by Lincoln Hay

Created on: August 25, 2010

In Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Henry Drummond says, “...the advance of man’s knowledge is more of a miracle than any sticks turned into snakes...” (93).  Drummond’s words reveal the value the human mind should have over religion.  However, not everyone in Hillsboro shares this idea.  The townspeople, Matthew Harrison Brady and Jeremiah Brown display traits of ignorance, prejudice and bigotry.  Stuck in the past, they believe their faith is the most important value.

The townspeople of Hillsboro evince ignorance, prejudice and bigotry.  They first show their ignorance when Drummond arrives.  One person tells him to go back where he came from, since they do not want anyone telling them what to think.  They are out of touch with the real world, much as Brady is, and that is why they voted for him in each of his three election campaigns.  They also show their bigotry by doing so.  They claim to believe in God, and do not wish for that to change.  They throw a picnic for Brady to show him that they had his support.  Along with the “Read Your Bible” sign in front of the courtroom, the town was not ready to abandon their faith.  The picnic, banner and song show that they do not like to entertain new ideas.  Henry Drummond, however, by questioning Brady reveals his hypocrisy and starts to open the minds of the townspeople.  When they once thought of Brady as God, they now see him as a self-proclaimed prophet, a man who claims he can judge right from wrong by talking to God.  They see that he has no more power than themselves.

Ignorance, prejudice and bigotry are showcased in Matthew Harrison Brady.  He is a man looking for redemption, who unsuccessfully ran for presidency three times.  These attempts to become president were unsuccessful because majority of the country had moved forward with the times, thus displaying his ignorance.  Because Brady is paralyzed by his belief system, he was unable to keep up with the change of the nation and thus unable to grasp their votes.  To regain his public figure, he answered the call to prosecute in the first trial to ever be broadcast.  He used this broadcast to show the entire nation that he fights for the common man.  However, the common man which in reality is not so common.  The mayor, in particular, gives Brady far more credit than he deserves. 

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