Plot Summary

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You

Christopher Durang
Guide cover placeholder

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1979

Book Brief

Christopher Durang

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1979
Book Details
Pages

71

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Catholic School • 1980s

Publication Year

1979

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Christopher Durang’s 1979 play, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, Sister Mary, a strict Catholic nun, delivers a lecture on Catholic doctrine, which is interrupted by four of her former students who challenge her rigid beliefs with their personal traumas and grievances. The play critiques the harsh and absolutist teachings of certain Catholic educational practices common in the 1950s. Topics include violence, rape, and abortion.

Humorous

Dark

Unnerving

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.2

2,742 ratings

72%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Christopher Durang's Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You blends sharp wit with dark humor, critiquing religious dogma through its titular character. Critics praise its bold satire and thought-provoking dialogue. However, some find the humor too controversial and abrasive. The play remains divisive yet impactful in its commentary on faith.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You?

Readers who appreciate dark humor and satire, particularly those who enjoyed works like God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza or The Book of Mormon by Trey Parker, will find Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You by Christopher Durang highly engaging. Fans of irreverent takes on serious subjects will connect with its scathing critique of organized religion.

4.2

2,742 ratings

72%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

71

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Catholic School • 1980s

Publication Year

1979

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!