Inherit the Wind - Characters & Cast

To defend the fundamental human right to think, speak, and question, and to protect the vulnerable from the tyranny of the majority.

Drummond arrives as a despised outsider, faces impossible odds and a biased court, yet manages to expose the hypocrisy of the prosecution. Though he loses the verdict, he wins the moral and intellectual victory.

To defend his literal interpretation of the Bible, maintain his status as a beloved public figure, and crush the threat of modernism.

Brady enters Hillsboro as a beloved savior and conquering hero. However, his desperate need for adulation and his rigid fundamentalism lead to his public humiliation on the witness stand, culminating in his tragic death when the crowd ignores him.

To mock the ignorance of the fundamentalists, sell newspapers, and act as a detached critic of society's foolishness.

Hornbeck remains static in his cynical worldview. He observes the trial with detachment and mockery. In the end, his heartlessness is condemned by Drummond, leaving him isolated in his own bitterness.

To teach his students the truth and to stand up for his right to share scientific knowledge without facing persecution.

Initially terrified by the town's hatred and the magnitude of his trial, Cates finds the courage to stand by his actions, ultimately paving the way for future intellectual freedom despite a guilty verdict.