"The aftermath of the war is what inspired us to write many of our plays. The whole reason for our writing Inherit the Wind was that we were appalled at the blacklisting. We were appalled at thought control"
- Jerome Lawrence
About this Quote
This quote by Jerome Lawrence speaks with the power of art in the face of oppression. Lawrence and his composing partner Robert E. Lee wrote the play Inherit the Wind in action to the blacklisting of artists throughout the McCarthy period. The consequences of the war, and the subsequent censorship of artists, was a source of motivation for their writing. They were appalled by the idea control that was taking place, and wished to utilize their art to speak out against it. The play was an effective statement against censorship and a reminder of the significance of liberty of expression. Lawrence and Lee's work serves as a pointer of the power of art to challenge oppression and to stand up for flexibility of expression.
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