Matthew Harrison Brady Character Analysis

The townspeople venerate Matthew Harrison Brady because he shares the same beliefs as them. This makes them welcome him into their humble town with open arms. When Matthew Harrison Brady just arrived in town, and the Mayor was welcoming him, the Mayor says, “Mr. Matthew Harrison Brady, this municipality is proud to have within its city limits the warrior who has always fought for us ordinary people” (21). The people in the town of Hillsboro are orthodox Christians, and believe Brady to be a leader in the religious world and in the world itself. The town feels that Brady represents and supports them in the court of law as Brady is a religious and well-known man as well. Not only does this make them welcome him with open arms, it also makes them
feel another way without knowing, specifically the trial. It makes his side of the court case more believable and more preferred in the town. When the court was in session, and the two lawyers were picking jurors, Jesse H. Dunlap, a potential juror at the time, said, “I believe in the Holy Word of God, and I believe in Matthew Harrison Brady!” (41). This shows the clear bias of the townspeople preferring Brady because he supports the Holy Word of God. Now, not only is the election weighed in favor of the opposition because the majority of the town supports religion and not evolution, but also because they prefer Brady, a religious man, over an Evolutionist like Drummond. The townspeople adore Brady because he shares the same beliefs as them, and that may affect the results of the trial.