24AB3 1 24AB3 Mr. Fredrick Period 2 5 October 2016 The Rights of a Sponge Science clashes with faith.Immediately, there is an issue that strikes at society,that their ancestors were apes, through the concepts of Darwinism and evolution.That idea is not even considered as a possibility to the conservative town of Hillsboro.Until Bert Cates is incriminated for illegally teaching the ideology of evolution in class.Drummond defends Cates and dares to challenge a religious crowd with the privilege of thought and authenticity. As the religious crowd finds the idea of evolution absurd, a student from the class, Howard, admits, “I'm not sure. I gotta think it over (Lawrence and Lee 48)”.Drummond eventually brings a Bible and begins demanding multiple questions of the scriptures to the prosecutor, Brady, such as how “Joshua made the sun stand still (57)” with consistent responses from Brady claiming, “The bible satisfies me, it is enough (58)”.It is within this moment, that the people of Hillsboro begin questioning some of the events in the Bible, some that even the proclaimed “expert” in Holy Scripture cannot even explain. As the court case progresses, the amount of supporters for Drummond has increased significantly.The idea of Darwinism becomes more realistic and plausible to the congregation as Drummond proclaims that “[Mr.Cates] wishes to be accorded the same privilege as a sponge! (60)”.Claiming that a human should be inclined to the same freedoms as an assumed lowlife animal, the freedom of thought.
24AB3 2 People began to start to think and search for truth within the holy scriptures of the Bible.Though evolution was not widely accepted during the time thatInherit the Windtakes place, the court case would open the eyes to the civilians of Hillsboro and the world forever.Many people would claim the same as Rachel that “I don’t want to think that men come from apes, and monkeys. But I think that’s beside the point (76)”.The community would no longer have the same devotion to their church. Works Cited Lawrence, Jerome, and Robert E. Lee.Inherit the Wind.New York: Random House, 1955. Print. “BRADY.On what grounds?It is possible that something is holy to the celebrated agnostic?
24AB3 3 DRUMMOND.Yes!(His voice drops, intensely.)The individual human mind.In a child’s power to master the multiplication table there is more sanctity than in all your shouted “Amens!” “Holy, Holies!”and “Hosannahs!”An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral.And the advance of man’s knowledge is more of a miracle than any sticks turned to snakes, or the parting of waters!But are we now to halt the march of progress because Mr. Brady frightens us with fable?(Crossing to the jury, reasonably.) Gentlemen, progress have never been a bargain. You’ve got to pay for it.Sometimes I think there’s a man behind a counter who says, “All right, you can have a telephone; but you’ll have to give up privacy, the charm of distance.Madam, you may vote; but at a price; you lose the right to retreat behind a powder-puff or a petticoat.
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