While
Inherit the Wind is a fine play, it does take many liberties in the way it depicts the events of the Scopes trial. Reading through
portions of the actual Scopes trial transcript give a bit better picture of what actually took place at the trial, particularly giving a more accurate picture of the role played by William Jennings Bryan. Choose any portion of the transcript that looks interesting to you and comment on the proceedings. Note how and why different people might interpret this trial very differently. You might find the
debate over prayer or Bryan's (undelivered)
closing remarks particularly interesting.
I thought Bryan's undelivered closing remarks were awesome. I think if they would have let him say that some of the people might have been moved or their opinion changed. I definitely agree with what he had to say and I believe he said very well.
ReplyDeleteI read the "Read your Bible" section and the part about the prayer and Darrow just sounds like a child complaining about everything that is not going his way. I guess on the side that is for Darwinism it would make sense to want the sign taken down, but they are living in a state that claims Christianity and a nation that was founded on Christianity. He can't expect everyone to change just because it doesn't fit his side of the argument. I like the judge though because he stated his opinion and then decided to be "fair" to both sides.
Goodness. Now I'm reading the Darrow's Examination of Bryan....Darrow is really bratty. Or maybe I'm just biased. It seems as if Darrow is trying to trip Bryan up and make him contradict himself.
This trial can be interpreted in different ways because this subject is extremely controversial. People there probably already had their opinion set when they walked in the courtroom. To Christians Bryan may have seemed honorable; he stood his ground and did it in such a way that was almost graceful..if I can say that. To evolutionists Bryan looked like a fool the moment he said he believed the big fish swallowed Jonah.