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Analysis & Interpretation

Hubris

"that pride that goes just before the fall..."

Hubris describes a personality

quality of extreme or foolish

pride or dangerous

overconfidence, often in

combination with arrogance.

Brady was a character with excessive pride and confidence. This can be seen in his decision to run for president three times (despite losing each time), his determination to enter Hillsboro as a “defender of the righteous” and his decision to testify as a biblical “expert”, even though it was contrary to his role as prosecutor on the case. Brady’s hubris (excessive pride) blinded him and led him to look foolish. He allowed himself to be humiliated by Drummond on the stand, leading to his early death. Thus, Brady’s hubris caused his demise, making him a tragic and pitiful character.

Comic Relief

Release of tension resulting from a comic episode in the midst of serious elements in a drama, usually by a “sidekick”:

Hornbeck is also a vehicle for comic relief as he moralizes and relays information to the audience. He mocks Hillsboro, the residents, their fundamentalist beliefs, and Brady, throughout the play with quick witty remarks.

He acknowledges that "a few ignorant bushes" exist in Hillsboro, but no "tree of knowledge." He sees a monkey and calls it "Grandpa" and buys a hot dog instead of a Bible because he chooses to feed his stomach rather than his soul.

The Golden Horse

At the beginning of Act 3, Henry Drummond tells Bertram Cates the story of Golden Dancer. This was a rocking horse, painted in gold, that Drummond had seen when he was a boy and fallen in love with. He thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world. When his parents finally bought it for him, however, it split in two the moment he climbed on it.

Brady’s strong beliefs in the absolute literal accuracy of the Bible are similar to the rocking horse. They broke under pressure.

Brady’s outward authoritative demeanor of prideful confidence is not as strong as it appears, as he is easily turned into weeping child after being humiliated.

The Sun

Used twice in Drummond’s argument that the bible cannot be taken literally at its word. Therefore, it is okay to ask questions.

Story of Creation

Joshua supposedly stopped the sun in its tracks and what the result of its halt would be in the literal sense.

Joshua halting the Sun

While God created the earth in 7 days, the sun was not created first, making it impossible to determine the true length of a day.