In his mid thirties, E.K. Hornbeck is a brilliant newspaper columnist for the Baltimore Herald and is sent to Hillsboro to cover Cates' trial. His character shares traits with H. L. Mencken, a newspaper columnist for the Baltimore Sun who covered the Scopes trial. Although Hornbeck, like Mencken, is cynical, insolent, and flippant, he is not malicious. He is, he admits, "admired for his detestability." In addition, Hornbeck's character is insightful, finding humor in sensitive issues such as evolution and religion. His sense of humor provides comic relief throughout the trial, alleviating the tension that builds as the townspeople try to hold onto traditional beliefs.
Hornbeck is contemptuous of the bigotry and ignorance that seems to exist in southern society. From the moment Hornbeck arrives in Hillsboro, his air of superiority is obvious. He "sneers politely at everything," and his clothes are "those of a sophisticated city-dweller." He speaks haughtily, as though he is reciting poetry; in fact, Lawrence and Lee use verse for Hornbeck's lines. Hornbeck is a chorus character. His wisecracks are comments on the action in the play, as well as a representation of progressive ideas and beliefs held by people from the North. He mocks the people of Hillsboro for their fundamentalist beliefs and their narrow-minded views about evolution. He acknowledges that "a few ignorance bushes" exist in Hillsboro, but no "tree of knowledge." He sees a monkey and calls it "Grandpa" and buys a hot dog instead of a Bible because he chooses to feed his stomach rather than his soul.
