Truth is another theme important to Lawrence and Lee. When Drummond defends Cates in the courtroom, he is seeking the truth. He tells the courtroom that "right" and "wrong" have no meaning to him; only " . . . Truth has meaning." Lawrence and Lee convey their respect for differing perspectives: Neither evolutionism nor fundamentalism is right or wrong. At the conclusion of the play, Drummond walks off with both a Bible and a copy of Darwin's On the Origin of Species in his brief case.
Lawrence and Lee's belief in a continuing search for truth is represented in Drummond's Golden Dancer speech to Cates. He tells Cates to " . . . look behind the paint . . . if it's a lie — show it up for what it really is." The authors are referring to the Butler Law, as well as the McCarthy era blacklisting.
Lawrence and Lee urge their audiences to pay attention to what is going on around them; to protect their freedoms by thinking, having ideas, and searching for truth. Only by being open-minded and respecting differing beliefs and viewpoints can freedoms be guaranteed.
