accusations, her reply is that she has her certainty. However, as pointed out by Flynn, Certainty is an emotion, not a fact. While this shows that he is correct since he is the most logical; this is conflicted by Sister Aloysius body language of clutching her shawl to her breast. This represents the motherly compassion of a woman to a child, and repaints the nuns character from the stern woman to a loving one. This shows that her perceptive is the welfare of the child, while Father Flynns is of protecting his innocence. After the argument, the Fathers body language of bowing down his head, almost as in prayer for forgiveness is juxtaposed to the portrait of the Virgin Mary on the wall as well as his resignation from the parish, nonverbally reinforces the idea that he was somewhat guilty of the crimes accused. This shows the conflicting perceptives of characters and how it can change from one to another while the audience slowly becomes aware of the reality and situations of these characters and the notions of truth they represent.

The documentary, Scientology: the ex-files produced by the ABC four-corners program, explores the conflicting ideas in a scientology church and the differing notions of truth expressed by two groups involved. The documentary explains the experiences of an exmember, Joe Reaiche and how he was cut off from his family when he got expelled from the church. When Tommy Davis, representative of the church, was asked whether the family inside is told to have nothing to do with them, he did not specifically answer the question as shown by his answer, specifically what you are referring to This avoidance shows that there is controversy in the church as to what is true and lawful since the ex-scientologists in this documentary explained as to have suffered through extremely horrific treatments while part of the church is not even aware of such abominable methods, as most of Davis answers constantly said that he has no idea or he dont know. This confliction in the church, as expressed by the documentary, represents that the ways of the church are not made clear and results in differing notions of truth within it. Secondly, the three texts show different conflicts in religions, especially in The Herbal Bed and Doubt. Peter Whelans play explores the conflict that results from the puritanism and how it can conflict with an individuals way of life. This idea is mainly explored through Susannas words that, Wellleave coldness to the stars. Give us life. The coldness refers to the puritanism way of life and is shown through the character, Gouche, who is shown as a judgemental man, even though he of the church. The puritanism is explored through the use of dark/negative imagery, while the life is represented by warm/positive imagery. He believes that soul-dead people of this immoral world should be punished with a sharper sword. These negative connotations are juxtaposed to Susannas warmness as a woman who is like a good angel, a wonderful heart and has a kind nature. This results in

religious conflicts on whose perceptive is right and what the actual religion is, since the bible does teach to be warm and forgiving to others. Similarly, Shanleys Doubt also explores the conflicts within the religion, Christianity. Sister Aloysius, is represented as a principal, who clutching onto traditions does not allow the school or the parish to develop from traditions and into modern learnings and teachings. The film-maker uses a metaphor of winds and windows, where Father Flynn opens the windows and lets the cold winds enter of the principals office, and Sister Aloysius does not like it and keeps closing the window. This can be used to show that the Father Flynn is a figure who wants to change the school traditions; however, this window is constantly being closed by Sister Aloysius to keep out the winds of change. This coupled with Sister James comment to her that everyone in the school is terrified of Sister Aloysius, shows that she is a strict and cold person at school, while Father Flynn and Sister James are the figures of compassion and love and the light and joy of the school. This is related to The Herbal Beds characters Gouche and Susanna; a figure of warmth wanting to bring the winds of change, but a conflicting figure resisting such movements. Overall, these ideas link with each other and the texts through similarity and it focuses around conflicting perceptives and the different representations they show. I have learnt from this module that there are always different answers to a truth questions, and that depends on the type of people and their experiences. My graphic organiser summarises the key points and can act as a simple, easy learning device for quick revision. Word Count: 1,292