An individual’s ability to think and develop curiosity is one of the greatest gifts granted to human beings. Allowing one to express his thoughts, however, is up to interpretation. The Scopes Trial in 1925 is a prime example of a man being shamed for voicing his opinion. In Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s Inherit the Wind, they redesigned the Scopes trial into a drama, and Drummond, the defense attorney, claimed that a man was not only on trial, but the right to freely think was also being convicted. Stimulated by a spark of curiosity, Bertram Cates mentioned his beliefs in evolution to his students which led him to a jury deciphering his fate. Cates believed it was his right to freely speak about his beliefs, but the majority of the town was very close-minded. Drummond’s perspective on the case was that, “The man who has everything figured out is probably a fool” (39). Taking interest in new ideas derived from one’s thoughts, therefore, is essential in the development of the human mind. While interrogating Brady, Drummond articulately used specific biblical examples to incite doubt in the jury’s mind along with Brady himself. After receiving little acknowledgement from Brady, Drummond stated, “It frightens me to imagine the state of learning if …show more content…
When Cates was found guilty, the reactions varied with, “some cheers, applause, ‘Amens,’ and some boos” (70). Before the trial, there would have been hardly any boos echoing from the courthouse. Even the Reverend’s daughter, Rachel, had a new perspective of free thought after the case. She admitted, “I was always afraid of what I might think- so it seemed safer not to think at all. But now I know. A thought is like a child inside of our body. It has to be born!” (77). Cates efforts to fight for what he believed in allowed him to convey his message on the importance of sharing personal ideas with the