Cat on a hot tin roof

The Last but Not the Least

The final play we watched in class, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams, represents a culmination of the themes present in all the plays we studied in English 100 and Drama 235. It touches upon the themes of Lies (Oedipus Rex), jealousy (Othello), sexuality or gender roles (A Doll’s House), and the American Dream or greed (Death of a Salesman).

The play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, handcrafted by Williams, is considered to be incredibly versatile. As a modern playwright, Williams drew inspiration from both the ancient Greeks and classical drama. However, it was his personal struggles that truly fueled his art and passion for writing. Williams grew up in the South, where he describes his childhood as “pleasant and happy.” Unfortunately, his family situation was not ideal due to his workaholic father, resulting in Williams being primarily raised by his mother. His father’s demanding personality led him to work as a salesclerk, a job he despised. To cope with his emotions, Williams turned to writing. This introverted outlet eventually led him to write numerous plays that captivated audiences, including his acclaimed work, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

In both the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, deception and falsehood are prevalent. This element adds intrigue and maintains interest in the plot. The protagonists in both narratives lead lives filled with lies. Brick is facing the consequences of his own uncertainties regarding his family. Initially, he believes that his devoted wife, Maggie, only married him for the inheritance that will be available when his father, Big Daddy, passes away. Similarly, he holds the same suspicions towards his mother, Big Momma, who has actually loved Big Daddy unconditionally throughout their entire marriage. Brick states, “Mendacity is a system that we live in.” He attempts to cope with his issues through alcohol, and eventually confesses to his father about the lifelong lies he has endured. Similar to Oedipus, Brick seeks solace in something that will deliver him from the harsh reality due to the presence of mendacity.

When individuals experience jealousy, it leads them to retaliate in subtle ways. This theme is demonstrated in both the play Othello by William Shakespeare and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the wives, referred to as the “cats,” are primarily motivated by the money that Big Daddy possesses as a result of his successful sugar cane plantation business. Similar to Othello, jealousy causes a chain reaction: Iago’s jealousy towards Michael Cassio ultimately leads Othello to become jealous of Cassio due to Iago’s malicious scheme. The intricate plot of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof also follows this pattern. The “cats” compete with one another to prove themselves deserving of Big Daddy’s inheritance. Maggie Pollitt, as an infertile wife married to Brick, feels insecure about their position and worries about how her father-in-law perceives them as a couple in terms of deserving his wealth. Mae, also known as Sister Woman, believes she and her husband Gooper are deserving due to their obedience to Big Daddy, including bearing children to carry on his legacy and Gooper becoming a corporate lawyer as he wished. Maggie expresses her concerns about her brother-in-law gaining control over their finances and potentially abusing that power.Maggie perceives herself engaged in a solitary rivalry against Mae and Gooper. Both Maggie and Mae harbor jealousy towards each other, as they scheme to secure Big Daddy’s inheritance by any means necessary. Nevertheless, Big Daddy’s affection for Brick, his aggressive nature, and his inclination designate Brick as the deserving successor.

Williams diverts his sentiments through writing, as he struggles with his personal and professional life as a playwright due to his homosexuality. In his play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, he portrays the character of Brick, who grapples with his own sexuality. Similarly, the issue of sexuality is explored in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, but in the context of strict gender roles. Nora, like Brick, is restricted by societal expectations as a wife. Brick finds it difficult to move on from the loss of his best friend, Skipper, and is constrained by his own sexuality in accepting the truth and loving his wife. The author discreetly tackles the sensitive topic of homosexuality, understanding that it is socially unacceptable and carries a negative connotation.Both the plays Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and A Doll’s House discuss the challenges faced by characters in breaking societal norms for acceptance in terms of sexuality and gender roles.

Greed is evident in both Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Both plays are driven by the pursuit of money, greed, and jealousy. The characters Willy Loman and Big Daddy both exemplify the desire for the American Dream. In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Big Daddy’s character is based on Williams’ own father, who was a salesman. While not a businessman like Big Daddy, Williams’ father possessed similar demanding and aggressive traits. Throughout the play, Big Daddy’s workaholic nature causes tension within his family, as his focus on providing money and material possessions overshadows his ability to show love and support. This lack of emotional connection drives Brick to seek affection and support from his best friend Skipper. Big Daddy’s wealth and desire for more money impacts Brick’s life, just as Willy’s obsession with fame and pride damages his relationship with Biff.Both Loman and Big Daddy cannot be satisfied with what they have and instead endanger their familial bonds due to their greed.

Is it a coincidence that the last four plays – Oedipus Rex, Othello, A Doll’s House, and Death of a Salesman – correlate and sum up in the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? Regardless, Tennessee William’s brilliant mind made it possible to create one of the greatest drama plays in history. His troubled childhood and personal life inspired him to write and create parallel plots in his plays. Despite Cat on a Hot Tin Roof stirring up controversial topics such as his homosexuality, it did not discourage him. Instead, he only continued to improve the story even further. Williams’ versatility leads to my observation that all four plays were relevant to this play because they all share the same themes, albeit in different ways of telling them. It was a great way to end English 100 and 235 drama class as everyone enjoyed and shared the sad and funny moments together – certainly an unforgettable experience with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof being The Last but not the Least.

Works Cited

1. Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Othello.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
2. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll’s House. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House, 2006.
3. Print. Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin Group, 1998.
4. Print. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex: Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Classics Series. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House, 2005.
5. Print. “Tennessee Lanier Williams.” 2012.
6. Biography.com 16 Oct 2012, 05:26 Williams, Tennessee. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. New York: New Directions, 2004. Print.