Inherit the Wind Flashcards
Who is Bertram Cates (Story/Real Life)?
Story- A pretentious and modest science teacher, and the defendant in the trial. Cates has been arrested for teaching his students the Theory of Evolution by Charles Darwin that goes against the towns’ Christian beliefs.
Real Life- John T. Scopes was a science teacher and volunteered to be arrested so that the law could be tested and never went to jail, but was never shunned.
Who is Henry Drummond (Story/Real Life)?
Story- A famous lawyer from Chicago sent by the Baltimore Herald to defend Cates. He believes in human progress and Cates’s teachings, arguing for freedom of thought.
Real Life- Clarence Darrow was the defense attorney for John Scopes. He put the defense attorney on trial, and appealed the verdict, but was more condescending.
Who is Matthew Harrison Brady (Story/Real Life)?
Story- A national political figure and lead the prosecution in Cates’s trial. A Christian fundamentalist, Brady defends the literal truth of the Bible but was exposed by the obvious contradictions of this viewpoint.
Real Life- William Jennings Bryan was a politician, orator, Christian fundamentalist, and prosecuting lawyer against Scopes but understood Darwin’s theories.
Who is E.K. Hornbeck (Story/Real Life)?
Story- A cynical journalist/critic who covers the trial for the Baltimore Herald. He despises fundamentalism and the townspeople’s simple-minded acceptance of Brady’s views, and portrays Cates as a hero.
Real Life- H. L. Mencken, a newspaper columnist for the Baltimore Sun who covered the Scopes trial. He was cynical, insolent, flippant but not malicious.
Who does Hornbeck announce as the defence attorney for Cates and what is there reaction?
Henry Drummond was told to be Cates’s lawyer for the case, with a reputation to rival the likes of Brady. The town however did not treat him as graciously, suggesting to keep him out due to him being an agnostic.
What is the significance in the preparations for Brady’s arrival?
This signifies how in the town there is already bias towards Brady, shown by their clear festivity. This is unjust in legal terms because the case will be biased in
the town, which may lead to a more persuaded jury affecting the overall verdict for the trial.
How is the relationship between Rev. Jermiah Brown and Rachel (Father and Daughter)?
Rachel fears her father’s disapproval since he is an intimidating in the sense of his authority and how much he values his position/reputation. Their relationship involves his disapproval of Bert and making her confess to things she does not want to do.
What are the three types of conflict, and the “undercurrent” conflict?
The three points of conflict are; Person vs. Themselves (Rachel and her thoughts), Person vs. Society (All of Hillsboro is against Cates), and Person vs. Person (Drummond and Brady). The undercurrent conflict is Bert and Rachel’s thoughts on what he did (Person vs Person).
What is the bias shown in the prayer meeting scene?
The bias is how all of Hillsboro is gathered at a religious meeting mainly due to the recent events. The bias at this point in the play is directed towards Cates because everybody in Hillsboro has attended (Jury and Judge).
What is Rev. Jermiah Brown’s misuse of the Bible during the Prayer Meeting?
Religion is supposed to be something you teach as a guideline to help people identify the “correctness” in their actions as well as teaching morals/values. Mr. Brown however started trying to use the Bible as an object of fear and to cause harm to those who disobey or contrast to its motives.
Does Matthew Harrison Brady have a hatred for Henry Drummond?
No, they are actually good friends with Drummond supporting his presidential campaigns, however, they do not see eye-to-eye on this issue.
What is the sentence given by the judge and what is the aftermath?
Since this law has never been broken before, the court made the fine to a respectable $100, despite Brady’s protest, but Drummond ordered an appeal which cost $500. Brady then tried to deliver the speech but
What happens during Rachel’s testimony?
Rachel under the oath of the Bible had to confess to the truth and with Brady’s constant tormenting she revealed many of the details of their conversations involving scientific theories and views of the Bible.
What the significance of Rachel’s choice in the last act of the play?
Rachel finally left her values that have been forced upon her and begins to rely on her own intellect.She made her own decision finally in the play without the constant pressure and stress by her father and Cates (character that has gone through most change).
What is the significance in Hornbeck and Drummond’s ending conversation?
When Brady dies, Hornbeck sarcastically makes fun of him. Drummond scolds Hornbeck for deriding Brady’s religion, and the two argue about Brady’s merits. Drummond calls Brady great, while Hornbeck accuses Drummond of undue sentimentality and predicts that Brady will be forgotten.This shows Drummond still has respect and a sense of friendship for him, while Hornbeck is still cynical about things.
