Inherit the Wind

Two days later, Bert’s trial is in progress. Brady has called Howard to the witness stand. He prompts Howard to tell the court what Bert taught him in school. Howard paraphrases what Bert taught him of evolution. Brady then asks what Bert said about humans; Howard replies that Bert taught him that humans were “sort of evoluted. From the ‘Old World Monkeys’” (94). In his teaching, Bert did not mention the Bible or God. Brady argues that Howard has been confused by “Godless science” and warns the jury that if Bert is not stopped, children like Howard will grow up with no religion. 

Drummond cross-examines Howard and asks the boy if he thinks there is anything wrong with reading Darwin’s book. Brady objects to this question, but Drummond argues that he is trying to determine whether people have the right to think. The judge insists that Drummond rephrase his question, so Drummond instead asks Howard if learning about evolution hurt him in any way. Howard does not think so. He is not yet sure if he believes everything that Bert taught him. Drummond praises the boy for his uncertainty. Drummond remarks that applying morality to everything a person does is “one of the peculiar imbecilities of our time” (100). The judge dismisses Howard from the stand and calls the next witness.

Davenport calls Rachel to the witness stand. Brady asks her if Bert attends the same church as she does; she replies that Bert stopped attending church two summers ago after a young boy in their community, Tommy, died unbaptized. Bert interrupts her testimony to reveal that Reverend Brown told Tommy’s parents that Tommy was burning in Hell. Bert believes that religion should comfort people, not distress them. Brady requests to have Bert’s comments stricken from the record; the judge agrees. Brady continues his questioning of Rachel and asks her to tell the court about Bert’s opinion of religion. Rachel is reluctant to answer and the judge reminds her that as she is providing testimony under oath, it is a crime to withhold relevant information. Brady reminds Rachel that she told him that Bert said, “God did not create Man! Man created God!” (105). Rachel insists that that is not what Bert said; he simply told a joke. Brady asks her what Bert told her about marriage, and Rachel becomes so upset that she cannot answer. The judge dismisses her from the witness stand, making it impossible for Drummond to cross-examine her. 

It is Drummond’s turn to call witnesses for the defense, but Brady objects each time he calls a scientist. The Judge upholds Brady’s objections. Drummond is not allowed to call any witnesses who can provide “expert testimony on Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species or Descent of Man” (111). Drummond is momentarily flummoxed, but recovers swiftly and asks if he can call a witness who can provide expert testimony on the Bible. The Judge and Brady agree, and Drummond announces that he wants to call Brady to the witness stand. There is uproar in the courtroom. The judge is confused, but Brady agrees to take the stand.

Drummond establishes that Brady is an authority on the Bible and has memorized many of its passages, but that he has never read any of Darwin’s works. He questions how Brady can be so sure that what Darwin writes goes against the Bible if he has never read his work. Davenport objects when Drummond starts reading from On the Origin of Species to highlight his point; the judge tells Drummond to keep his questions to the Bible. Drummond asks Brady if he believes that everything in the Bible should be taken literally. Brady does, even when the Bible makes claims that do not make sense. He says that the Bible is enough for him. Drummond argues that scientific advancement is “more of a miracle” than the fables in the Bible (122), and that progress should not be stopped just because people are afraid that it challenges their faith. Brady protests that faith must never be abandoned, to which Drummond retorts that God gave humans the power to think freely. 

Drummond shows Brady a rock that is over 10 million years old. Brady protests that Biblical scholars have determined that the world is only 6,000 years old: It was created by God in seven days in the year 4004 BCE. Drummond asks Brady if those seven days were each 24 hours long; Brady is not sure. Drummond pushes him: Perhaps the first “day” lasted millions of years, since there was no way to measure time before the Sun was created on the second day. Brady reluctantly concedes that this is possible. Davenport objects that Drummond’s questions are irrelevant and illegal, and a shouting match begins between Drummond and Brady. Brady accuses Drummond of wanting to attack the Bible and destroy people’s belief in God. Drummond argues that the Bible is only a book, but Brady says that it is not just a book. It is a recording of God’s words to humanity. 

Drummond asks how Brady knows that God did not speak to Darwin when he wrote On the Origin of Species. Brady replies that he knows because God spoke to him directly to tell him to oppose Darwin’s “evil teachings.” Drummond ironically introduces Brady to the jury as a prophet. The audience in the courtroom laughs, which deeply upsets Brady. Drummond continues, asking if being against Brady means being against God. Brady insists that every human is a free agent. Drummond asks why Bert is in jail if every human is a free agent, and continues to mock Brady for implying that he is a prophet. Brady becomes inarticulate and is dismissed from the witness stand as he shouts the names of various books of the Bible. The courtroom is still in an uproar, and the judge adjourns the trial for the day. Mrs. Brady leads her husband away, assuring him that people are not laughing at him.