Topic > The Admirability of Henry Drummond from Inherit The Wind

"It's the saddest feeling in the world to find yourself standing when everyone else is sitting." (Lawrence and Lee 51). Drummond chooses to stand up for what he believes in rather than ignore real value and blindly inherit the opinions of others. Because of this, Henry Drummond, Bertram Cates' defense attorney, arrived in Hillsboro as one of the most hated men in town, yet left as a respected lawyer. From the perspective of the citizens of Hillsboro, Henry Drummond was a menacing, evil man who faced off against their greatest hero, Matthew Harrison Brady. At the outset of the trial, if the average person in Hillsboro were asked who the most evil man was, there is a high probability that they would say Henry Drummond. As a result of his "agnostic mind", the citizens saw him as the devil himself, a godless sinner who deserved to rot in hell along with Cates and anyone else who opposed the Lord. Despite Hillsboro's hatred of Drummond, it is obvious to readers that he displays admirability through his sensitivity, determination, and morality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First and foremost, Drummond's admirability is shown through his sensitivity, his ability to judge situations and ideas with an impartial and intelligent mindset. One example where this trait is evident is towards the end of the play, as he tells the story of the Golden Dancer to Cates. The story is about his childhood, when he desperately wanted a beautiful rocking horse that he saw in a shop window. When he finally received this gift, it broke immediately after being ridden. Drummond promised himself that from now on he would do his best to see the true value in everything, looking at what lies beyond the surface. Drummond explained to Cates: “All glitter and no substance! Bert, whenever you see something bright, shiny, seemingly perfect, all gold, with purple spots, look behind the paint! And if it's a lie, show it for what it really is!". This quote shows Drummond's sensitivity as a character because it shows his strong belief in having good judgment in and out of the courtroom, as well as believing in real meaning. Furthermore, he displays this trait at the very end of the story, when he leaves the classroom with the Bible and Darwin's Origin of Species balanced in his hands. This scene is one of the most significant and impactful parts of the entire play because it shows Drummond's open mind and his respect for different perspectives. Unlike Brady and countless others in Hillsboro who refuse to contradict the Bible, Drummond made his decision after weighing both points of view equally and carefully identifying the value of each, thus dialing in his sensibilities. Drummond's common sense is central to Inherit the Wind and in return makes it truly admirable. Secondly, the determination and work ethic that Drummond possesses is admirable. For example, this trait is predominantly shown at the beginning of the play when he first arrives in Hillsboro. He saw banners hung, songs sung, and a delicious feast all for Brady, their religious hero. Drummond received nothing but hatred from citizens, in the form of shouting, threats and angry mobs. Despite this, he stuck to the case until the end and fought hard the entire way. His determination is evident in this scene because without the drive to win, Cates would have received a greater punishment, the citizens would still love Brady, and the people would still be afraid of.