Inherit the Wind

When the audience first learns that Drummond, the famous defense attorney for underdogs, will be arriving in Hillsboro, the impression Lawrence and Lee create is that of a hardened, no-nonsense man who is defending Cates to serve his own purposes. The playwrights use monologue, a long uninterrupted speech in the presence of others, to portray Drummond's true character. At the end of Act I, Scene 2, Drummond tells Cates and Rachel that he understands the loneliness Cates is feeling. He is empathetic. Drummond clearly values honesty and believes in standing up for one's beliefs. In Act II, Scene 2, Drummond addresses the court, adamantly relating his belief that, "An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral." He cares deeply about the freedom of the individual human mind and understands the price that must be paid for progress. Finally, in Act III, Drummond tells Cates his story about Golden Dancer. In it, he reveals his never-ending search for truth. At the end of the play, the audience has a different impression of Drummond's character. He is a hero who opens people's eyes to the value of freedom of thought and the need to fight censorship.