Howard Character Analysis in Inherit the Wind

A young boy and former student of Cates’, Howard claims, in the trial, that Cates taught him something of Darwin’s theory of evolution, but Howard admits that this theory had very little impact on his life—that he doesn’t feel, necessarily, that Darwin prevents him from believing in God or from behaving as a “good boy” would. Howard does, though, scandalize Melinda when he tells her she was descended from monkeys.

Howard Quotes in Inherit the Wind

The Inherit the Wind quotes below are all either spoken by Howard or refer to Howard. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Ballantine Books edition of Inherit the Wind published in 2003.

Let’s put it this way, Howard. All this fuss and feathers about Evolution, do you think it hurt you any?
Sir?
Did it do you any harm? You still feel reasonably fit? Did it hurt your baseball game any? Affect your pitching arm?
No, sir. I’m a leftie.

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 72

Explanation and Analysis:

Howard Character Timeline in Inherit the Wind

The timeline below shows where the character Howard appears in Inherit the Wind. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Open-Mindedness vs. Closed-Mindedness Theme Icon

...is a scene of the courthouse square, the town square, and of houses beyond it. Howard, a thirteen-year-old boy, enters the courthouse square and is followed by a girl nearly his... (full context)

When Melinda wonders how Howard can play with the disgusting worms in the ground, brought up by a recent rain,... (full context)

...the young girl from the opening of the play, is selling lemonade, and Mrs. Blair, Howard’s mother, tells Howard to “spit down” his hair. Reverend Brown wants the town to appear... (full context)

Oratory, Performance, and Public Speaking Theme Icon

The scene opens in the courtroom, two days later; Brady is examining Howard, a student of Cates’, at the witness stand. Howard testifies that Cates taught, in class,... (full context)

Brady makes a speech to the courtroom crowd, not just to the jurors, saying that Howard, if allowed to continue to be taught evolution, will one day become a Godless young... (full context)

Drummond asks Howard whether it’s wrong that Darwin thought up his theory of evolution—the Judge temporarily stops Drummond,... (full context)

Drummond then asks Howard, whose father is a farmer, if his father’s tractor was mentioned in the Bible, or... (full context)

Howard is excused by the Judge, and Rachel is brought to testify. Brady begins questioning her,... (full context)

...and broadcast over radio, can occur in the court after the trial ends. Melinda and Howard, together in the crowd, ask who won, and Howard says he does not know, but... (full context)