Loading...
41st out of 330 books
—
325 voters
My rating:
add to my books
Inherit the Wind
One of the most moving and meaningful plays in American theatre--based on the famed Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925, in which a Tennessee teacher was tried for teaching evolution--now on Broadway starring Tony Award® Winners Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy, and Directed by Tony Award® Winner Doug Hughes
The accused was a slight, frightened man who had deliberately broken...more
The accused was a slight, frightened man who had deliberately broken...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
March 20th 2007
by Ballantine Books
(first published 1955)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
5,198)
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
view 2 comments
Melody
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in thinking about the power of intellectual freedom
Shelves:
drama
I just finished teaching this play for the second time: I read it with students in a composition course focused on topics at the intersection of freedom and literacy. In spite of its overly familiar subject matter, the play is actually quite enjoyable in the way it uses the historical Scopes Monkey Trials as a test case for thinking through the problems of the McCarthy era, and in fact, our own. The character development is quite interesting: Hornbeck is a fabulous villain - perhaps the most co...more
Paris
added it
Inherit the Wind, a historical fiction play, by Jerome Laurence and Robert Lee which fictionalizes the Scopes "Monkey" Trial that occurred in 1925. The play takes place in Hillsboro, a small town, where the town believes in a central dogma that there is no such thing as evolution, that creation was the only means of human existence. A highschool teacher, Bertram Cates, begins the book being thrown in jail for teaching his students Darwins theory of evolution. His girlfriend, the daught...more
I read this novel as a high school freshman, and I really liked it then, and I still like it now. I enjoy such realistic historical fiction, and especially since this play revolves around the issues of education, I always felt a special connection to it. The film version with Spencer Tracy is definately worth seeing, but the play itself is quite brilliant.
This play is based on the real-life Scopes-Monkey trial that rocked middle America in the 1920's. In Inherit the Wind a teach...more
This play is based on the real-life Scopes-Monkey trial that rocked middle America in the 1920's. In Inherit the Wind a teach...more
"Inherit the Wind" is a wonderful and significant play fabricated by Jerome Lawrence. The Scopes Monkey of 1925, formally known as The State of Tennessee vs. Scopes, was portrayed in Lawrence’s allegorical play. The Scopes Monkey Trial was so significant because it incited a controversial debate over fundamentalism vs. science. Bertram Cates, the school teacher and defendant of the trial, was charged for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution to his student. Cates teachings violated the...more
The play Inherit the Wind by Lawrence and Lee debates about the creation of humans. The quote, “he that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind” connects to Brady. This quote came from proverbs in the bible and it basically means that those who make trouble for others and do something wrong won’t get anything in return. Brady who sided with creationism believed in everything that was said in the bible. When Drummond questioned Brady about the world being created in seven days, more specif...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jerome Lawrence has done a wonderful job illustrating the Scopes Monkey Trial, in his allegorical play, "Inherit the Wind". Some themes that way powerfully portrayed were science v. religion, traditional values v. modern values, and creationism v. evolution. I found this play to actually be entertaining with its dry humor. Some favorite characters of mine would have to be E.K. Hornbeck and Henry Drummond, because of their dry humor. One thing I found interesting was how Drummond w...more
I thought that Inherit the Wind was a pretty exceptional play. This play is a re-enactment of the Scopes Trials that occurred in 1925. This trial consisted of a man being accused of teaching evolution in his high school science class. Science vs. The Bible was a very controversial topic during the 1920's , as the country was going through major changes. There was several instances of foreshadowing in this play, and at the end, it was quite surprising what happened. I also found this to be quite ...more
I wrestle with the idea that Inherit the Wind is one of "the most masterful pieces of art to be produced by an American author about a historic event," as an earlier Goodreads reviewer claimed. A tremendously one-sided dramatization of the the Scopes Trial, I certainly don't associate this play with words like "masterful" or "tactful" or "powerful" in any of their senses. Although I began this play excited and thrilled by it's high-energy drama, I closed t...more
A fun read, this book was assigned to our 11th grade AP English class and was followed by an amazing discussion on whether evolution should be taught in the classroom. Based on true events and spiced up with intriguing and humorous characters (like the quick-witted, hilarious, and oh-so-irking Hornbeck; the Radio Man who babies his precious device; and the bad-mouthed Drummond, whom I always imagine portly and red-faced, almost like a Santa Claus who hands out the gift of free thought and indivi...more
This is a dramatization of the famous Scopes Trial or Monkey Trial (on teaching the theory of evolution in schools)on the surface.
I think it also tries to delve into the clash of right and left-wing America. The same battle that divides America today.
The problem I had with it is that it seems to have a strong black and white agenda. The characters who fall on one side of the question (opposed to evolution) are drawn as one-dimensional, overly emotional sheep. While those on ...more
I think it also tries to delve into the clash of right and left-wing America. The same battle that divides America today.
The problem I had with it is that it seems to have a strong black and white agenda. The characters who fall on one side of the question (opposed to evolution) are drawn as one-dimensional, overly emotional sheep. While those on ...more
Maybe it is just me, but this long-standing 1955 theatrical classic seems a bit dated. No, I don't mean the subject matter -- the thinly-veiled Scopes Trial in 1925 that pit creationism against the teaching of evolution in public schools. There’s been plenty of that running amok in recent years across the U.S. Rather, the diction that Lawrence and Lee utilize seems awkward to my twenty-first century sensibilities. Their theatrical style and dialogue come across as a strange hybrid of Thorton Wil...more
I found this play to be entertaining, but not anything amazing. Though obviously (often to the point of annoyance) biased against the Christian community in "heavenly Hillsboro," the play makes a number of valid points in the argument of whether or not it is appropriate to make illegal the teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution in grade schools. Based on the Scopes Monkey Trial, (but only very LOOSELY based...there are huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge differences and one of the downfalls...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Inherit The Wind is an admirable play. It is an allegory for what was happening during the 1920s with a man named John Scopes. John Scopes was a school teacher put on trial for teaching Evolution to his students. In the play Scopes is portrayed by the character Cates in the town of Hillsboro. This play consists of the themes religion, prejudice, dry humor, irony, and Evolution. Hillsboro was a strictly religious town that was against evolution. The town arrested Cates but his time in jail did no...more
Inherit The Wind is so far one of my favorite plays, that I have read so far in the year anyway. This play was written based loosely upon the famous Scopes Trial of the 1920s. The main character, Bert Cates represents John Scopes. Cates was a schoolteacher who, in the play, was accused of breaking the law by teaching the theory of evolution developed by Charles Darwin. Living in the town of Hillsboro, the people hated him because he was teaching something against their religious views. The play ...more
This book is one of the most masterful pieces of art to be produced by an American author about a historic event. At its heart Inherit the Wind explores how to balance secular knowledge with faith, by asking the question what rights do humans have in relation to what they think and believe. Lawrence does this by juxtaposing two powerful characters as the prosecuting and defense attorneys in a recreation of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Matthew Harrison Brady's character is based on the historic figur...more
Based on a true story, Inherit the Wind is a historical fiction play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. To be honest I am not a big fan of history which lead me to find this play rather boring. I found it VERY confusing as I was reading the introduction. In the first few pages there was so much going on and motion. All the characters that were presented at once made it difficult to keep track. If it weren’t for my English teacher I would’ve had a hard time depicting who was who. I re...more
Erik Graff
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Americans
Recommended to Erik by:
Harriet J. Naden
Shelves:
drama
Evolutionary theory was taught in our high school biology classes. I wasn't particularly conscious of any controversy surrounding it until being required to read Inherit the Wind for English. Even then, it seemed rather a thing of the past. Now, however, thanks to listening to streaming "Coast to Coast" rebroadcasts while doing librarianship here, I've come to appreciate the literal relevance of this 1955 play.
Of course, Lawrence and Lee were thinking more about the secu...more
Of course, Lawrence and Lee were thinking more about the secu...more
When I first heard that this was one of the books on my Summer Reading List, I groanded quite a bit at the news; I already had to read a dystopian novel and a six-hundred page novel, so why should I bother with another story as well? This complaint held no ground, though; me and my family soon it at Books-A-Million, much shorter than I had originally feared. So, with ample amounts of low time on my New England road trip, I decided to tackle some more of my estival assignments and read Inherit th...more
This play is based off an actual court case which was held in 1925, also known as the Scopes "Monkey" Trial. It centers around the theme of religion vs. evolution as one man, by the name of Bert Cates is accused of going against the society by teaching something that is unlawful and against the Bible. Cates, a high school science teacher opened up a textbook, Hunter's Civic Biology, and read aloud to his sophomore class, Chapter 17 of Darwin's Origin of Species. He questioned how "...more
This book was confusing at first because I didn't know what was going on, but as the story progressed I realized how everything was connected. I think this was a very interesting story. Though the court process confused me, after it was explained I understood it a lot more. I really liked Drummond in this because he seemed confident and very patient throughout the play. He knew what to say and made very good points. The title of this story was all clear to me after reading the whole play. The hi...more
It was okay (I'd much rather read the play than see the film, actually), but I kept getting distracted by what were clearly side issues:
1- Neither legal representative wasted time addressing the actual point, which was: Did the teacher break the law of the state? Prosecuting attorney kept wanting to argue that he was a devil preaching heresy; defense attorney kept wanting to put the ideas on trial. In other words, the trial was only nominally about Bert. It was actually about creatio...more
1- Neither legal representative wasted time addressing the actual point, which was: Did the teacher break the law of the state? Prosecuting attorney kept wanting to argue that he was a devil preaching heresy; defense attorney kept wanting to put the ideas on trial. In other words, the trial was only nominally about Bert. It was actually about creatio...more
Amazing how one simple man, a teacher can cause discussion. Being accused how ever not feeling guilty at all is wonderful. James Scopes was the reason why this play came out. Scopes trials were based on religion should not be practice in school because it prohibited many theories to be thought, especially in science (biology). One of those theories is evolution, James didn’t believe what he did was wrong and this trial was controversial because during this time period Religion and State were not...more
I've never been too fond of reading plays, however this story, because it stems from true events, definitely grabbed my attention from the beginning. One thing I grasped from this story is the impeccable attention to detail. Depending on where you place the story (as a writer) there will be much need for in depth research to make the story seem as real and authentic as possible. From the way the authors described how the characters dressed to their 'southern slang', the author stayed true to the...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Inherit the Wind starts in the town of Hillsboro. At the beginning of the play, Howard, a thirteen year old boy, digs for worms to go fishing and then teases Melinda about evolution by saying that she and her family were once worms. Later, Rachel enters the courthouse square to see Bert Cates by asking Meeker, the bailiff. Bert and Rachel talks to each other in the courtroom and Rachel tries to make Bert say he is guilty and has done something wrong. Bert Cates still thinks that he did not...more
This play I thought was an okay read. I only found interest in it, because it had a historical context to it. It was a representation of the Scopes Trial, the big controversy between religion and science. Inherit the Wind, was a great representation of the court trial, I felt like I was getting a preview inside the trial. It wasn't exactly my favorite play, but just another reading for class. I did like that I was able to use it both in U.S. History and English. This was a major controversy, the...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inherit Darwin, a new play | 2 | 17 | Apr 05, 2009 03:50pm |
Readers Also Enjoyed
Share This Book
3 trivia questions
1 quiz
More quizzes & trivia...
1 quiz
“An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man's knowledge is a greater miracle than all the sticks turned to snakes or the parting of the waters.”
—
10 people liked it
“All motion is relative. Maybe it's you who've moved away by standing still.”
—
7 people liked it
More quotes…
