Inherit the Wind Reflection- Karan Mehta
Throughout the play, there are various themes that the characters bring out. Lawrence and Lee wrote this play this almost thirty years after the Scoped Monkey trials. Although the play is a work of fiction, the play is based on the Scoped trials. Lee and Lawrence, through the course of the play use dramatic conventions to bring out themes of censored knowledge, fighting for freedom of thinking, valuing differing beliefs. The genre of the play is set as a courtroom drama. Although the playwrights based Inherit the Wind on the 1925 Scopes trial, it was published and produced in 1955, in the during the McCarthy era, and as they state, the setting, ” . . . might have been yesterday. It could be tomorrow.”
Lee and Lawrence use many dramatic conventions and devices to bring out the characters and events in the play. It is evidently seen that a foil is used. It is the sharp contrast between two characters to enhance the purpose of them. Drummond, Lee and Lawrence’s voice throughout the play, fights against censoring knowledge. In Act two, Scene two, when Brady takes the witness stand, it becomes evident that Drummond stands as a foil for Brady. Each character is intensified by the presence of the contrasting other.
Another dramatic device that was effective was the use of Monologue’s in the play. It really helped the character of Drummond show his purpose by making his belief stand out by reaching out to the audience. I think when the audience learns that Drummond, a famous defense attorney, is arriving in Hillsboro. Lee and Lawrence create create an impression of a no- nonsense man who is defending Cates, who serves his own purposes. Drummond uses monologues to tell stories, by which in the end the audience has a different impression of him. For example, in Act two Scene two, Drummond addresses the court relating his belief that, “An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral.” This shows how he is devoted to his value for the freedom of an individual mind.
There are many symbols used in the play to great effect. I feel the radio used in the play symbolized rapid technology advancement, which broadcasts progressive ideas during that period of time. Lawrence and Lee use the Southern dialect spoken by the people of Hillsboro to stereotype the townspeople as “ignorant Southerners.” There are many instances where the audience hears actors or the background speak in the southern dialect. This implication leads to the theme of the play and the conflict between evolutionism (progressive thinking) and fundamentalism.
There are many other symbols used throughout the play, which bring out meaning from the characters. There are other themes, which are significantly seen such as the freedom of opinion and “inherit the wind”. The play advocates for all individuals having and expressing their opinions; regardless of the matter. After reading the play, there is a sense that “inherit the wind” means you get what you deserve. Rachel’s father showed no compassion for his daughter when he said she deserved eternal suffering, and it ended up in her leaving him.
The play emphasises the value of multiple opinions but makes the audience believe that people with progressive and open- minded ideas win eventually. Lee and Lawrence brought out different themes, which helped to address the problem of the period of time. The play promotes a progressive and evolutionist vibration that inspired the people of the 1950’s and hence forward as well.
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