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Themes & Symbols: Inherit The Wind Essay

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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 Drummond argues for natural values and freedom of thought. The definition of a theme is an implicit or recurrent idea. We also see a theme of man versus society, furthermore, Bertram Cates versus the small town of Hillsboro. A third theme is appearance …show more content…

The playwrights, Lawrence and Lee, introduce a chain of opposites, or a notion of "doubling." We see this is the shape of character traits, surroundings and atmospheres, and ideas. The characters of Brady and Drummond are distinguished as very contradictory. Although they are both lawyers, they have extremely conflicting views on thinking. On one hand, Brady is very closed-minded. He truly believes in the bible and that one God created earth and everything on it. On the other hand, Drummond is very open-minded. He deems the appropriate decision for this case is the freedom to think. As the defendant for Bertram Cates, Drummond upholds his beliefs of natural, scientific evolution. Cates questions the law and customs of the Hillsboro community. He is faced with vast hostility and disapproval amongst the townspeople and must put together a verdict whether or not to continue his case. This evidently creates a conflict between man and society. He experiences feelings of isolation, but eventually settles on believing that the law he has broken is unjust and is firm with carrying on with the trial. Drummond's character also comes into contact with a struggle versus society. However, since he is older and wiser and has more experience, he is able to give advice and reassure Cates with his knowledge. This knowledge consists of the fact that one human being can make a difference. An

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