Cat on a Hot Tin Roof a play by Tennessee Williams, focuses on a seemingly dysfunctional relationship between the two main characters Brick and Maggie. The first act begins with Brick in the shower isolated, unable to hear or communicate with Maggie as she tries to shout over the noise of the water, this appears to symbolise their relationship. Brick seems to make no effort and is without interest to communicate with Maggie, he seems cold like the water of the shower and the snowy white surface of the bed, emotionless with his detached quality. This contrasts with Maggie who makes the only sustained contribution to their conversation, in an attempt to save their crumbling relationship shouting above the roar of the water. Maggie also drops in complimentary phrases into the conversation honey Baby in an attempt to gain a reply, with some emotion from Brick. This has no effect, as not only are Bricks replies short and emotionless, they are pernickety, and force Maggie to explain and justify every thing why dya?, Dont they? which frustrates Maggie into answering snappily Isnt that a good enough reason?
Tennessee Williams has cleverly used a name, which has similar characteristics to its character. Brick is introduced to us against a cold background of pale blue tiles and silver towel racks,, but his surroundings are not the only thing described as cool, He himself has the additional charm of that cool air of detachment His name also can be interpreted as him building a wall between himself and others especially his wife Maggie, other characteristics of a brick also describe him well, He is hard, isolated, impassive, detached and uncommunicative. All of these characteristics are reflected in his neglect of his relationship with Maggie.
As an audience some of the first images we gain of Maggie are very feminine and sensual ones. She stands in a slip of ivory satin and lace. The other images of her are ones of jealousy, of Mae as she has children no neck monsters. This jealousy is in the form of hate, towards the children of Gooper and Mae Bricks brother and sister-in-law, its to bad because you cant wring their necks. Maggie also seems to be the dominant figure in the conversation between her and Brick Maggies voice is both rapid and drawling. always continuing a little beyond her breath. This contrasts with Brick with his very short emotionless without interest input in the conversation often questions and asks for justification of what Maggie has said. This slight input is often unnecessary, as Maggie has grown used to speaking and thinking for Brick Why you know what theyre up to. As an audience we are presented an image of Maggie as being vulnerable, this is weakness with her strongest asset being her looks of which she is very aware, touches her breast and then her hips with her two hands. She is initially introduced as being A pretty young woman, but this powerful asset of hers is almost useless towards Brick as he denies the one thing she has confidence in sexuality and beauty Ive kept my figure. Big Daddy is the one who takes notice of her sensual shape as he Way he always drops his eyes down my bodyan licks his old chops!. The feminine way in which Maggie is described relates to the feline way in which she is also portrayed Why! am I so catty? she is like a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in the may she is unable to stay still Margaret moves about the roommoves on Maggies vulnerability is not only in Bricks naivety towards her figure but also in society I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof! as she is regarded as coming from a background poor as jobs turkey having to maintain some semblance of social position,. Maggie is guilty of committing mendacity she does not only lie to herself in expecting to revive her and Bricks sex life and relationship but her own lies have convinced her of it as she truly believes in it happening and its going to revive again
Bricks stubbornness and naivety keeps him isolated and oblivious from what is going on No, I dont know what theyre up to, this results in Maggie sometimes telling him Think of it Brick,. Maggies jealousy and determination to have children, is fuelled by the thought that her and Brick being totally childless and therefore totally useless! could result in them being cheated out of Big Daddys estate by Gooper and Mae, Bricks brother and sister in law Theyre up to cutting you out of your fathers estate,. Maggies desperation and desire for children is shown when Big Mamma approached the topic of children insensitively Shot, Maggie, you just dont like children.. Only to anger Maggie to reply strongly and truthfully I do SO like children! Adore them!
Maggie is also afraid that if Brick carries on devoting yourself to the occupation of drinking! could result in him being a perfect candidate for Rainbow Hill,. It is unclear whether on not Maggie is afraid of losing her husband or afraid of losing the chance of Big Daddys estate, because Bricks departure to a rehabilitation clinic like Rainbow Hill would certainly mean that Brother Man could get a-hold of the purse strings
Maggies also believes that her and Brick are favoured over Gooper and Mae by Big Daddy Big Daddy dotes on you, honey. And he cant stand Brother Man and Brother Mans wife, Maggie also believes that she is favoured over Mae, as Mae; shes downright odious to Big Daddy. Whereas she believes that Big Daddy harbours a little unconscious lech fo me.. Because he is sexually attracted to her the Way he always drops his eyes down my body drops his eyes to my boobs an licks his old chops! Ha ha!. All of these themes covered are what Tennessee Williams may have been describing when he used the word anxious to describe Maggie in the first sentence of the play A pretty young woman, with anxious lines in her face,
Maggies love for Brick is rarely in doubt as her emotions can suddenly change just by the sight of him Scream, monsters! [Turns to Brick with a sudden gay, charming smile. But this is in vain as she notices that he is not looking at her Brick is more interested in but into fading gold space this symbolises his lack of interest in Maggie and their relationship. Maggies constant effort to keep the relationship going and being disappointed has turned her bitter It is the constant rejection that makes her humour bitchy.. Until now Brick has been uncooperative towards Maggie but has not shown hatred He is watching her with a look that is not quite definable.- Amused? Shocked? Contemptuous? but this is not all part of those and part of something else.] this could be hatred towards Maggie.
Maggie has certain characteristics which could be described as animalistic, hand fluttering at her throat and her breasts and her long throat arched. She is never still and is always aware of her own beauty Margaret moves about the room as she talks, stops before the mirror, moves on.
Maggie bitchiness is most apparent towards Mae, she talks of her sarcastically when really she is jealous I dont envy her for!.
As Maggie talks on Brick pays no interest towards what she is saying absently, dreamily whereas Maggie gets quite exited as she talks gaily this contrasts Brick and his sarcastic tone Must have been kind of funny.
Bricks feelings towards Maggie get stronger and become hatred, this is the first time that Maggie is aware of it She catches sight of him in the mirror, gasps slightly, Brick attempts to avoid her and begins whistling softly, but Maggie has been shocked, and she so astonished she doesnt no how t describe it but it froze my blood!. But Brick denies any knowledge of what he is suppose to have done I wasnt conscious of lookin at you.
Throughout the first act we see Maggie treating life like a game a sudden image of her playing boys games as a child., a game she has to win. This is apparent when Brick provokes a fearful reaction in Maggie, but she can not stand to be beaten as she responds with Ive gone through this hideous! transformation, become hard! Frantic! after this response She is now recovering her power. But Brick dose not reply, ignoring any knowledge of her speech Did you say something?. Maggie attempts to provoke a reply, by showing her hurt Living with someone you love can be lonelier than living entirely alone if the one that you love doesnt love you. Brick does not let Maggie get the better of him and asks her Would you like to live alone, this causes Maggie to pause as she catches a hurt breath before she can reply NO! _ God! I wouldnt!, Maggie then has to control her emotions as She forcibly controls what must have been an impulse to cry out also We see her deliberately, very forcibly going back to the world which you can talk about ordinary matters. Maggie does this to get away from the emotional heartache. This proves that Brick is in control at the moment.
Through the act Maggie is complimentary towards Brick, I always thought drinkin men lost their looks but I was plainly mistaken. But this time it is only to lead up to her playing her trump, in what seems to be a game for Maggie It was just beginning to soften up Skipper when-. Once she has done her damage and hit Brick where he is weakest, she tries to condemn her remark as a mistake I never could keep my finger off a sore. This mention of Skipper triggers Bricks emotions, this is noticeable not only in his language but in the sudden change of length in his speech Maggie, shut up about Skipper. I mean it,, Bricks language becomes repetitive to emphasise his seriousness shut up about Skipper shut up about SkipperIm serious. Maggies determination to tell Brick the whole story This time Im going to finish what I have to say is not even dampened by Bricks fear of the truth shown by him inviting everybody up-stairs, as if possessed she carries on determined I cant stop myself! Id go on telling you this in front of them all,. The thought of violence Dont you know I could kill you with this crutch? doesnt scare Maggie d you think Id care if you did?. As the act nears the end Brick begins to calm as he returns to himself with his short speech and as Maggie dominates the conversation once again.
At the end of the first act, the relationship between Brick and Maggie seems very fragile and vulnerable. The relationship will last, but only long enough for Maggie either to win fortune from Big Daddys death with the assistance of Brick or for her and Brick to resolve their relationship and resume their lives by overcoming the hindrance of the death of Skipper as this holds them apart. The reason why the two are still together is mainly because Maggies determination not to be poor as Jobs turkey prevents them as she is afraid of returning to the life she had before she met Brick always had to suck up to people. Maggie is also afraid that Brick will never make love to her ever again. My interpretation of why Brick and Maggie are still together is because Maggie fears even more than being poor, she is afraid of growing old in poverty you can be young without money but you cant not old without money. This may be why she may have drawn her to loving a man who would not love her back Living with someone you love can be lonelier than living entirely alone! if the one that y love doesnt love you.. Tennessee Williams ends the first act in a crucial moment of uncertainty in the relationship between Brick and Maggie, to build tension and to keep the audiences attention. Tennessee Williams leaves it to Bricks last words, to undermine what has been leading to Brick and Maggie resolving their conflict. As Maggie says there is no reason why we cant have a child Brick alters the mood by leaving the end of the act on a cliff hanging uncertainty, with the words But how the hell on earth do you imagine that youre going to have a child by a man that cant stand you?. This is said as Brick is about to be rescued by the oncoming cavalry in the form of the family "Here they come!.
The intrigue in the relationship is what Tennessee Williams uses to keep the interest of the audience for act two, but who will be the stronger partner? Tennessee Williams leads us to believe that it will be Brick as he suddenly is portrayed as possibly being in control of the relationship. Maggie will survive so long as she can stay on the Hot Tin Roof.
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