“All shine and no substance” (Drummond, pg.97) that’s how Henry Drummond describes the Golden Dancer. Drummond uses the Golden Dancer speech to encourage Cates to continue to search for the truth and to expose it. Drummond tells Cates “Bert, whenever you see something bright, shining, perfect-seeming, all gold with purple spots – look behind the paint!” (Drummond, pg.97). In the play “Inherit the Wind” the Golden Dancer is a symbol of deception and lies and is used to portray the deceptiveness of some of the characters in the play. Furthermore, the deception in the play also reveals irony. There are many incidents in the play where deception is found.

In the beginning of the play Henry Drummond appears to be a complete atheist and an evolutionist, but by the end of the play he reveals to be an agnostic that believes in both creationism and evolutionism. In the very last scene of the play Drummond picks up the “origin of Species” and the Bible and balances them – with one on each hand as if to say that each book has equal worth. Drummond (being an agnostic) doesn’t truly believe in creationism, neither does he completely believe evolutionism. After Drummond found out about the death of Matthew Harrison Brady, he expresses deep admiration and great respect for him, even though Drummonds brutal attack on Brady during his testimony devastatingly crushes him and humiliates him. The deception and irony that revolves around Henry Drummond gives the play a new perspective.

Reverend Brown is the religious leader of Hillsboro and is supposed to comfort them and give them hope, but ironically he does the exact opposite. The evidence of this comes straight from his daughter, Rachael Brown. Reverend Brown has been constantly frightening Rachael from a young age. Rachael was afraid to think because of her father. In the prayer he damns her soul for supports Cates. Reverend Brown is actually a cruel, heartless person who practices the harsh form of Christianity. He uses his religion and position in society to put fear into the hearts of the people of Hillsboro. He scares people to have there own opinions and ideas. Reverend Brown is one of the most deceptive and ironic character in the play.

Matthew Harrison Brady made Rachael testify against Bertram Cates even after promising to Rachael that what she told him will be kept secret. Brady forces Rachael to tell him about her relationship with Cates and Cates’ religious views. Rachael refused to do so, but Brady promised that whatever she said would be kept between the two of them, and her father insisted her to tell him. Rachael told Brady about why Cates doesn’t go to church anymore, and his religious views. Later, Brady forces Rachael to testify against Cates; consequently, deceiving her and breaking her promise. By lying to Rachael, and using what she told him as evidence, Brady gained more support and popularity.

Deception is found widely in the play “Inherit the Wind”. The three ultimate deceptions in the play are: Henry Drummond being an agnostic, Reverend Brown being cruel and heartless, and Brady deceiving Rachael. Deceptiveness helped to develop character and make the story more interesting; furthermore, it may also give a new perspective to the story.