Inherit the Wind (play) - Wikipedia. Inherit the Wind. Written by. Jerome Lawrence. Robert Edwin Lee. Characters. Henry Drummond, Matthew Harrison Brady, E. Hornbeck, Bertram Cates, Rachel Brown, Rev. Jeremiah Brown. Date premiered. Place premiered. United States. Setting. Hillsboro, United States. Inherit the Wind is a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, which debuted in 1.
History repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. This statement by Karl Marx admirably serves two functions: (1) It describes the difference between the two times the teaching of Darwin's theories. The story fictionalizes the 1. Scopes . Scopes' conviction for teaching Charles Darwin's theory ofevolution to a high school science class, contrary to a Tennesseestate law. The characters of Matthew Harrison Brady, Henry Drummond, Bertram Cates, and E. Overview of Inherit the Wind, 1960, directed by Stanley Kramer, with Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, at Turner Classic Movies. Free No Line and No Cover VIP Guest List and Passes to Las Vegas Nightclubs. Hornbeck correspond to the historical figures of William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow, Scopes, and H. Mencken, respectively. However, the playwrights state in a note at the opening of the play that it is not meant to be a historical account. Bryan did die shortly after the trial, but it happened five days later in his sleep. In fact, the popular film that was nominated for four Academy Awards and has helped shape the American understanding of the 'Scopes Monkey Trial' for decades is an inadequate reflection of history. The play was also intended to defend intellectual freedom. According to Lawrence, . It's about the right to think. Hornbeck is modeled on that of H. Bryan and Darrow, formerly close friends, opposed one another at the Scopes trial, and Mencken covered the trial for The Baltimore Sun. The play's title comes from Proverbs 1. King James Bible reads: He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. In Act Two, Scene One, Brady admonishes Reverend Brown with this Bible quote for alienating his daughter when he gives a fiery sermon against Cates. Cast of characters. He is a Populist and still a dynamic public speaker, even though he is in his late 6. Henry Drummond, another nationally known attorney who was once Brady's closest friend and political confidante. He is about the same age as Brady. Bertram . Hornbeck, a reporter for the fictional Baltimore Herald newspaper. He is young, sarcastic, cynical, and deeply opposed to religious belief. Rachel Brown, the Rev. She is 2. 2 and the colleague/romantic interest of Bertram Cates. Her loyalties are torn between her father and Cates, and she is easily manipulated by others. Reverend Jeremiah Brown, a fundamentalist. Protestant Christian preacher of indeterminate denomination who believes in Biblical literalism. He is widowed, and has a daughter. The Judge, a local county court judge who is subtly sympathetic to Rev. Brown's views. Howard Blair, a 1. Bertram Cates' class. Melinda Loomis, a 1. Bible. Tom Davenport, the local district attorney who prosecutes Bertram Cates. The Mayor, the top elected official of Hillsboro who is openly supportive of the Rev. Brown but also deeply political and concerned about the economic future of his town. There are also a number of minor speaking roles. These include Meeker, a bailiff at the Hillsboro courthouse; Mrs. Sarah Brady, Matthew Harrison Brady's wife; Mrs. Krebs, a loudly outspoken supporter of Rev. Brown and leader of the Ladies' Aid Society; Mr. Bannister, a local citizen; Elijah, an illiterate man from the nearby woods who sells Bibles to the crowd; Harry Esterbrook, a radio reporter from Chicago; Jesse Dunlap, a local farmer; George Sillers, an employee at the feed store; and the Storekeeper, Sillers' employer. Summary. It takes place in the summertime . Melinda appears, and they have a discussion about evolution which helps inform the audience about the claims of evolution. They exit when Rachel enters. Rachel convinces Meeker, the bailiff, to bring Bertram Cates out of his prison cell so that Rachel and Bert can talk. Bert and Rachel's conversation tells the audience about why Bert taught evolution to his students. Rachel and Bert are in love, and hug. Meeker comes in as they are hugging, saying he needs to sweep. Meeker tells Bert that Matthew Harrison Brady is coming to town to help prosecute the case. Meeker talks about a time when he was a young man, and saw Mathew Harrison Brady during one of his failed presidential campaigns. Bert's lawyer is not revealed, but Bert says his attorney is being provided by the Baltimore Herald. Bert and Meeker exit. Reverend Jeremiah Brown enters speaks with the townpeople, Howard, and Melinda. Everyone is excited that Matthew Harrison Brady is coming to Hillsboro. When Howard sees the smoke from the arriving train, everyone exits. Hornbeck, a reporter for the Baltimore Herald, enters and in a soliloquy cruelly ridicules the people of Hillsboro. Hornbeck spots a monkey that someone has brought to town, and feigns conversation with it. The crowd enters with Matthew Harrison Brady, Mrs. Brady makes a brief speech, which the crowd wildly cheers. The Mayor also makes a short speech, and makes Brady an . The Mayor introduces Brady to Reverend Brown. Members of the Ladies' Aid Society set up a table and a buffet lunch on the courthouse lawn as Brady talks about how he will fight Cates' legal counsel. Hornbeck then announces that the defense attorney will be Henry Drummond, one of Brady's old friends and a well- known lawyer. The scene ends with everyone in the town escorting the Bradys to a nearby hotel and the introduction of Drummond who is regarded as the devil. Scene Two. Present are Matthew Harrison Brady, Henry Drummond, Tom Davenport, the Mayor, the Judge, and many townspeople (sitting behind the defense and prosecution and watching the proceedings). It is a day or two later, and jury selection is under way. Davenport, the local district attorney, questions Mr. Bannister to see if he is an acceptable juror to the prosecution. Bannister says he attends church on Sundays, and the prosecution accepts him. Drummond questions Bannister, and it is revealed that Bannister is illiterate. Drummond accepts Bannister for the jury. Jesse Dunlap is then called to the stand. Brady asks Dunlap if he believes in the Bible. And I believe in Matthew Harrison Brady! Drummond refuses to question Dunlap, and says Dunlap is not acceptable as a juror. Brady demands that Drummond provide a reason for refusing Dunlap, or at least ask him a question. Drummond asks Dunlap how he feels, then excuses Dunlap as unacceptable. Drummond protests the use of the title . Realizing that Brady's honorary title may have prejudiced the judicial proceedings, the Mayor confers with the Judge and they agree to make Drummond a . Brady briefly questions Sillers, then accepts him. Drummond asks Sillers some questions on religion and then evolution, then accepts Sillers as well. Alarmed, Brady tells the court that Sillers won't render impartial judgment. Drummond objects to Brady's use of the word . Drummond states that all he wants to do is stop . The Judge reminds Drummond that this is not a federal case, and that constitutional questions cannot be entertained. Drummond demands that they be included, but the Judge rules him out of order. The Judge also rules that the jury has been selected and court is finished for the day. After recessing the court, the Judge announces that Reverend Brown will hold a prayer meeting later that night. Drummond says that such announcements from the bench are prejudicial, but the Judge says the court has recessed. Act Two. Two workmen discuss whether to take down the . They leave when they hear people approaching. Brady enters with Hornbeck and some reporters from . Brady accuses Hornbeck of biased reporting, but Hornbeck replies that he is a critic. Brown engages in call and response with the crowd, preaching about how God created the world in six days. Brown condemns Cates, and Rachel (who has entered mid- sermon) demands that he stop. Brown condemns anyone who seeks forgiveness for Cates. Rachel becomes very distressed. Brady, increasingly uneasy with the tenor of Brown's sermon, interrupts him and quotes the Book of Proverbs: . He accuses Drummond of having . Perhaps it is you who have moved away by standing still. It is afternoon, and very hot. The scene opens with the trial already under way. Brady examines witness Howard Blair. Afterward, Brady and Drummond exchange heated words about speech- making during the trial. Drummond attempts to cross- examine Howard, but Brady repeatedly objects to Drummond's questions (which the Judge sustains). Drummond presents a monologue in which he declares morality is meaningless but truth is valuable, then dismisses Howard from the stand. Davenport calls Rachel as a witness. Under Brady's questioning, she reveals that Cates stopped attending Rev. Brown's church after Brown preached that a local boy who had drowned was not saved because he had not been baptized. Cates angrily shouts that Brown had really preached that the boy was burning in hell. The crowd shouts Cates down, but Cates continues until order is restored. Brady again questions Rachel, demanding to know if Cates denied the reality of God and compared marriage to the breeding of animals. Cates again interrupts her response, yelling that his statements to her were private and just questions. Rachel weeps on the stand, and Drummond objects to the line of questioning. Brady ends his examination, and Drummond allows Rachel to step down without cross- examination. Drummond attempts to call three scientists as witnesses for the defense, but the Judge denies his request. Drummond asks if the judge will permit testimony about the Bible, and the judge does. Drummond calls Brady to the stand as an expert on the Bible. Drummond attempts to question Brady about his knowledge of the writings of Charles Darwin, but the Judge rules these questions out of order. Drummond then asks Brady about the truthfulness behind the story of Jonah and the whale and other Biblical accounts. Brady states they are all true, and Drummond accuses him of wanting to throw all modern science out of the classroom. Davenport objects to Drummond's line of questioning, but Brady declares that Drummond is only playing into his hands.
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