Inherit The Wind Analysis

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Recommended: McCarthyism and its impact on society

Throughout history, there have been many examples of governments and societies controlling their citizens. Inherit the Wind, by Robert Edwin Lee, fictionalizes the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” trial, as a means to discuss the then-contemporary McCarthy trials. This can be seen as the concepts of intellectualism and oppression can be witnessed in both trials. In the Scopes “Monkey” trial, ideas are being oppressed through ignorance towards evolution. In connection with this, people were being persecuted during the McCarthy trials because they had contradicting political views. As a result of this connection, readers are able to visualize the connection between the Scopes “Monkey” trial and the then-contemporary McCarthy trials. The first concept connecting the Scopes “Monkey” Trial, and the then-contemporary McCarthy trials would be southern fundamentalism. The author shows Hillsboro as a symbol of small American towns, who are ignorant and narrow-minded. He then states the distinctions between urban and small-town life. Henry Drummond represents a progressive and urban lifestyle, as he against the hatred of scientific fact and understanding. In cities, rapid urbanization, immigration, and technological improvements expose city dwellers to a wide range of new ideas. This represents a connection between communism and democracy. …show more content…

The focus of Inherit the Wind is to highlight the anti-intellectualism resulting from McCarthyism. As a result of Tennessee’s fixation towards religion, intellectualism is oppressed. This leads to the arrest of Bertram Cates, as he taught evolution in the classroom. McCarthyism represents a similar concept as individuals are being arrested as a result of going against the government’s way of thinking. Even though the government thought this was a way to keep their citizens separate to that of communists, it only repressed their rights and ability to think

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