1. Inherit the Wind was first produced on stage in 1955. It was produced as a television movie in 1960 and in 1988, and it was on Broadway again in 1996. Each time the play has been produced, it has been successful. Research each era and describe the historical events […]
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1. Discuss the present day significance of Inherit the Wind and explain why this play has been called “the greatest courtroom drama of the twentieth century.” 2. Compare and contrast the characterization of Brady and Drummond. Explain how the perception of the townspeople reinforces their characterizations. 3. Explain how Brady […]
Read more Study Help Essay QuestionsStudy Help Full Glossary for Inherit the Wind
agape with the mouth wide open, in surprise, wonder, etc., gaping. agnostic a person who believes that the human mind cannot know whether there is a God or an ultimate cause, or anything beyond material phenomena. Bible Belt [coined (c.1925) by Henry Louis Mencken] those regions of the U.S., particularly […]
Read more Study Help Full Glossary for Inherit the WindCritical Essays A Note on Proverbs
A proverb is a short, concise statement that presents a moral or a truth about human behavior. Proverbs are most often based on experience, common sense, or observation. Proverbs rely on figurative language such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, or rhyme. Consider the following examples: Metaphor: “Don’t wash your dirty linen […]
Read more Critical Essays A Note on ProverbsCritical Essays Conflicts in Inherit the Wind
Introduction The themes of Inherit the Wind — the necessity of freedom of thought and the value of seeking the truth — are revealed through the many conflicts in the play. The obvious conflict, that between Drummond and Brady, most obviously highlights these themes, but Lawrence and Lee include other […]
Read more Critical Essays Conflicts in Inherit the WindCritical Essays Themes in Inherit the Wind
Introduction When considering the themes of Inherit the Wind, the student should keep in mind that the play was first published in 1955, not 1925 when the Scopes trial took place. During the early 1950s, known as the McCarthy era, actors and writers were blacklisted — that is, refused work […]
Read more Critical Essays Themes in Inherit the WindCritical Essays Dramatic Conventions and Devices in Inherit the Wind
Introduction To reveal information about characters and events in Inherit the Wind, Lawrence and Lee utilize a number of dramatic conventions and devices. They use a foil, a sharp contrast between two characters, to enhance the characteristics of Brady and Drummond. Monologue, a speech given by one person without interruption, […]
Read more Critical Essays Dramatic Conventions and Devices in Inherit the WindJerome Lawrence and Robert Lee Biographies
Jerome Lawrence Jerome Lawrence Schwartz was born on July 14, 1915 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Samuel Schwartz, a printer, and Sarah Rogen Schwartz, a poet. During his high school and college years, Lawrence was a prolific reader, reading every play — from Greek drama to current comedies — that he […]
Read more Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee BiographiesCharacter Analysis Rachel Brown
Rachel Brown, the 22-year-old daughter of Reverend Jeremiah Brown, is a “pretty, but not beautiful” girl. She is a kind and gentle person who dislikes controversy. Rachel is a second-grade schoolteacher and close friend of Bert Cates. She is a purely fictitious character created by Lawrence and Lee. She has […]
Read more Character Analysis Rachel BrownCharacter Analysis Bertram Cates
Cates is a modest, quiet, unpretentious 24 year old. The stage directions describe him as a “pale, thin young man” who is “not particularly good looking.” He is a static character; a character who doesn’t change throughout the play. Even though things happen to Cates, his character is the same […]
Read more Character Analysis Bertram Cates