Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

Overview of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" is a seminal work of American theater, first staged in 1955. The play is an adaptation of Williams' earlier short story "Three Players of a Summer Game" and takes place in the Mississippi Delta on a cotton plantation owned by the Pollitt family. The narrative unfolds during the 65th birthday celebration of the family patriarch, Big Daddy, and is marked by the family's struggle with deception and internal conflict. The characters grapple with the concealment of Big Daddy's terminal cancer diagnosis and the ensuing competition between his sons, Brick and Gooper, for the inheritance. The play's significance is underscored by its accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle award for Best American Play. It has been revived multiple times on Broadway and was adapted into a notable film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.

Act One: Setting the Stage for Family Tensions

Act One of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" introduces the audience to Margaret, known as Maggie, and her husband, Brick Pollitt, as they navigate the complexities of their marriage in preparation for Big Daddy's birthday. Brick, a former athlete, is physically and emotionally crippled, the latter due to the death of his friend Skipper and his own subsequent descent into alcoholism. Maggie's dialogue reveals the family's decision to keep Big Daddy's terminal illness a secret, as well as her own dissatisfaction with the lack of intimacy in her marriage. Her self-description as a "cat on a hot tin roof" serves as a metaphor for her precarious position in the family and her desperate attempts to secure her husband's affection and a place in the family legacy.

Act Two: Big Daddy's Birthday Party and Hidden Agendas

The second act of the play occurs during the festivities of Big Daddy's birthday, where the family's interactions are fraught with hidden tensions and unspoken truths. A pivotal scene involves an intense exchange between Big Daddy and Brick, wherein Big Daddy confronts Brick about his alcoholism and the state of his marriage. The act further explores Brick's troubled past, including his relationship with Skipper, which is central to his current emotional paralysis. The act culminates with Big Daddy's growing suspicion about the secrecy surrounding his health, leading to a confrontation that isolates Brick and forces him to confront his inner demons.

Act Three: Revelations and Confrontations

In the concluding act, the pretense maintained by the Pollitt family begins to unravel as the truth about Big Daddy's cancer diagnosis comes to light. Gooper and his wife Mae, who have several children, assert their entitlement to the family estate, arguing that their conventional family merits the inheritance more than Brick and the childless Maggie. The act reaches its zenith when Maggie declares that she is pregnant—a lie intended to secure her and Brick's claim to Big Daddy's fortune. The play ends with Maggie's resolve to turn the lie into truth, reflecting her determination to fulfill her role within the family and adhere to societal expectations.

Character Analysis: The Pollitt Family Dynamics

The characters in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" are intricately drawn, each embodying a set of desires, secrets, and societal pressures. Maggie "the Cat" is ambitious and sexually frustrated, yearning for her husband's love and the financial stability of the family inheritance. Brick, once a celebrated athlete and Big Daddy's favorite son, is trapped in a cycle of despair and alcoholism, which belies his outward appearance of masculinity. Big Daddy, a self-made man, is portrayed with a rough exterior and a domineering presence, while Big Mama remains emotionally invested in her family despite her husband's often harsh demeanor. Gooper and Mae symbolize the traditional family structure, yet their motivations are tainted by self-interest and avarice.

Themes and Motifs: Deception and Social Norms

"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" delves into themes of deception, societal expectations, and the quest for legacy. The play critically examines the facade of the traditional American family, exposing the Pollitts' inability to meet these expectations. The characters employ deceit to conceal their vulnerabilities and to manipulate situations to their advantage. The narrative also confronts issues of gender roles and sexuality, particularly through Maggie's struggle with infertility and Brick's ambiguous relationship with Skipper. Williams uses the Pollitt family to reflect the broader societal tensions of the American South, caught between the remnants of a bygone era and the emergence of new social realities.

Style and Setting: A Reflection of the South

The setting of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in the Mississippi Delta of the 1950s is crucial to the play's mood and thematic development. The plantation, once a symbol of wealth and status, now serves as a stage for the family's dramatic conflicts. Williams' stage directions are meticulously crafted, combining realism with symbolic elements, particularly in the bedroom setting where much of the play's action concerning intimacy and secrets takes place. The dialogue, infused with Southern idioms, and Williams' poetic stage directions enhance the authenticity and complexity of the characters and their environment, painting a vivid portrait of the Southern experience.