Inherit The Wind Freedom Quotes

The play Inherit The Wind was based on the Scopes Monkey trial thirty years before the book was written in 1995 by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. Inherit The Wind explores how government and society suppress freedom speech. It is important to recognize that issues conveyed in the play about the Scopes Monkey Trial parallel the challenges being faced by the arts community in 1955. In 1955, McCarthyism had reached it pinnacle with many in the arts community being blacklist as communist sympathizers. While some themes appear more frequently than others man vs. society, freedom of thought, and search for the truth can be applied to the Scopes Monkey trial and the issues of the day.

“You see, I haven’t really thought very much. I

The first part of the quote clearly shows how people in the town of Hillsboro felt afraid. They felt like they could not have any opinions that did not conform to what the town thought because they were scared to get the cold shoulder from other residents of the town. Freedom of thought is very important and the play Inherit. The Wind examples of this are when Drummond the defence lawyer was very interested in winning the case to prove that teaching evolution in the classroom should not be frowned upon but should actually be applauded because he wants the children of Hillsboro to know there are different opinions and beliefs in the world not just the one in this small town. This example shows how fighting passionately against censoring knowledge was demonstrated in the book. “You have no more right to spit on his religion than you have a right to spit on my religion! Or my lack of it! ” this quote said by Mr.Drummond is a good representation

In small towns, it is hard to have a lot of diversity, especially in the 1950s. One of the most apparent ways we see the theme man vs society in the book is in the town of Hillsboro where there was one belief that the whole town had which was god created the earth and if you will be an outsider just like Cates who was shunned when he taught evolution in his classroom. A good quote from the book that represents this is “It’s the loneliest feeling in the world—to find yourself standing up when everybody else is sitting down.” said by Drummond. In a small town, it’s hard to change people's opinions and assumptions when they have grown up being taught and having seen it all one way. After the trial verdict is declared and Cates is pronounced guilty. Drummond turns to him and says “You don’t suppose this kind of thing is ever finished, do you? Tomorrow it’ll be something else—and another fella will have to stand up. And you’ve helped give him the guts to do it”. This quote implies is that in the past people in society have tested social standards forcing everyone to alter they way they are thinking. Drummond and Cates can only hope this happens in the town of Hillsboro after this big trail has just happened. I believe seeing this the theme of man vs society throughout the book gave the audience/readers the book gave them the understanding when they express their opinion in can have a positive