Evolution In Inherit The Wind
The play, Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee is about a trial with a teacher who teaches evolution. Bertram Cates knows that the studies of evolution is against the law but decides to teach it anyways. Henry Drummond is the lawyer who defends Bert Cates in the trial. Drummond’s changes his goals throughout the play. In the beginning of the play, his goal is to defend evolution. Throughout the play his goal is to prove Cates is innocent and win the case. After the trial he wants to spread the word of the value of evolution and that Cates did not break the law.
Before the trial, Drummond’s goal is to prove to the town that evolution is not bad. Drummond does not like how this town supports only creationism and not evolution:
“That’s understandable. It’s bad enough that everybody coming into this courtroom has to walk underneath a banner that says: ‘Read your Bible!’ Your Honor, I want that sign taken down! Or else I want another one put up – just as big, and in big letters, saying “Read your Darwin” (Lawrence and Lee 122). Drummond’s original goal changes because he wants the townspeople to keep an open mind before the trial begins.
During the trial, Drummond wants to prove Cates is innocent and should be let free. He wants to win the case because he believes in Bert Cates and his way of thinking. He is aware of Bert’s opinions and he supports them: “I care a great deal about Bert. I care about what he thinks” (Lawrence and Lee 122). Drummond’s goal changes because he knows Cates was only stating his opinion and Drummond will stick by that because he wants to win the case.
Additionally, Drummond’s final goal is to prove to Cates and the town that he can win. Thus, saying he is innocent:
Cates. “I’m not sure. Did I win or did I lose?”
Drummond. “You won.”
Cates. “But the jury found me---“
Drummond. “What jury? Twelve men? Millions of people will say you won. They’ll read in their papers tonight that you smashed a bad law. You made it a joke!” (Lawrence and Lee 122). His goal is to prove that Cates did not do anything wrong because he was only stating his opinion and that the town will support him.
Inherit the Wind is an interesting play. It says people need to keep their opinions and stick with them. Bert Cates does this and his lawyer, Henry Drummond comes to the rescue. Drummond shows that teaching evolution is not bad and proved Cates innocent..
Before the trial, Drummond’s goal is to prove to the town that evolution is not bad. Drummond does not like how this town supports only creationism and not evolution:
“That’s understandable. It’s bad enough that everybody coming into this courtroom has to walk underneath a banner that says: ‘Read your Bible!’ Your Honor, I want that sign taken down! Or else I want another one put up – just as big, and in big letters, saying “Read your Darwin” (Lawrence and Lee 122). Drummond’s original goal changes because he wants the townspeople to keep an open mind before the trial begins.
During the trial, Drummond wants to prove Cates is innocent and should be let free. He wants to win the case because he believes in Bert Cates and his way of thinking. He is aware of Bert’s opinions and he supports them: “I care a great deal about Bert. I care about what he thinks” (Lawrence and Lee 122). Drummond’s goal changes because he knows Cates was only stating his opinion and Drummond will stick by that because he wants to win the case.
Additionally, Drummond’s final goal is to prove to Cates and the town that he can win. Thus, saying he is innocent:
Cates. “I’m not sure. Did I win or did I lose?”
Drummond. “You won.”
Cates. “But the jury found me---“
Drummond. “What jury? Twelve men? Millions of people will say you won. They’ll read in their papers tonight that you smashed a bad law. You made it a joke!” (Lawrence and Lee 122). His goal is to prove that Cates did not do anything wrong because he was only stating his opinion and that the town will support him.
Inherit the Wind is an interesting play. It says people need to keep their opinions and stick with them. Bert Cates does this and his lawyer, Henry Drummond comes to the rescue. Drummond shows that teaching evolution is not bad and proved Cates innocent..