Hot Tin Roof Theme
The play Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams, takes place in the mid 1950’s, at Big Daddy's’ 65th Birthday. Brick and Margaret, a married couple, have issues, which makes them both tense, but stresses Brick the most. Since he has a lot on his chest and adds to former troubles he had, which has progressively made his life bitter, including the life he shares with his family. Not to mention, Mae and Gooper, another marriage forming part of the family, have become more united with them, but not for the right reasons. Meanwhile, Big Daddy suffers from unanswered questions and a disease he has to look after. Though, in this play, Williams exposes that when families have relationships, where there are secrets, lies, unloyalty, and convenience,
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they are bound to complications, ultimately leading to a complete division between them. In this tragedy, full of constant back and forward feud between blood, there are secrets that lead to the worst kind of loss; family loss. Act 1, page 23,Margaret converses with Brick about her not a wanting a divorce from him, because she rather stay “...on this hot tin roof.” Which I believe is because she wants Brick and herself to inherit most of Big Daddy's estate to enjoy together. Margaret is also confident that Big Daddy has a “lech” (Act 1, page 6) for her, so she plans on taking advantage of that delusion of hers. Margaret resentment over her past, of not having any money and having to suck up to rich people for that reason, has made her fail to notice that her father in law, Big Daddy is about to lose his life to cancer. All she sees is wealth over family, “--Born, raised poor, expect to die poor unless I manage to get us something out of what Big Daddy leaves when he dies of cancer!” But since Big Daddy and Big Mama are the only ones that didn’t know about Big Daddy's terminal cancer, Margaret and Brick plan on revealing it to them later at the gathering. Even though Margaret's plans include Brick, Brick is still clung about not wanting anything to do with her. The marriage they share, as Williams explains in the play, was wonderful at the beginning. But soon went downhill after Bricks best mate, Skipper, left earth by choice, after confessing to Brick that he slept with his wife and was also interested in him. Brick feeling betrayed by both of them, rejected him, which was the reason behind Skippers suicide, as implied in the play. Though Margaret feels it’s her fault Brick is no longer attracted to her, is it really? This marriage has fallen apart, but Margaret won't let go of Brick because she loves him and sees benefit to staying as well. On the other side, there is competition over Big Daddy’s riches. But Margaret won’t let Mae, a pregnant mother of five, who is married to Brick's brother, Gooper, leave with Big Daddy’s estate without a fight. As she clarifies on Act 1, page 25, “---Mae an’ Gooper are planning to freeze us out of Big Daddy’s estate because you drink and I’m childless. But we can defeat that that plan. We’re going to defeat that plan!--Brick, y’know, I’ve been so God damn disgustingly poor all my life!--That’s the truth, Brick!” There's a lot of lies, selfishness and greed between brothers and sister in laws, which will only end in isolating from each other. In Act 2, the author uses the device conduplicatio on Big Daddy’s line, “It’s lucky I’m a rich man, it sure is lucky, well I’m a rich man, Brick, I’m a mighty rich man.”(Act 2, page 44). This quote clarifies the fact that this man is obviously wealthy but unfortunately, having money causes greed, and in this case the greedy one is not even the possessor of the fortune. The greedy one is not only Margaret, but also Gooper his son and Mae, Goopers wife, as mentioned in Act 1 As Well. This is a conversation between Gooper and Mae after finding out Big Mama and Big Daddy were finally aware of his terminal cancer.
Gooper: [handing the briefcase back to her]: Thank you----of course, my relationship with Big Daddy is different from Bricks.
Mae: You’re eight years older’n Brick an’ always hadt’ carry a bigger load of th’ responsibilities than Brick ever hadt’ carry. He never carried thing in his life but a football or a highball.
Gooper: Mae, will y’let me talk, please?
Mae: Yes, honey.
Gooper: Now, a twenty-eight thousand acre plantation’s a mighty thing t’run (Act 3, page 81)
By all of this being said, Gooper is implying he take over the twenty-eight thousand acre plantation.
Which Big Mama then clarifies he’s still not “...dead and in his grave…”(Act 3, page 82) Gooper as his son should be devastated over the idea of his father's illness, but instead as it is shown, is more interested in what comes after the illness; death. Goopers reaction is unsympathetic and heartless under the circumstances, and will eventually cause bigger difficulties within the family. It will create deeper emotional wounds, and finally separate the union they all once had. Communication, love, commitment, and care should be priorities in relationships within relatives. Which shows otherwise, in Act 3 when the author once more uses conduplicatio to make notice that Big Mama is aware of Bricks drinking problem. Big Mama says, “ I know he’s drinking!”(Act 3, page 71) to Mae’s response, “Outside.” Act 3, page 71) to Big Mama's question asking where Brick was. By Gooper adding that, reveals how the rest of the family sees Bricks drinking as a dilemma, and are more critical of it, rather than supportive and accommodating. Which cause resentment, friction and detachment between loved ones. According to the organization Penn State, “One theme seen in this play is the idea of the dysfunctional, every-man-for-himself family. It is obvious throughout the script of the play that everyone has their own agenda in the family, and no one is really there to support each other as a "normal" family should be.” They are “dysfunctional” and there isn’t much support between them as there should
be. In Act 2, there is rivalry and confessions between son and father over the past, only to humiliate and offend. Big Daddy also insults his wife, revealing his actual feeling towards her, “All I ask of [Big Mama] is that she leaves me alone. But she can’t admit to herself that she makes me sick.” (Act 2, page 50). And also confirms he hates his own son, Gooper, Goopers wife and his grandchildren. “ I hate Gooper and his five same monkeys and that bitch Mae!” (Act 2, page 58). The only son he might even love is Brick, since he confessed to him with these words, “---But why in hell, on the other hand, Brick--should I subsidize a goddam fool on the bottle?--Liked or not liked, well, maybe even--loved!” ( Act 3, page 58), after telling him he won’t pass his twenty-eight thousand acres of land to his other son, Gooper, who he doesn’t even like. By this being said, he wants to forcibly know the reason why his son drinks. Brick is not interested in the conversation, but Big Daddy forces him by humiliating and offending him in many different ways until he finally has burst the truth out. Brick implies to Big Daddy he is dying of cancer, “ Mendacity is a system that we live in. Liquor is one way out an’ death’s the other…” (Act 2, page 68) Big Daddy was outraged, since he thought and mentioned earlier before Bricks response, that he has “...fifteen years or twenty years left in [Big Daddy]!” He learns that his family except Big Mama, was not only aware that he was dying, but lied to him about it. At the end of Act 2, Big Daddy damned his family, The beginning of Act 3, was when Big Mama found out of her husband's disease and was devastated. While Big Daddy and Big Mama were crushed over the news, Gooper and Mae still attempted to inherit the twenty-eight thousand acres of land. Bricks relationship with his father became farther, Margaret his wife still made an effort to conceive children with him, and everybody ended up isolated from each other.
That's just it about families, you will only get what you give out of the relationship, in this case, secrets, deceit, and greed was given, so detachment and distance were the results.
they are bound to complications, ultimately leading to a complete division between them. In this tragedy, full of constant back and forward feud between blood, there are secrets that lead to the worst kind of loss; family loss. Act 1, page 23,Margaret converses with Brick about her not a wanting a divorce from him, because she rather stay “...on this hot tin roof.” Which I believe is because she wants Brick and herself to inherit most of Big Daddy's estate to enjoy together. Margaret is also confident that Big Daddy has a “lech” (Act 1, page 6) for her, so she plans on taking advantage of that delusion of hers. Margaret resentment over her past, of not having any money and having to suck up to rich people for that reason, has made her fail to notice that her father in law, Big Daddy is about to lose his life to cancer. All she sees is wealth over family, “--Born, raised poor, expect to die poor unless I manage to get us something out of what Big Daddy leaves when he dies of cancer!” But since Big Daddy and Big Mama are the only ones that didn’t know about Big Daddy's terminal cancer, Margaret and Brick plan on revealing it to them later at the gathering. Even though Margaret's plans include Brick, Brick is still clung about not wanting anything to do with her. The marriage they share, as Williams explains in the play, was wonderful at the beginning. But soon went downhill after Bricks best mate, Skipper, left earth by choice, after confessing to Brick that he slept with his wife and was also interested in him. Brick feeling betrayed by both of them, rejected him, which was the reason behind Skippers suicide, as implied in the play. Though Margaret feels it’s her fault Brick is no longer attracted to her, is it really? This marriage has fallen apart, but Margaret won't let go of Brick because she loves him and sees benefit to staying as well. On the other side, there is competition over Big Daddy’s riches. But Margaret won’t let Mae, a pregnant mother of five, who is married to Brick's brother, Gooper, leave with Big Daddy’s estate without a fight. As she clarifies on Act 1, page 25, “---Mae an’ Gooper are planning to freeze us out of Big Daddy’s estate because you drink and I’m childless. But we can defeat that that plan. We’re going to defeat that plan!--Brick, y’know, I’ve been so God damn disgustingly poor all my life!--That’s the truth, Brick!” There's a lot of lies, selfishness and greed between brothers and sister in laws, which will only end in isolating from each other. In Act 2, the author uses the device conduplicatio on Big Daddy’s line, “It’s lucky I’m a rich man, it sure is lucky, well I’m a rich man, Brick, I’m a mighty rich man.”(Act 2, page 44). This quote clarifies the fact that this man is obviously wealthy but unfortunately, having money causes greed, and in this case the greedy one is not even the possessor of the fortune. The greedy one is not only Margaret, but also Gooper his son and Mae, Goopers wife, as mentioned in Act 1 As Well. This is a conversation between Gooper and Mae after finding out Big Mama and Big Daddy were finally aware of his terminal cancer.
Gooper: [handing the briefcase back to her]: Thank you----of course, my relationship with Big Daddy is different from Bricks.
Mae: You’re eight years older’n Brick an’ always hadt’ carry a bigger load of th’ responsibilities than Brick ever hadt’ carry. He never carried thing in his life but a football or a highball.
Gooper: Mae, will y’let me talk, please?
Mae: Yes, honey.
Gooper: Now, a twenty-eight thousand acre plantation’s a mighty thing t’run (Act 3, page 81)
By all of this being said, Gooper is implying he take over the twenty-eight thousand acre plantation.
Which Big Mama then clarifies he’s still not “...dead and in his grave…”(Act 3, page 82) Gooper as his son should be devastated over the idea of his father's illness, but instead as it is shown, is more interested in what comes after the illness; death. Goopers reaction is unsympathetic and heartless under the circumstances, and will eventually cause bigger difficulties within the family. It will create deeper emotional wounds, and finally separate the union they all once had. Communication, love, commitment, and care should be priorities in relationships within relatives. Which shows otherwise, in Act 3 when the author once more uses conduplicatio to make notice that Big Mama is aware of Bricks drinking problem. Big Mama says, “ I know he’s drinking!”(Act 3, page 71) to Mae’s response, “Outside.” Act 3, page 71) to Big Mama's question asking where Brick was. By Gooper adding that, reveals how the rest of the family sees Bricks drinking as a dilemma, and are more critical of it, rather than supportive and accommodating. Which cause resentment, friction and detachment between loved ones. According to the organization Penn State, “One theme seen in this play is the idea of the dysfunctional, every-man-for-himself family. It is obvious throughout the script of the play that everyone has their own agenda in the family, and no one is really there to support each other as a "normal" family should be.” They are “dysfunctional” and there isn’t much support between them as there should
be. In Act 2, there is rivalry and confessions between son and father over the past, only to humiliate and offend. Big Daddy also insults his wife, revealing his actual feeling towards her, “All I ask of [Big Mama] is that she leaves me alone. But she can’t admit to herself that she makes me sick.” (Act 2, page 50). And also confirms he hates his own son, Gooper, Goopers wife and his grandchildren. “ I hate Gooper and his five same monkeys and that bitch Mae!” (Act 2, page 58). The only son he might even love is Brick, since he confessed to him with these words, “---But why in hell, on the other hand, Brick--should I subsidize a goddam fool on the bottle?--Liked or not liked, well, maybe even--loved!” ( Act 3, page 58), after telling him he won’t pass his twenty-eight thousand acres of land to his other son, Gooper, who he doesn’t even like. By this being said, he wants to forcibly know the reason why his son drinks. Brick is not interested in the conversation, but Big Daddy forces him by humiliating and offending him in many different ways until he finally has burst the truth out. Brick implies to Big Daddy he is dying of cancer, “ Mendacity is a system that we live in. Liquor is one way out an’ death’s the other…” (Act 2, page 68) Big Daddy was outraged, since he thought and mentioned earlier before Bricks response, that he has “...fifteen years or twenty years left in [Big Daddy]!” He learns that his family except Big Mama, was not only aware that he was dying, but lied to him about it. At the end of Act 2, Big Daddy damned his family, The beginning of Act 3, was when Big Mama found out of her husband's disease and was devastated. While Big Daddy and Big Mama were crushed over the news, Gooper and Mae still attempted to inherit the twenty-eight thousand acres of land. Bricks relationship with his father became farther, Margaret his wife still made an effort to conceive children with him, and everybody ended up isolated from each other.
That's just it about families, you will only get what you give out of the relationship, in this case, secrets, deceit, and greed was given, so detachment and distance were the results.