Inherit The Wind Essay - 530 Words

In Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s tense drama, â€Å"Inherit the Wind†, three strong characters express powerful opinions: Bertrum Cates , Henry Drummond, and Mathew Harrison Brady. First, Bert Cates, the defendant, is charged with teaching â€Å"Darwinism† to his sophomore class . Second, Henry Drummond, the defense attorney for Cates, displays his beliefs of the right to think. third, Mathew Harrison Brady, the â€Å"big-shot† prosecuting attorney, illustrates his bigotry of creationism. To conclude, these three essential characters are fighting for their personal beliefs. Primarily, Bert Cates, a 10th grade teacher, struggles to obtain his right to have an open-mind, and encourages others to do so. The defendant, simply tries to teach a lesson†¦show more content†¦He clearly values this when he explains to the judge â€Å"I am trying to establish, Your Honor, that Howard - or Colonel Brady - or Charles Darwin - or anyone in this courtroom- or you, sir - has the right to think!†. Drummond feels strongly that the right to think is very much on trial and hopes that justice will be reached. In summary, Henry Drummond values deeply every human’s right to imagine or give credence to anything. In addition, Mathew Harrison Brady, the prosecution, gives a strong opposing viewpoint to the morality of the issue. He believes every word of the book of Genesis, and can not comprehend any other possibility to the beginning of life. As he is unusually testified, he states, â€Å"Everything in the Bible should be accepted, exactly as it is given there†. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This rules out any other likelihood that something similar to Darwinism could have ever been imagined. Ultimately, Brady keeps an open and shut opinion to anything germane to life, morality, or creationism. In conclusion, the play â€Å"Inherit the Wind† is strongly influenced by characters Bert Cates, Henry Drummond, and Mathew Harrison Brady. Bert Cates is first given the guts to stand up for what he believes in, and peruse it throughout all of its hardships. Second, Henry Drummond helps defend Cates, establishing the fact that he and everyone else has the right to think. Lastly, Mathew Harrison Brady, displays his opinion that there is only oneShow MoreRelatedThemes Symbols: Inherit The Wind Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pages Themes and Symbols: Inherit the Wind As probably the best courtroom dramas of the twentieth century, Inherit the Wind is based on the famous, Scopes Monkey Trial. The play was printed virtually thirty years afterward and takes original authority in varying the true-life elements of the court case. The central conflict of the play is based on the Scopes Monkey Trial itself. Several themes are presented throughout the play, for example when Brady argues for religious values while DrummondRead MoreEssay on Inherit the Wind (Scopes Trial)1082 Words   |  5 PagesThe play Inherit the Wind, was written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee to inform its readers about the injustice of a law that limited the freedom of an ordinary citizen. This play is based upon actual events that happened to an individual, John Scopes, in Dayton, Tennessee during the 1920s. This famous Monkey Trial not only allowed people to begin to accept new theories about the origin of man, but also showed that they did not have to limit themselves in o ther areas of life. In theRead MoreEssay on Inherit the wind (Scopes trial)1041 Words   |  5 Pages The play Inherit the Wind, was written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee to inform its readers about the injustice of a law that limited the freedom of an ordinary citizen. This play is based upon actual events that happened to an individual, John Scopes, in Dayton, Tennessee during the 1920’s. This famous â€Å"Monkey Trial† not only allowed people to begin to accept new theories about the origin of man, but also showed that they did not have to limit themselves in other areas of life. In the beginningRead MoreThe Film, Inherit The Wind, By The Scopes Monkey Trial1889 Words   |  8 PagesThis paper discusses how the film, Inherit The Wind, portrays the Scopes Monkey Trial. The film showed both sides of the argument fairly. It was conveying a message that a person should try to understand and respect each opinion when arguing their own side. Three evidentiary issues of the trial in the film will also be discussed. The three issues that are objected to in the film are an opinion question, hearsay, and relevance. The judge sustained all three objections, saying that they were inadmissibleRead MoreThe, Inherit The Wind, By Jerome Lawrence And Robert E. Lee1366 Words   |  6 Pagesto vote is ratified, and social norms are challenged. Those that could adapt to the changing times would flourish in post-war America, whereas those that could not depart from the yesteryear found themselves in the mercy of time. In the play, Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Rober t E. Lee, Matthew Brady and Clarence Drummond, two famous attorneys, go head to head in a heated litigation over the morality of the teaching of evolution. Evolution is a contested â€Å"new† theory at the time, and teachingRead MoreInherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee901 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the most controversial plays of its time is hands down, Inherit the Wind. The main debate throughout the play is the debate between science and religion. A bit of a background for those that are naive to the topic in this time period to follow. Small towns such as Hillsboro were very prone to streamlined views in every possible topic of extremities such as religion to minor topics relative to eateries, gossip, and small town politics. Lawrence and Lee do an exceptional job representing andRead MoreReview of Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee1206 Words   |  5 Pages KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING The play takes place in Hillsboro. It is a small fictional town that is meant to resemble Dayton, Tennessee, where the Scopes trial was held in 1925. LIST OF CHARACTERS Major Characters Matthew Harrison Brady - a politician and lawyer. He is the prosecuting attorney for the state against Bertram Cates and a three-time presidential candidate. Henry Drummond - the lawyer for the defense. He is famous for taking the cases of unpopular clients. Rachel Brown - theRead MoreThemes Of Inherit The Wind923 Words   |  4 PagesInherit the Wind Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee is a fictionalized play on the Scopes Trial, formally known as the Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes. In July 21, 1925, a high school teacher was accused of violating the Butler Act. This act made it illegal to teach evolution in any state funded school. Although Scopes was unsure he taught evolution, he incriminated himself and was found guilty. The subject of the play reflects this event except Inherit the Wind holdsRead More Inherit The Wind Essay547 Words   |  3 Pages Inherit the Wind nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The main theme of Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee is taking a stand. The play begins in Hillsboro, Tennessee when a man named Bertram Cates breaks the law by teaching the forbidden Darwin’sRead More Inherit The Wind Essay729 Words   |  3 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the play â€Å"Inherit the Wind† by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, the defense faces numerous societal injustices, which is why they never had a chance to win the case. One example of the town’s bias is presented through the town’s love for Matthew Harrison Brady. A second example is the extreme conformist and pious attitude of the town’s people. The last instance is the narrow-mindedness of the judge and the jury, which resulted in an unfair trial. In conclusion