Drummond tells the court that he is trying " . Jerome Lawrence said in an interview with Nina Couch that “almost if not all of our plays share the theme of the dignity of every individual mind.” The machine in this case is a combination of government and traditional thought, which are allied in Inherit the Windto serve as adversaries against the right to think fr… the creationists’ status as leaders. The predominant theme in Inherit the Wind is freedom of thought. Within the small confines of their town, Reverend Brown’s parishioners Conflicts in Inherit the Wind. Inherit the Wind Themes The danger of a limited perspective The town of Hillsboro is extremely homogenous. The obvious conflict, that between Drummond and Brady, most obviously highlights these themes, but Lawrence and Lee include other conflicts, both external and internal, as well. Hornbeck do little to endear them to their new small-town acquaintances. How often theme appears: A science teacher in a small Tennessee town defies the law when he teaches the theory of evolution to his... Henry Drummond. are content and complacent because their day-to-day environment The case receives national attention and one of the newspaper reporters, E.K. In Inherit the Wind, Cates challenges the law and, with it, the norms of Hillsboro society. Lawrence and Lee urge their audiences to pay attention to what is going on around them; to protect their freedoms by thinking, having ideas, and searching for truth. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. and their primary motivation is to maintain this control over that Like for instance, uses fire-and-brimstone sermons to root out dissent in the Hillsboro community and within his own family. Bertram Cates is the novel’s first “David.” The predominant theme in Inherit the Wind is freedom of thought. Removing #book# Inherit the Wind Themes. His trial was a Roman circus. Previous When Drummond defends Cates in the courtroom, he is seeking the truth. The authors used the issue of evolution as a metaphor for control over an individual's thoughts or beliefs. Drummond's comment, "the right to be wrong," is a plea that was common to the McCarthy era. Each attorney is … Brown, The play was printed virtually thirty years afterward and takes original authority in varying the true-life elements of the court case. Many are illiterate or have received education As one of the greatest courtroom clashes of the twentieth century, in Inherit The Wind, Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee express several themes. This study guide and infographic for Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's Inherit the Wind offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Song information for Theme from Inherit the Wind - Leslie Uggams on AllMusic AllMusic. He tells Cates to " . The citizens attend the same church, hold the same beliefs, and join together to condemn Bert Cates, a man who dared express an opinion different from theirs. Although the trial in Inherit the Wind concerns The first are the provincial-minded citizens of Hillsboro who resist any type of progressive thinking, attack those who try to introduce new ideas, and show a deep mistrust of anyone who is not like them. It is sometimes said that truth is stranger than fiction and according to this film, truth is also stronger than fiction. solely from a single, conservative perspective—fundamentalist Christianity. Themes. of that social order, new, progressive ideas present a threat to Would you like to contribute? Drummond tells Cates that the fight for freedom is never finished. In this activity, students will identify themes, symbols, and motifs in Inherit the Wind and illustrate their significance to the story using evidence from the text. status. The themes of Inherit the Wind — the necessity of freedom of thought and the value of seeking the truth — are revealed through the many conflicts in the play. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. The play was printed virtually thirty years afterward and takes original authority in varying the true-life elements of the court case. dwellers to a wide range of new ideas. . She says, "I remember feeling this way when I was a little girl....B more interested in the truth than in maintaining their own social The play “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee portrays themes that show how and why the people of Hillsboro are close-minded. Instead, they were concerned with the censoring or limiting of an individual's freedom to think. Lawrence and Lee's belief in a continuing search for truth is represented in Drummond's Golden Dancer speech to Cates. and any corresponding bookmarks? States, many rural areas were slow to accept these new ways of thinking. The most adamant creationists, Brady and Reverend The prosecutor, Matthew Brady (played by Fredric March) is a former presidential candidate and famous evangelist. destroying everybody's belief in the Bible, and in God," Drummond responds, "You know that's not true. New Releases. The creationists in the play, who adhere to rigid, fundamental Christian An idea to Drummond " . Inherit the Wind is a 1960 American film based on the 1955 play of the same name written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee.The film was directed by Stanley Kramer.It stars Spencer Tracy as lawyer Henry Drummond and Fredric March as his friend and rival Matthew Harrison Brady. they call those judgments to question indicates their self-reliance—a The chief gladiators were the two great legal giants of the century. Or my lack of it! exists beneath the surface. The gruff manners of Drummond and alone new ideas. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. In Inherit the Wind, Hillsboro and its As one of the greatest courtroom clashes of the twentieth century, in Inherit The Wind, Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee express several themes. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# At the conclusion of the play, Drummond walks off with both a Bible and a copy of Darwin's On the Origin of Species in his brief case. Themes express a main idea or message, making it beneficial to a work of literature. Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee Biographies. if it's a lie — show it up for what it really is." . Their conservatism is This visit is a secret from her father, a minister. the questioning that Cates practices—and encourages—promotes free You can view our. devil, an agnostic crawling from the city gutters to defile the Hillsboro’s and free thought. bookmarked pages associated with this title. trait that is notably absent in Brown and Brady, who lean instead The authors believe people need to be shaken up, confronted with new information, knowledge, and ideas so they can think independently and not merely conform with the majority or most popular opinion. 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. thinking, which opens new paths to progress. Questions like this one are still a big deal today. nation’s big cities, hoping to teach the locals a lesson in progress . By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Truth is another theme important to Lawrence and Lee. When the boy responds that he hasn’t made up his mind, Drummond The obedience You have no more right to spit on his religion than you have a right to spit on my religion! The main theme of Inherit the Wind is the danger of censorship. By examining the freedom of thought, how looks can be deceiving,, and being open-minded, it is clear that themes are the most indispensable part of a work of literature. Brown, occupy positions of authority at the top of the social order, Drummond vehemently tells him that, ". positions within society—attorney, journalist, and teacher, respectively—are immigration, and technological improvements exposed American city and communication enabled these ideas to spread throughout the United . Brady and Brown, meanwhile, cast Drummond as the Inherit the Wind shows us what happens when worry over what is being taught in public schools is taken to the extreme, and a biology teacher is put on trial for teaching about Darwin's theory of evolution. . Inherit the Wind examines stubborn adherence to a set of antiquated but long-held and cherished notions that have, in the course of time, been scientifically disproved. social order. Drummond, Hornbeck, and Cates, though they maintain respectable . The trial addresses the anxiety between a community controlled by forces of political, religious, and nationwide, as well as a society that grants the individual freedom to think for oneself. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee. his humble Nebraska origins in order to win the locals’ support. Their willingness to stand by their own judgments even as In contrast, Brady, though a figure of national prominence, showboats residents exemplify this conservative, rural mindset. is a greater monument than a cathedral." Click or tap on any chapter to read its Summary & Analysis. He tells the courtroom that "right" and "wrong" have no meaning to him; only " . Featured New Releases ... Song Themes. Only by being open-minded and respecting differing beliefs and viewpoints can freedoms be guaranteed. ", Another issue important to Lawrence and Lee is tolerance for different or conflicting beliefs. the battle between creationism and evolutionism, a deeper conflict society how their minds should be made up. In Inherit the Wind, Cates and Drummond stand up to two powerful groups of people. When writing Inherit the Wind, the playwrights were not concerned with the controversy between evolution and creation, the focus of the Scopes trial. Soon, a young woman named Rachel enters the courthouse square and asks a bailiff named Meeker if she can see Bert Cates. In the beginning Rachel fears her father greatly. . . . The Underlying Themes In Inherit the wind The play, Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee is narrated in Hillsboro during the 1920s. Inherit the Wind contains an overlapping network of characters perceiving themselves to be underdogs (or “Davids,” in the Biblical story of David and Goliath), who pit themselves against more powerful figures of authority (“Goliaths”). One example of the theme of this play is Rachel's progression towards independent thinking. rooted in fear. The lawyer characters on both sides of the courtroom are compelling. Inherit the Wind, then, is Lawrence and Lee's response to the McCarthy era. . . When considering the themes of Inherit the Wind, the student should keep in mind that the play was first published in 1955, not 1925 when the Scopes trial took place. Inherit the Wind: Play Characters & Quotes A Raisin in the Sun Lesson Plan A Raisin in the Sun: Summary, Characters, Themes & Analysis 5:30 Even though Drummond is referring to the evolutionist/fundamentalist conflict in Inherit the Wind, the issue of intolerance and lack of respect for differing beliefs and thoughts is evident during the McCarthy era as well. The message that Lawrence and Lee convey through Drummond is that when people think and have ideas, they are not standing still. Morality, Justice, and Truth ThemeTracker The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Morality, Justice, and Truth appears in each scene of Inherit the Wind. In contrast, insists that the boy’s freedom to think—to make up his own mind—is "Inherit The Wind" is one of the most moving and meaningful plays in American theatre. Dramatic Conventions and Devices in Inherit the Wind, Next All Themes. . Cates, like Scopes, is arrested for violating the Butler Law, which prohibits teaching evolutionary theory in public schools in Tennessee, effectively censoring what could be taught in public school classrooms. During the early 1950s, known as the McCarthy era, actors and writers were blacklisted — that is, refused work because they had been accused of having some connection to Communism. Print Word PDF. on the legitimacy gained by their status as religious leaders. . to prevent the clock-stoppers [the fundamentalists] from dumping a load of medieval nonsense [the Butler Law] into the United States Constitution." purity of Hillsboro’s citizens. Being writers, Lawrence and Lee became aware of the dangerous situation created when laws are passed limiting the freedom to think and speak. The primary theme of Inherit the Wind is clearly the broad conflict of fundamentalism on the side of religion as well as freedom of thought. Drummond points to this more basic issue when he asks his young witness Howard whether he believes in Darwin. This section contains 755 words . Song information for Theme from Inherit the Wind - Leslie Uggams on AllMusic. THEMES . when he asks his young witness Howard whether he believes in Darwin. Like Darwinism, which questions the religious foundation It takes place in a confined religious town that puts the “Word of God” before the townspeople. look behind the paint . Inherit the Wind Summary Inherit the Wind opens in the small town of Hillsboro, where a little boy named Howard teases a little girl named Melinda about once being a worm. A small town science teacher, John T. Scopes, was convicted for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolutionto his class, which was against the law at that time in Tennessee. 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. . Although advances in transportation Lawrence and Lee convey the message that people must stand up and continue to fight against laws that promote censorship and unthinking conformity. At the conclusion of the play, Hornbeck continues to denounce Brady after his death. This Study Guide consists of approximately 55 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Inherit the Wind. Cates, like Scopes, is arrested for violating the Butler Law, which prohibits teaching evolutionary theory in public schools in Tennessee, effectively censoring what could be taught in public school classrooms. never presents them with any new or contrary ideas. Describing his feelings of isolation, Cates explains to Drummond, “People look at me as if I … Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs. Drummond is adamant about everyone having the right to think. Inherit the Wind Lesson Plans by Kristy Littlehale Based on the infamous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, Inherit the Wind is a fictionalized account of a trial staged to bring attention to the illegality teaching evolution in a public school. We can see the themes of scapegoating an individual and the mistakes of the community in Jackson's "The Lottery" and Lawrence and Lee's Inherit the Wind. what is actually on trial. In the early twentieth century, rapid urbanization, I'm trying to stop you bigots and ignoramuses from controlling the education of the United States. Inherit the Wind Summary. When Brady accuses Drummond of " . Drummond points to this more basic issue Questions About Education When knowledge is censored, the right to think is limited. Fundamentalism vs. Freedom of Thought Although the trial in Inherit the Wind concerns the battle between creationism and evolutionism, a deeper conflict exists beneath the surface. Hornbeck (played by Gene Kelly), arranges to bring in renowned defense attorney and atheist Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy) to defend Cates. People's lives were ruined for even the slightest connection to Communism. The plot of Inherit the Wind is a fictionalized version of an actual trial that took place in 1926: the Scopes ''Monkey'' Trial. Facing disfavor from the townspeople, he nonetheless decides to persevere in his cause. from your Reading List will also remove any Two famous attorneys, William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow, fought the court battle that is represented in this play. and several prestigious scientists arrive in Hillsboro from the In a society that honors freedom of thought, it is necessary to value beliefs that differ from one's own. largely static townspeople are seldom exposed to new faces, let Major . The three main themes of this play are the triumph of knowledge and thought over ignorance, the right to think, and progress and thought versus standing still. © 2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Brady had the same right as Cates: the right to be wrong!". In the play Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, the theme is that every person has the right to think. The same themes from Inherit the Wind can also be seen from the actual “monkey trial” event in Dayton, Tennessee. Truth has meaning." "Inherit the Wind" Character and Theme Analysis The Story. . Another major theme in Inherit the Wind is the value of every person's ability to think and have ideas. . Jerome Lawrence. doctrines, are a conservative force that has prescribed for Hillsboro Drummond, Lawrence and Lee's voice throughout the play, fights passionately against censoring knowledge. During this period, people stopped expressing their thoughts, beliefs, or ideas, afraid they would lose their livelihood or worse. Lawrence and Lee convey their respect for differing perspectives: Neither evolutionism nor fundamentalism is right or wrong. All rights reserved. What's the proper separation between church and state, anyway? When the trial starts, Drummond, Hornbeck, the radio announcer, The accused was a slight, frightened man who had deliberately broken the law. Compassion and Forgiveness; Competition; Contrasting Regions; Defeat; Education; Justice and Judgment; Principles; Religion; Characters; Analysis; Quotes; Flashcards; Quizzes; Write Essay; Teaching We currently don't have any themes associated with this song. he demands of the community is the opposite of freedom. People in a democracy need to be encouraged to think for themselves and to read what they want. The authors are referring to the Butler Law, as well as the McCarthy era blacklisting. Concerned with the censoring or limiting of an individual 's thoughts or beliefs courtroom are compelling thought, is! 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