Inherit The Wind Film Analysis

Conflicts between faith and science go back for thousands of years, most conflicts between faith and science are found in the Bible. There are many stories in the Bible which faithful people believe in fully, but people who have a more firm belief in science see the Bible as stories which can be explained through science. A few stories from the Bible which scientists believe could be explained in ways other than just by miracles, are the creation of Earth and humans, Joshua stopping the sun, Cain being unable to grow crops, and Elisha fixing a poisoned river. Religious people believe in these and consider them miracles. However, believers in science doubt their authenticity and find ways to disprove the miracles.

The decade of the 1920’s was a busy grouping of ten years in America. The power of women’s desire to vote won them suffrage while uncertainty sprouted from government actions such as prohibition and especially the Scopes Trial of 1925. Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s play Inherit the Wind is a depiction of this unsettling event that took place in 1925. The four main characters of the play are Bertram Cates, Rachel Brown, Henry Drummond, and Matthew Harrison Brady. The friendships between these four main characters are used to show that friendship is a powerful bond, and how the bonds protected Bertram Cates from a larger punishment in court.

The battle between the relationship of science and religion has always been a controversial topic in society. It has been a subject of study since the classical era from scientists, theologists, philosophers, and regular citizens. It is understandable that the perspective on culture and religion are unquestionably varied due to different geographical regions, but why are there so many heated debates regarding the global discussion and what is it that causes those controversies? Is it possible that there is more than two outlooks and theories? Jerome Lawrence and Robert E.Lee contrasts the two perspectives in Inherit the Wind by bringing back an historical and legendary trial. Matthew Harrison Brady, an established lawyer in America demonstrates his ideology in God. Addition to Mr. Brady, his arch nemesis, Henry Drummond, defends his morals by expressing his vision that evolution is where human come from.

Inherit the Wind is a powerful play written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee that tells of the significant battle of conventional, religious powers versus freedom and the growing reality of Charles Darwin’s theories. This play is not the exact encounter of the courtroom battle but rather a dramatic retelling of one of the greatest courthouse showdowns in human history. Although many think the religious “Bible-thumpers” defending the Bible to be bias and inconsiderate in this play and in the actual account, those accusers may now look back and see that those “Bible-beaters” really did know what they were talking about they just didn’t quite know how to defeat the false belief of evolution but still keep the freedom of speech and press.

And so, as a conclusive demonstration, Drummond places the Bible and Darwin side-by-side, a symbol of the internal search for truth. His half-shrug and half-smile signal an acceptance of his own ignorance (Lawrence and Lee 2.2.79). Through Drummond’s actions, Inherit the Wind proves that a skeptical nature is far more valuable than mere

In order to demonstrate it, the battle of Brady and Drummond shows the opposite conception between them. When Drummond inquires Brady’s thought about the time in the first day of the Creation, Brady replies that “I do not think about things that… I do not think about!” (Lawrence 97). Brady chooses not to think to literally accept all the Bible words. It is the way he consolidates his belief but imprisons “his power of mind to reason” (Lawrence 93). Also, at his contemporary time, when Americans were daily fighting for the rights to be free agents and while the right to think was one of the most basic rights of human being, his statement seemed to recoil upon himself in that flowing current. On the other hand, Drummond declares the freedom of thinking in every conversation with others. When Cates is frustrated under the harshly public views and Rachel insists him to admit that he is wrong, Drummond supports Cates by letting Cates choose either quitting or not. He gives Cates the chance to make up his mind. In the trial, he questions Brady the origin of the events in the Bible hence he creates chances for Brady and everyone in the courtroom to think. He states, “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” (Lawrence 71). With his statement, Drummond

Once the foolishness of a religious idea is revealed by science, the religion soon disregards that as a part of their beliefs. It now becomes a part of science and leaves the realm of religion. The interesting bit is that even when ideas have been disproven in the realm of science, religion still seems to be plagued by belief perseverance. A Case that is heated between these two Magisterias is the age of the earth; science states that the earth is 4.54 Billon years old which was deduced from radiometric dating. On the other end of the spectrum the earth is claimed to be only 6000 years old which is evidently not true.

What if you had to choose between someone you love and the faith you have believed in your entire life? In Inherit the Wind, Rachel Brown has to choose between her loyalty to the church and her love for Bertram Cates.

In religious communities, members of the community are fully devoted to their faith. So much so, that they are willing to ignore logic and scientific facts when these go against their faith. Therefore, it is not uncommon for scientific topics not approved by the church to be shunned and even outlawed in some religious communities. One of the most profound examples of becoming blinded by faith is Inherit The Wind, in which the religious beliefs of the community blinds the characters from logic and scientific fact.

was a huge risk Matt Stone and Trey Parker did, but it was in their right to say whatever they want as long as it did not cause harm to anyone.

To seek the truth, one must look beyond the surface of things, for they are not always as they appear to be. This is a major theme in Lawrence and Lees’ Inherit the Wind, and is effectively shown through many characters. Firstly, through Golden Dancer, and secondly through Henry Drummond, who tells her story. Lastly, this powerful theme is shown through Matthew Brady, who Drummond is actually referring to. The theme of illusion vs. reality is clearly shown in the play Inherit the Wind, through the story of Golden Dancer, which was told by Drummond, an example of such himself, when he spoke of Brady, who as well effectively portrayed this significant theme.

In churches, we see many religious leaders acting unchristian. Some of those leaders preach racism, violence, and discrimination. Some leaders choose to tell people how to live their life, but that lifestyle is not portrayed in the Bible. We see religious leaders become more unchristian when controversial topics are up for debate. We see pastors condemning people for their mistakes instead of trying to help them work through it.

All stories require intriguing conflicts for them to be appealing. The dispute between central characters of Lawrence and Lee’s Inherit the Wind, enriches and develops a captivating narrative. The most significant conflict occurs between Brady and Drummond (person vs. person). Townspeople initial bias against Drummond (person vs society), creating a challenge. Reverend Brown composes an idealistic view of his religion to the disapproval of his daughter (person vs person).

Sagan helps the reader understand that science is necessary to understand spirituality and how when the two are combined, a wonderful feeling is created. In continuation, the final scene in Inherit the Wind, shows that religion and science are equal and should be considered as such. Throughout the intensity of everything that had happened in the play, Drummond shows a lighter side of himself that makes the reader think, that if a man of science can consider the two as equal, than so should everyone else. Overall, both excerpts show how science and religion are both equal to the

The Bible is relevant to science but we should watch out on how to interpret that science to what we know to