Religion In E. K. Hornbeck's Inherit The Wind

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E.K. Hornbeck writes for the Baltimore Herald as a journalist. He travels to the small town of Hillsboro to write a paper about Cates’s trial. Hornbeck criticizes the residents of Hillsboro for their fundamentalist belief toward religion. He does not listen to other people’s perspective and ridicules people who do not have the same opinion as he does. Hornbeck stands firm in his viewpoints throughout the entire play of Inherit the Wind. Hornbeck represents the motif of close-mindedness and Laurence and Lee use Hornbeck’s close-minded attitude to show the value of having multiple perspectives. Hornbeck quickly establishes his opinions in the beginning of the play. He does not like the people of the town and their one-dimensional belief towards religion. As soon as …show more content…

Towards the end of Inherit the Wind, Hornbeck condemns Brady for his bigotry shortly after Brady dies. Hornbeck argues with Drummond, who angrily defends Brady. Drummond respects Brady’s opinions because Drummond values freedom of speech and thought. Hornbeck cannot see past the fact that he hates Brady just because Brady has a religious viewpoint. This observation shows how simple Hornbeck’s mind works. Either he likes someone because they agree with his opinions or he hates someone because they disagree with his opinions. Hornbeck shows this thinking when he turns against Drummond, someone he allied with throughout the play. As soon as Hornbeck feels like Drummond’s opinions do not align with his, he immediately thinks to “hammer out (a) story” (114). Instead of thinking about the other side and considering the opinions of Drummond, Hornbeck irrationally responds by wanting to write a story that degrades Drummond. Hornbeck’s inability to consider any other viewpoint or opinion that does not agree with his teaches the reader the consequences of having a one-dimensional