Inherit the Wind?

Question

Just got finished reading Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and i'm wondering what exactly "Inherit the Wind" actually means. I know it comes from the quote: "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind:
and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart" But what does it mean to Inherit the Wind and how is it relevant to the story? I'm just not seeing the connection.


(PS: 10 points anyone?)

Answer 1

This Proverb is like the saying: "You have sown the wind, now reap the whirlwind."

That is, when one provokes needlessly, one is likely to find that all sorts of problems, trouble or strife are the result.

In the context of the play, Brady steps into this case to be the "Knight on a white horse", that is to sweep away the "heracy" of non-belief represented by Cates and evolution. Yet as the play unfolds, it is Brady, in his disasterous examination by Drummound, who is made to look foolish, who brings ridicule upon what he cherishes.

In a certain sense, the Scope trial, on which "Inherit the Wind" is based did the same thing. That trial was calculated by the Elders in Dayton, TN to bring publicity to the town, but really only brought ridicule, and was the start of all the other Creation/Evolution court cases since. (Although those certainly would have come anyway).

wl