Inherit the Wind

To reveal information about characters and events in Inherit the Wind, Lawrence and Lee utilize a number of dramatic conventions and devices. They use a foil, a sharp contrast between two characters, to enhance the characteristics of Brady and Drummond. Monologue, a speech given by one person without interruption, is used to expose aspects of Drummond's personality. A romance motif, a conventional subplot, develops concerning Rachel and her love for Cates despite their differing viewpoints. Hornbeck's cynicism and wit, in the form of poetry, creates the effect of a chorus character. Finally, the Southern dialect spoken by the townspeople emphasizes the difference between the North and South and between rural and cosmopolitan areas. These dramatic conventions and devices advance the plot of Inherit the Wind.