Summary of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Brief Biography of Tennessee Williams

  • Born in Columbus, MS; moved to St. Louis, MO as a child.
  • Family struggles: alcoholic father and hysterical mother.
  • Early writer; won $5 for an essay at age 16.
  • Attended University of Missouri and later graduated from the University of Iowa in 1938 after health issues.

Historical Context

  • 1950s South: Major demographic shifts; 6 million African Americans moved to Northern urban centers (1910-1970).
  • Rise of the Civil Rights movement; cotton farming's decline in favor of soybeans and corn.
  • Elements of wealth and racism in the play may not reflect the realities of the 1950s.

Related Literary Works

  • Williams's characters often mirror his life; inspirations include his mother and father.
  • Similar themes of familial tension found in his other plays: The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire.
  • Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller explores family dynamics and dreams.

Key Facts

  • Full Title: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
  • Written: 1955 in New York
  • Published: 1955
  • Literary Period: Realism
  • Genre: Family Drama/Tragedy
  • Setting: Big Daddy’s plantation in Mississippi Delta, 1950s
  • Climax: Brick confesses hanging up on Skipper during a crucial moment.
  • Antagonist: Gooper and Mae
  • Extra Credit:
  • Double Ending: Significant changes to Act III after director’s feedback.
  • Film Version: Williams disliked the 1958 film adaptation for downplaying themes of homophobia and sexism.

Major Characters

  • Margaret (Maggie): Ambitious wife aiming to regain Brick's affection; embodies desperation and determination.
  • Brick: Alcoholic husband, grappling with his friend Skipper’s death and underlying homosexual tensions.
  • Big Daddy: Wealthy, aggressive father struggling with impending death.
  • Mae: Gooper’s wife, eager to secure family wealth.
  • Big Mama: Brick’s devoted mother, facing denial about her husband's health.
  • Gooper: Brick's brother, feeling resentment towards him for parental favoritism.

Themes

  • Lies: Characters are mired in deception about health, relationships, and feelings, reflecting societal truths.
  • Unrequited Love and Sexuality: Explores deep familial and romantic tensions, particularly regarding male affection and the struggles between love and societal expectations.
  • Death: Especially through Big Daddy's character, highlighting mortality’s stark realities contrasted against desires for wealth and legacy.
  • Difficulty of Communication: Fragmented dialogues and interruptions symbolize the struggle to connect among characters.
  • Memory, Nostalgia, Regret: Characters idealize a happier past, complicating their present relationships.
  • Wealth: Drives character motivations, evidenced in schemes for inheritance and the desire for social stability.

Symbols

  • Brick's Crutch: Represents dependency on alcohol and defense against emotional confrontation.
  • The Bed: Symbolizes marital strife and longing.
  • The Console/Liquor Cabinet: Reflects characters’ attempts to hide from and cope with their realities, particularly through alcohol.