Introduction
Inherit the wind is a Hollywood film produced in 1960 following inherit the wind play. The movie is an allegory that fictionalizes the 1925 Scopes Money Trial. This is aimed at criticizing McCarthyism. The movie reacted to the chilling outcome of the McCarthy period, which entailed an examination of the academic discourse.
The movie plays a critical role as far as the understanding of creation is concerned. In 1925, Scopes was charged in the court of law for teaching the Darwinian theory of creation. It was perceived that teaching high school students the theory was affect their faith and interfere with their belief.
The Tennessee state law stated that children at the high school were not to be introduced to theories that would infiltrate knowledge as far as the understanding of creation is concerned. In the movie, Matthew Harrison, Henry Drummond, and Bertram Cates are some of the characters that represent scholars at the time such as William Bryan, Darrow, and Scopes.
Even through the producers of the movie state in the beginning that the movie does not represent the chronology of events, it is shown clearly that the movie portrays a historical account. This article conducts a critical review of the film by showing how it portrays the period and events. The article also looks at the accuracy of the film.
A synopsis of the Film
The movie shows a teacher in the Southern town who was charged for introducing students to one of the controversial theories of creation. The teacher introduced students to the Darwinian Theory, which was contrary to the laws of the state. The teacher informed students that man is a descendant of the apes, something that the society was reluctant to accept.
The teacher encountered criticisms from various sections, especially the church since the reverend was the first to deny the allegations. The teacher was arrested for giving students information that was perceived to be controversial since not all scientists agreed that Darwin’s theory was accurate.
The case was exciting was it was to be attended by famous individuals, including Matthew Brady, who had previously vied for the presidential seat. Brady was always against the theory by Charles Darwin since he was a scholar of religion. His area of interest academically was the study of the Bible. The three times presidential candidate would act as a prosecutor alongside other prosecutors including the town’s attorney.
Brady observed that it was his responsibility to teach the naïve teacher the true story of creation. However, the three times presidential candidate was in for a rude shock because one of the best American legal experts represented the teacher, even though he was considered so controversial.
Apart from being a legal expert, Drummond was an enemy of the three times presidential candidate. The case attracted attention from various quarters, including the media since various media personalities would attend the court session.
The reverend was so annoyed to an extent of inciting people against the ungodly teacher and his legal representative. However, the reverend’s daughter complicated the case because she was in love with the controversial teacher. In the court, a controversy ensued because the judge seemed to be against Drummond by referring Brady to as colonel.
Drummond was upset since the judge did not demonstrate impartiality in a sensitive case. Drummond tried severally to persuade the court to allow the scientist to explain the provisions of the Darwin theory, but the judge could not allow. The view of the judge was that the provisions of the theory were misplaced meaning that they could not be explained in public.
At this point, the movie portrays the period that was so unfavorable to scientists. The works of various scientists in society were not allowed because they went against the teachings of God in several ways. Many people believed that God created human beings.
Therefore, there was no reason to believe that man could have actually evolved from apes. The movie confirms some of the experiences that scientists went through in the traditional society. In fact, the experiences that the teacher goes through in the movie compares closely with the experiences that other scholars went through in early 1900. Internet sources and various books confirm this.
After a heated argument, Drummond while representing the estranged teacher, requested Brady, the theologian and three times presidential candidate, to explain the why the findings of Darwin were inaccurate. Brady was well versed on matters related to the Bible.
For him, explaining the teachings of the Bile was not an issue. Drummond was the best lawyer since he cross-examined the theology scholar until a common ground was reached. Brady was unable to explain clearly some of the controversial issues.
Drummond concluded that the knowledge on creation was still developing since no individual could defend his or her position clearly. In this regard, he suggested that each person, including the teacher, had a right of formulating a viewpoint as regards to creation.
The judge was reluctant to rule in favor of the teacher since the society was unwilling to accept the fact that various theories explaining creation exist. At last, the teacher was convicted since he had been found guilty of giving controversial information to his students.
Brady was not satisfied with the ruling since he convinced the judge to charge Drummond and his client for wasting the time of the court. However, his attempts are unsuccessful because the judge did not give in to his views. Noticing that no one was listening to him, Brady fell and died instantly. It was later identified that ruptured stomach was the cause of his death.
Critical Review of the Film
As earlier noted, the film shows how science and scientific knowledge have gone through a long process to be what it is now. Scientists have gone through various problems because the society has always been reluctant to accept the new knowledge. The teacher could not survive in a society that believed God created everything.
Charles Darwin theory could not be spared in a society that religious leaders and scholars were extremely powerful. The judge lacked impartiality because every member of society respected religion. Nothing could convince the judge that the theory could be having some truths in it.
Religious leaders and scholars controlled all forms of inventions implying that they had the right to determine what was to be taught in schools. This could also mean that the church and religious scholars were relied heavily as far as formulation of laws was concerned.
The laws of the state were designed in line with the teachings of the church. Brady and other religious leaders could express their opinions in the song ‘inherit the wind’ meaning that those opposed to the teachings of the bible had no otherwise, but to comply with the mainstream belief.
Revered Brown is shown quoting a verse that Brady had earlier quoted in the court. This shows that the church controlled all major events, opinions, views, and beliefs in society.
Through analysis, it can be concluded that the movie criticizes the past by observing that the society was unsympathetic to change. These determined to bring change were frequently humiliated through the courts and other organs of the law. The Tennessee administration feared the future, which forced it to come up with laws that discouraged scientific discoveries.
In the US, scientists have fought for their rights continuously just like other minorities such as women and people of the color. Through the movie, it is noted that they have never enjoyed their rights and freedoms in history. The church controlled science implying that it could determine what to invent and what to discard.
The film brings out the theme of power clearly since the church and the intelligentsia is seen to compote for recognition. The church uses the state as a coercive tool to intimidate those who do not subscribe to its rules.
The views presented in the movie are accurate because the church has always influenced the public opinion, even though it was separated from the state in 1648 through the treaty of Westphalia. In the movie, the state organs do not use facts to make a ruling since the judge favored the church without even giving a legal reason.
Bibliography
Bergmann, Paul, and Asimow, Michael. Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel, 2006
Curtis, James. Spencer Tracy: A Biography. New York: Alfred Knopf, 2011.
Jerome, Lawrence, and Lee, Edwin. Inherit the Wind. New York: Literary Licensing, 2012.
Larson, Edward J. Summer for the Gods the Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion. New York: Basic Books, 2006.