In the movie, father flynn keeps his nails long and clean. This is a metaphor that you can do what ever you want if you don't get caught. you have to do it ';clean';. This references to the child molestation. Later in the movie, Meryl Streep's character tells him to cut his nails. She symbolically tells him to stop molesting the children.
another symbol in the movie was Streeps crucifix. She would put it down or cover it up when she was doubting, and then would pick it up or hold it out when she was believing.
The cat catching the rat was a symbol for Streep stopping Father Flynn.
The wind was symbolic of Streep's character. In the beginning, Father Flynn tells the story of gossip and how the wind carries the feathers (gossip of father flynn being a pedofile) all over. Streep can spread the gossip. Later in the movie a wind storm knocks down trees and Streep notices that the wind can work in silent but powerful ways (she can bring down father flynn like the wind brought down the trees). Then later in father flynn's last sermon, he mentions ';the wind is pushing me to new places';. Streep is making him leave the church.
I hope this helps.In Doubt, What do Father Flynn's long finger nails mean? Why does he keep them that way?
Thanks that helps alot :D
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I was wondering the same thing! Thanks so much. I have a question too though. What does the opening of her window mean? She says ';who keeps opening my windows?'; or something like that. Why does that keep happening?
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I am a Literature major, and was searching for this exact question. The answer that was chosen as the best was VERY dead on. Very interesting and very precise answer. Thanks for both the question and the answer on this topic. :)
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