Inheritors

Susan Glaspell's Inheritors stands as a powerful dramatic work that challenges the very foundations of American idealism and free speech. Written in 1921, this four-act play traces the collision between personal conviction and family loyalty across two generations of a Midwestern family. The story begins when an idealistic farmer bequeaths his valuable farmland to establish a college, envisioning a legacy of education and progress. Forty years later, his granddaughter honors his pioneering spirit by defending the rights of Hindu nationals to protest on campus—only to discover that her principled stand threatens the college's funding and pits her against her own uncle, the institution's powerful board president. As the conflict escalates through Acts II and III, she finds herself increasingly isolated from her family, ultimately facing imprisonment for her convictions. Glaspell crafted Inheritors as a stirring defense of individual conscience during America's anxious era of anti-Communist politics. The play examines how ideals can be inherited, reinterpreted, and sometimes betrayed across generations, while questioning whether institutions can truly uphold the values they were founded upon. Originally performed at the Provincetown Playhouse in 1922, this politically charged drama remains remarkably relevant. Perfect for listeners interested in American political theater, historical drama, or compelling explorations of civil rights and free speech, Inheritors offers both intellectual substance and emotional depth that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.