Cat On A Hot Tin Roof LitChart

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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

• When Written: 1955
INTR
INTRO
O • Where Written: New York
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS • When Published: 1955
Born in Columbus, MS, Williams moved to St. Louis, Missouri as • Literary Period: Realism
a child. His father was a heavy drinker, and his mother was • Genre: Family Drama/Tragedy
prone to hysterical fits. At age sixteen, the already prolific • Setting: Big Daddy’s plantation in the Mississippi Delta, 1950s
Williams won five dollars for an essay entitled “Can a Good • Climax: Brick confesses that he hung up on Skipper when
Wife be a Good Sport?” Williams attended the University of Skipper confessed his love to him.
Missouri, where he frequently entered writing contests as a
• Antagonist: Gooper and Mae
source of extra income. After Williams failed military training
during junior year, his father pulled him out of college and put
him to work in a shoe factory, which Williams despised. At age
EXTRA CREDIT
twenty-four, Williams suffered a nervous breakdown and left Double Ending. After sending his original text to director Elia
his job. He studied at Washington University in St. Louis and Kazan, Tennessee Williams wrote a significantly different
then at the University of Iowa, finally graduating in 1938. version of Act III to present on the Broadway stage, following
some of Kazan’s suggestions. Kazan had mentioned that Big
HISTORICAL CONTEXT Daddy seemed too important to disappear after Act II, that
Maggie wasn’t clearly likable enough, and that Brick didn’t
In the 1950’s, the Deep South was undergoing some major undergo enough of a character change.
changes, with African Americans moving out of the South to
urban centers in the North in drastic numbers (6 million people
Movie Version. Tennessee Williams apparently hated the 1958
moved between 1910-1940 and 1940-1970). The South was
film version of the play, featuring Elizabeth Taylor as Margaret
beginning to experience more tension between its black and
and Paul Newman as Brick. The film version, abiding by
white inhabitants with the early beginnings of the Civil Rights
Hollywood standards of the time, toned down Williams’s
movement, and in farming, cotton dominance was declining as
critique of homophobia and sexism.
more farmers turned towards soybeans and corn. In other
words, many of the things that are taken for granted in Cat on a
Hot Tin Roof, like the wealth and security of the cotton PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY
plantation and the easy relations between the Pollitt family and
their black help would likely not have fit into the real Mississippi In a suite at Big Daddy’s mansion on his estate, Brick showers
Delta scene of the 1950s. The play doesn’t explicitly reference and dries off as Margaret complains first about Gooper and
any of this, but it’s possible to take Big Daddy’s dying of cancer Mae, and then about Brick’s behavior, which has involved
as a symbol of the Old South’s decline as well. quitting work, drinking, and breaking his ankle while attempting
to jump hurdles on a high school track field. Margaret says
RELATED LITERARY WORKS Brick looks just as fit as he did before he started drinking
though, and reminisces about what a wonderful lover Brick
As with all of Tennessee Williams’s plays, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
used to be.
contains resemblances to characters from his own life. Just as
his mother was a model for Amanda Wingfield’s character in Margaret tries to get Brick to sign a card for Big Daddy’s
The Glass Menagerie, Williams’s father was a model for Big birthday present, but Brick refuses. The two struggle as
Daddy’s aggressive character in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Like The Margaret attempts to seize Brick, who pulls away violently and
Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire also revolve grabs a small chair to shield himself from her. They pause for a
around tense familial relations as well as memories, dreams, few moments before laughing, just as Big Mama calls through
and different characters’ ideas about escape. Arthur Miller’s the door.
1949 play Death of a Salesman also explores family dynamics Big Mama says she has wonderful news about Big Daddy. She
and failed dreams. reports that the tests for cancer came back negative, and all he
has is a spastic colon. Brick, hiding in the bathroom, doesn’t
KEY FACTS respond, and Big Mama tells him and Margaret to get dressed
before everyone comes upstairs for Big Daddy’s party. Big
• Full Title: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
©2016 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com | Follow us: @litcharts | v.005 Page 1

Mama then asks Margaret, quietly, whether Brick’s been loves him, and Brick responds, “Wouldn’t it be funny if that was
drinking or not, and then asks, more pointedly, whether true?”
Margaret makes Brick happy in bed, insinuating that it’s
Margaret’s fault Brick has turned to alcohol. Big Mama exits,
leaving Margaret indignant and alone. When Brick exits the CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS
bathroom, Margaret reveals that Big Daddy and Big Mama
were given false reports—Big Daddy is in fact dying of cancer, Margaret – Maggie is the self-proclaimed cat on a hot tin roof
and Big Mama will be informed after the party. of the play’s title. She’s attractive, ambitious, and desperate to
regain her husband Brick’s attention, which she lost after
Restless again, Margaret murmurs that she made her mistake interfering in his friendship with Skipper (ultimately leading to
when she told Brick about her fling with Skipper. Brick warns Skipper’s death). She’s worked hard to earn her status in life,
her to stop talking about Skipper, threatening her with his and she spends the play trying to find a way to stay at the top of
crutch, but Margaret continues. She talks about how close the ladder by inheriting Big Daddy’s estate, even as Brick
Brick and Skipper were, claiming that she and Skipper made drinks away their chances. She’s desperate to have a child with
love in order to feel closer to Brick. Brick hurls his crutch across Brick, and her desperation makes her shrill and catty—but she’s
the room at her while she hides behind the bed. Margaret not the only one. Although Maggie’s the only self-proclaimed
informs Brick that she’s been to a gynecologist in Memphis and cat in the play, all the characters have desires and regrets that
is in perfect shape to bear children. Brick comments that he make them jump and just trying to hold on.
doesn’t see how she could have a child with a man who can’t
stand her and won’t sleep with her. Brick – Brick is Margaret’s husband. Attractive, charming, and
once a professional athlete, Brick is now an alcoholic who
At this point, the guests arrive in Brick and Margaret’s suite, drinks out of disgust for all the lies people tell to preserve
with Big Daddy in the lead. When Margaret attempts to give societal harmony. He struggles with his friend Skipper’s death,
Big Daddy his present from Brick, another catty exchange his own role in that death, and the homosexual tensions
between Margaret, Mae, and Big Mama ensues, and Big Daddy surrounding their relationship. Despite his alcoholism, Brick is
bellows for everyone to be quiet. When Reverend Tooker still the favorite child of Big Daddy and Big Mama, who both
finishes a sentence in the silence, Big Daddy turns on him, and believe he most resembles Big Daddy.
when Big Mama comes to the reverend’s defense, Big Daddy
turns on her instead. She tells him that she’s loved him all these Big Mama – Big Mama is Brick’s mother. She’s loud, fat, and
years and rushes out of the room with a sob, as Big Daddy says devoted to Big Daddy, though Big Daddy believes otherwise.
to himself, “Wouldn’t it be funny if that was true…” Eventually, She’s ecstatic that his health report turns out well, but breaks
Big Daddy asks to see Brick, and they’re left alone together. down when she learns it’s all a lie, attempting to find solace in
her favorite son, Brick.
Big Daddy confronts Brick about his drinking, while also talking
about how much better he feels after the health report Big Daddy – Big Daddy is Brick’s father. He’s aggressive, rich,
confirming his lack of cancer. Brick claims that he drinks out of and can be brutally mean, admitting that he’s never cared for
disgust for mendacity, but eventually, he reveals the truth that anyone in his life except for Brick. He never much cared for Big
Skipper confessed his love to Brick over a long-distance call, Mama, and would prefer to chase women. He regrets that
and Brick hung up on him. Brick also reveals that Big Daddy is money can buy anything, except more life. He believes the
the only one who doesn’t know the truth of his own health health report that says he’s going to live, until Brick reveals the
report: that he does have cancer. secret that he has cancer.
Big Daddy, astonished, leaves the room, retreating down the Gooper – Gooper is Brick’s brother. A successful lawyer with
hall. The guests reenter, assuming Big Daddy has gone to bed. five kids (and another on the way!), Gooper nevertheless
They gather around Big Mama to deliver the truth about the remains bitter towards Brick for being the parents’ favorite
health report. Big Mama, in hysterics, rejects the trusteeship child. He brings the family together for Big Daddy’s birthday in
Gooper drafted in case of Big Daddy’s death and runs to Brick, an attempt to secure his own inheritance of the estate.
calling him her “only son.” She tells him it would be Big Daddy’s Mae – Mae is Gooper’s wife. She runs in respected social
dream to have a grandson from Brick. Hearing this, Margaret circles, but her family lost all their money at some point, so
announces that she is going to have Brick’s child, to the delight she’s just as eager as Margaret to inherit the Pollitt family
of Big Mama and the disbelief of Gooper and Mae. Big Mama fortune. Big Daddy describes her as “a good breeder,” having
rushes out to tell Big Daddy, as Mae confronts Margaret about given birth to five children with another on the way.
her lie before exiting with Gooper. Doctor Baugh – Doctor Baugh is the doctor who confirms that
Margaret locks away Brick’s alcohol and informs him that she Big Daddy’s test results reveal a malignant growth.
won’t unlock it until he sleeps with her. She tells him that she

Re
Revverend T Took
ooker
er – Reverend Tooker also attends Big Daddy’s say, “Wouldn’t it be funny if that were true?” Neither of them
birthday party. From the way he talks about memorials, it men can conceive of their wives loving them.
seems like he’s hoping the Pollitt family will offer the church a Sex and sexuality also play a big role in the play, as Brick
gift after Big Daddy’s passing. struggles with both his own possible homosexuality and his real
homophobia, believing that accusations of homosexuality
tainted the purity of his friendship with Skipper. Brick’s
THEMES alcoholism arises from an inner struggle with his own sexual
In LitCharts each theme gets its own color and number. Our feelings for Skipper, guilt at his role in Skipper’s death by
color-coded theme boxes make it easy to track where the ignoring Skipper’s feelings for him, or both, but Williams allows
themes occur throughout the work. If you don't have a color this to remain ambiguous. In any case, it’s clear that Brick’s
printer, use the numbers instead. views reflect those of a homophobic culture and that he can’t
stomach homosexual feelings in either himself or his best friend
Skipper, calling it an "inadmissible thing". Big Daddy also
1 LIES discusses sex in the play, saying that what he most wants to do
During Brick and Big Daddy’s major confrontation in Act II, is experience "pleasure with women". He doesn't want love,
Brick confesses that he drinks out of disgust with society’s doesn't even seem to believe in love. He wants only pleasure.
pervasive “mendacity,” which he describes as the system in Finally, Margaret, the play’s self-proclaimed cat on a hot tin
which people live. The system of lies he is referring to pertains roof, desires Brick and grows desperate for his attention, which
to the way society represses and lies about “inadmissible turns her catty and aggressive. Despite this aggression, her
things.” In the world of the play, there are two inadmissible sheer desperation and will to achieve what she wants make her
things: homosexuality and death, and the action of the play an alluring yet heartbreaking protagonist of the play, as she
resolves around the repression of Brick’s terror about and finally stoops to threatening Brick and bartering alcohol for sex.
repression of his possibly homosexual feelings shared with
Skipper and Big Daddy’s desire to escape death and the family’s 3 DEATH
lie about his health report.
Homosexuality is one of the two things that Brick calls an
These are not the only lies in the play, either. Mae and Gooper’s "inadmissible thing". The other is death, and it is explored
behavior during the negotiations also reveals holes in their primarily through the character of Big Daddy. Big Daddy
relationship, despite their desperate façade to appear as a believes that men, particularly wealthy men, have a single
loving, functional unit. Big Mama lies to herself about Brick’s overriding goal, which is to not die. He believes that every
likelihood of transforming into a stable family man once he has purchase wealthy men make as being a sort of hopeful but
a child. Finally, the entire play concludes with Margaret’s final doomed-to-fail effort to buy more life. After getting the
lie when she claims that she is pregnant with Brick’s child. Even positive health report, he seems determined to live to his
after telling this lie, however, Margaret remains in one sense definition of the fullest: one again ruling his plantation and
the most honest character in the play, as she’s determined to family as he sees fit and chasing women and sexual pleasure.
make this her lie true. But when he learns that he does in fact have cancer, all of his
assurance, strength, and power disappear. He rushes off in grief
2 UNREQUITED LOVE AND SEXUALITY and impotent rage, and is not seen again in the play. Only his
The unrequited love in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof centers on the howls of anguish are heard. For all his wealth and former
male characters, especially Brick and Big Daddy. Brick is the power, Big Daddy can't face death.
object of unrequited love for his wife Margaret, his friend Big Mama seems to believe that Big Daddy will find some
Skipper, and his parents Big Daddy and Big Mama. Their solace in the news that Maggie is pregnant, that Big Daddy will
energies—sometimes sexual, sometimes protective—propel find a sense of immortality in the son of his own favored son. It
most of the confrontations in the play, as they bounce off the is implied that Big Daddy's howls of rage and sorrow are in
cold, distant character of Brick. There are other instances of response to Big Mama's "happy" news, suggesting that Big
unrequited love as well, such as Big Mama’s love for Big Daddy, Daddy sees only one sort of immortality as worthwhile: his
and the tension between Mae and Gooper, which hints at own. He doesn't want to live on through others. He wants to
possible marital strife beneath their façade. This is summed up live. And neither he, nor anyone else, can.
in the repeated line at the end of the play, the parallel between
Big Daddy and Brick when their women—cats on a hot tin roof, 4 DIFFICULTY OF COMMUNICATION
desperate to be understood and to have their love
Big Daddy and Brick also discuss how difficult it is to
returned—tell Big Daddy and Brick that they love them. Both
communicate with others and especially with each other.
men, untouchable, respond under their breath to themselves,

Although they both speak, nothing seems to get through. As the have their child, even if she has to manipulate Brick using his
play progresses, we see that this is true for all the characters. In alcoholism.
the stage directions, they’re constantly overlapping each
other’s words, interrupting, and ignoring others. The difficulty
of communication is even evident in how long it takes to get SYMBOLS
everyone to organize around Big Mama in order to tell her
Symbols appear in red text throughout the Summary and
about the truth of Big Daddy’s cancer. Brick’s alcoholism also
Analysis sections of this LitChart.
plays a big role—first, he’s focused on drinking until he can hear
the “click,” and then once he hears it, he becomes even more
detached and removed from the conversations around him. BRICK’S CRUTCH
Brick’s crutch can take on several symbolic meanings. One
5 MEMORY, NOSTALGIA, REGRET explanation is that the crutch represents Brick’s dependency
The happiest moments in the play are the moments that exist in on alcohol; he relies heavily on both items to “maneuver”
the past, as the characters recall their prior existences. Both through the play. He also uses the crutch to throw up a defense
Margaret and Brick reference the beginning of their marriage against Margaret in the first scene, wielding it like a
as a happy time, for example, though their present reality weapon—just like he uses alcohol as a defense against family,
proves to be anything but happy. Brick also drinks because he drinking to escape the family’s confrontations. The crutch can
can’t let go of his relationship with Skipper—and his role in also symbolize Brick’s nostalgia and longing for the past, since
Skipper’s decline and death. Brick also speaks about how he acquired his injury while jumping hurdles on a high school
people like to do the things they used to do, even after they’ve track field. Finally, critics have also noted that Brick’s crutch
stopped being able to do them—hence, his accident on the high represents his sexual power or lack thereof, in the moments
school track field trying to jump hurdles. Similarly, Big Daddy when Margaret and Big Daddy take his crutch away or
speaks about pursuing women and regrets the fact that he threaten to.
didn’t pursue more women in his youth, instead expending his
sexual energy on Big Mama. THE BED
Additionally, Big Daddy and Big Mama’s desire for One of the main features of the set, the bed reminds the
grandchildren from Brick stem from a desire to preserve Big audience of all the sexual tension and marital strife that exists
Daddy—they believe that Brick, more than Gooper, is Big throughout the play. As Big Mama says, the rocks of Margaret
Daddy’s son and image, and a grandson fathered by Brick and Brick’s marriage lie in that bed. Margaret sleeps there
would represent a kind of immortality for Big Daddy and the alone at night, as Brick avoids the area and stays on the couch.
masculine family line. The very last struggle at the end of Act III takes place around
the bed, as Margaret snatches Brick’s pillow up from the couch
6 WEALTH and places it on her territory, the bed. Additionally, Margaret
and Brick are staying in the bedroom of the previous plantation
Wealth is the biggest issue for Margaret, Mae, and Gooper,
owners, Jack Straw and Peter Ochello, and the ghost of the
bringing them together for Big Daddy’s birthday celebration.
relationship between those two men hints at the homosexual
Mae and Gooper cozy up to Big Mama and Big Daddy, hoping
tension Brick tries so hard to avoid and deny throughout the
to inherit the plantation, while Margaret desperately tries to
play.
keep the family from judging Brick’s alcoholism and her own
childlessness, so that Big Daddy will still choose to hand his
land over to his favorite son, Brick. Margaret, in particular, THE CONSOLE/LIQUOR CABINET/HI-FI
mentions that she has been poor before, and that avoiding that In addition to the bed, Tennessee Williams specifically mentions
state is the source of her desperation—she also mentions that a giant console in his set directions. The console contains a
being poor has made her honest. radio-phonograph, television, and liquor cabinet. As Williams
Big Daddy, for his part, describes wealth and greed as failed notes, “this piece of furniture, this monument, is a very
attempts to acquire immortality. Although he can buy European complete and compact little shrine to virtually all the comforts
clocks, sex, and diamonds, he can’t buy more life, as his actual and illusions behind which we hide from such things as the
health report ultimately proves. Margaret’s final lie is also characters in the play are faced with…” Brick, in particular,
inspired by her desperation to acquire the family’s wealth—the continually reminds us of the console as he pours himself drink
moment that she finally stands up to Brick and throws out his after drink to repress his feelings surrounding his friend
alcohol is when Big Daddy’s inheritance is on the line; she will Skipper’s death. The console represents another sort of crutch

for Brick—it symbolizes the wall that he throws up to avoid •Theme T
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facing the ugliness of the situation around him.
1 2 3
QUO
QUOTES
TES
But Brick?!—Skipper is dead! I'm alive!
The color-coded and numbered boxes under each quote below
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret
make it easy to track the themes related to each quote. Each
color and number corresponds to one of the themes explained •Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Brick
in the Themes section of this LitChart. •Related themes
themes: Unrequited Love and Sexuality, Difficulty of
Communication
ACT 1 QUOTES •Theme T
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I'm honest! Give me credit for just that, will you please?
2 4
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret
•Related themes
themes: Lies One man has one great good true thing in his life. One great
•Theme T
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code: good thing which is true!—I had a friendship with Skipper.—You
are naming it dirty!
1
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick
•Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Margaret
When a marriage goes on the rocks, the rocks are there, right
there! •Related themes
themes: Lies, Unrequited Love and Sexuality,
Difficulty of Communication
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Mama
•Theme T
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characters
acters: Margaret
•Related themes
themes: Unrequited Love and Sexuality
1 2 4
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In this way I destroyed him, by telling him truth that he and his
2 world which he was born and raised in, yours and his world, had
told him could not be told.
Hell, do they ever know it? Nobody says, "You're dying." You •Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret
have to fool them. They have to fool themselves.
•Related themes
themes: Lies, Unrequited Love and Sexuality, Death
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret •Theme T
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characters
acters: Big Daddy
1 2 3
•Related themes
themes: Lies, Death
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Born poor, raised poor, expect to die poor unless I manage to
1 3 get us something out of what Big Daddy leaves when he dies of
cancer!
Yes, I made my mistake when I told you the truth about that •Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret
thing with Skipper. Never should have confessed it, a fatal error, •Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Brick, Big Daddy
tellin' you about that thing with Skipper.
•Related themes
themes: Lies, Memory, Nostalgia, Regret
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret •Theme T
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characters
acters: Brick
1 5
•Related themes
themes: Lies, Unrequited Love and Sexuality, Death
When something is festering in your memory or your

imagination, laws of silence don't work, it's just like shutting a

door and locking it on a house on fire in hope of forgetting that •Theme T
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the house is still burning. But not facing a fire doesn't put it out.
Silence about a thing just magnifies it. It grows and festers in 4 5
silence, becomes malignant.
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret And I did, I did so much, I did love you!—I even loved your hate
•Related themes
themes: Unrequited Love and Sexuality, Death, and your hardness, Big Daddy!
Difficulty of Communication
[…]
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2 3 4 Wouldn't it be funny if that was true…

•Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Mama, Big Daddy
ACT 2 QUOTES •Related themes
themes: Lies, Unrequited Love and Sexuality, Death,
Why is it so damn hard for people to talk? Difficulty of Communication
•Theme T
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•Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Daddy
•Related themes
themes: Death 1 2 3 4
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3 I'll smother her in—minks! Ha Ha! I'll strip her naked and
smother her in minks and choke her with diamonds and
smother her with minks and hump her from hell to breakfast.
We talk, you talk, in—circles! We get nowhere, nowhere! It's
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Daddy
always the same, you say you want to talk to me and don't have
a ruttin' thing to say to me! •Related themes
themes: Unrequited Love and Sexuality, Memory,
Nostalgia, Regret
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick
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acters: Big Daddy
•Related themes
themes: Death 2 5
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I think the reason he buys everything he can buy is that in the
3 back of his mind he has the crazy hopes that one of his
purchases will be life everlasting!—Which it never can be….
Yes, boy. I'll tell you something that you might not guess. I still •Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Daddy
have desire for women and this is my sixty-fifth birthday.
•Related themes
themes: Memory, Nostalgia, Regret
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Daddy •Theme T
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•Related themes
themes: Unrequited Love and Sexuality
5
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2 Maybe that's why you put Maggie and me in this room that was
Jack Straw's and Peter Ochello's, in which that pair of old
Jumping the hurdles, Big Daddy, runnin' and jumpin' the sisters slept in a double bed where both of 'em died!
hurdles, but those high hurdles have gotten too high for me, •Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick
now.
characters
acters: Margaret, Big Daddy
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick •Related themes
themes: Unrequited Love and Sexuality, Difficulty of
characters
acters: Big Daddy Communication
•Related themes
themes: Difficulty of Communication, Memory,
Nostalgia, Regret

•Theme T
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code: Maybe it's being alive that makes them lie, and being almost not
alive makes me sort of accidentally truthful…
2 4
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick
•Related themes
themes: Lies
No!—It was too rare to be normal, any true thing between two
people is too rare to be normal. •Theme T
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•Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick 1
•Related themes
themes: Lies, Unrequited Love and Sexuality,
Difficulty of Communication Oh, but St. Paul's in Grenada has three memorial windows, and
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code: the latest one is a Tiffany stained-glass window that cost
twenty-five hundred dollars, a picture of Christ the Good
1 2 4 Shepherd with his Lamb in his arms.
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Reverend Tooker
Why, at Ole Miss when it was discovered a pledge to our •Related themes
themes: Memory, Nostalgia, Regret, Wealth
fraternity, Skipper's and mine, did a, attempted to do a,
unnatural thing with—We not only dropped him like a hot •Theme T
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rock—We told him to git off the campus, and he did, he got!— 5 6
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick
•Related themes
themes: Unrequited Love and Sexuality Think of all the lies I got to put up with! Ain't that mendacity?
•Theme T
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code: Having to pretend stuff you don't think or feel or have any idea
of? Having for instance to act like I care for Big Mama!—I
2 haven't been able to stand the sight, sound, or smell of that
woman for forty years now!—even when I laid her!
Why are you so anxious to shut me up? •Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Daddy
characters
acters: Big Mama
Well, sir, every so often you say to me, Brick, I want to have a
talk with you, but when we talk, it never materializes. Nothing is •Related themes
themes: Lies, Unrequited Love and Sexuality
said. […] Communication is—awful hard between people •Theme T
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an'—somehow between you and me, it just don't—
1 2
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick, Big Daddy
•Related themes
themes: Death, Difficulty of Communication
A drinking man's someone who wants to forget he isn't still
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3 4 •Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick
•Related themes
Sit in a glass box watching games I can't play? Describing what I Nostalgia, Regret
can't do while players do it? Sweating out their disgust and •Theme T
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confusion in contests I'm not fit for? Drinkin' a coke, half
bourbon, so I can stand it? 4 5
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Brick
You been passing the buck. This disgust with mendacity is
•Related themes
disgust with yourself. You!—you dug the grave of your friend
Nostalgia, Regret
and kicked him in it!—before you'd face the truth with him!
•Theme T
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•Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Daddy
4 5 •Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Brick
•Related themes
themes: Lies, Unrequited Love and Sexuality

•Theme T
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1 2 4
ACT 3 QUOTES
SUMMARY AND ANAL
ANALYSIS
YSIS
Tonight Brick looks like he used to look when he was a little boy,
just like he did when he played wild games and used to come The color-coded and numbered boxes under each row of
home all sweaty and pink-cheeked and sleepy, with his—red Summary and Analysis below make it easy to track the themes
curls shining…. throughout the work. Each color and number corresponds to
one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Mama LitChart.
characters
acters: Brick
•Related themes
themes: Difficulty of Communication ACT 1
•Theme T
Trrack
acker
er code
code: Margaret marches into the As Margaret talks, Brick barely
bedroom, undressing, while answers or listens, introducing
4 the audience to how difficult the
Brick showers in the
connecting bathroom. She act of communicating will be
Brick, I used to think that you were stronger than me and I complains that one of throughout the play. Margaret in
didn’t want to be overpowered by you. But now, since you’ve Gooper’s “no-neck monsters” her slip—and yet ignored by
taken to liquor—you know what? –I guess it’s bad, but now I’m hit her with a hot buttered Brick—suggests the coming
stronger than you and I can love you more truly! biscuit, so she has to change. theme of (frustrated) sexuality.
Brick finishes his shower and While Brick's ankle, the way he
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret reluctantly engages in the can't just stand upright, suggests
characters
acters: Brick conversation, supporting his brokenness.
himself on the towel rack as he
•Related themes
themes: Unrequited Love and Sexuality 4
does so because he has a
•Theme T
Trrack
acker
er code
code: broken ankle. Margaret
continues to complain about
2
Mae and Gooper (Brick's
brother) and their five kids
And so tonight we're going to make the lie true, and when that's while standing in her slip.
done, I'll bring the liquor back here and we'll get drunk Margaret says that Mae and Margaret introduces the play’s
together, here, tonight, in this place that death has come into…. Gooper aim to cut Brick out of immediate scenario, which
Big Daddy’s estate, now that revolves around Big Daddy’s
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Margaret
they have a report confirming cancer and his wealth. Margaret
characters
acters: Brick that Big Daddy is dying of is trying to prevent Gooper and
•Related themes
themes: Lies, Unrequited Love and Sexuality, Death cancer. She continues to Mae from cutting her and Brick
•Theme T
Trrack
acker
er code
code: complain about Brick’s out of the inheritance, and this
behavior, which she says is desire to accumulate wealth
1 2 3 only making it easier for Mae brings the family together in one
and Gooper to make a case place. Brick, meanwhile, is clearly
against giving him part of the in some sort of freefall.
Oh, Brick, son of Big Daddy! Big Daddy does so love you! inheritance. Brick has quit
Y’know what would be his fondest dream come true? If before work, started drinking, and just 3 6
he passed on, if Big Daddy has to pass on, you gave him a child last night he injured his ankle
of yours, a grandson as much like his son as his son is like Big while attempting to jump
Daddy! hurdles on the high school
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Big Mama track field.

characters
acters: Brick, Big Daddy
•Related themes
themes: Difficulty of Communication

However, Margaret says that As Margaret talks, Brick barely When Margaret recovers and Brick rejects all of Margaret’s
Brick still has one big pays attention, and the constant gets Brick’s attention again, advances, returning none of the
advantage—Big Daddy dotes rejection only pushes her to talk she tells him that she gets affection that Margaret shows
on him and dislikes Gooper more and act cattier. Margaret is lonely. Brick tells her that him. In fact, when Margaret
and Mae. Margaret also very aware of the wealth and everyone gets lonely, but mentions that she’s lonely, rather
suspects that Big Daddy has a status of those around her, Margaret continues, informing than offering comfort, Brick asks
“lech” for her, from the way he including Mae’s background. him that living with someone her whether she’d like to live
stares at her body when she’s Margaret also introduces the you love can be lonelier than alone, forcing Margaret to
talking to him. She continues theme of sexuality when she living alone, when the person change the topic and reel in her
to tell Brick about the details mentions Big Daddy’s “lech” for you love doesn’t love you back. feelings. All conversation
of last night’s supper, how her, pointing to her own physical Brick asks whether she would between the two is very strained,
odious Mae and Gooper were, attractiveness, which she hopes like to live alone, and Margaret particularly as Brick makes no
talking about their children, Brick will notice. vehemently says no—before effort to engage or be pleasant.
and how little Big Daddy turning the conversation to
seemed to care. Brick doesn’t 2 4 6 more ordinary matters. She 2 4
seem to be paying much asks Brick whether he had a
attention to the conversation, nice shower and offers him an
however. Margaret continues alcohol or cologne rub. Brick
on, talking about how Gooper says that cologne rubs are nice
believes he took a step up on after a workout, but he hasn’t
the social ladder by marrying been working out lately.
Mae, when in reality, her family At this moment, as in other
Margaret replies that it’s
was only money, and then they moments in the play, the past
impossible to tell he hasn’t
lost that too. seems like a much better place
been working out—in fact, she
As Margaret continues to Margaret alludes to the fact that thinks he might have gotten than the present. It sounds like
make fun of Mae’s title as a she used to act better looking since he started Margaret was once happy with
former cotton carnival queen, differently—nicely—but to drink. She starts to mention their marriage, but
she suddenly notices the way circumstances have forced her to Brick’s friend Skipper before circumstances changed, and
that Brick is staring at her. change. Her reaction to Brick’s abruptly interrupting herself Brick no longer returns her love.
Frightened, she asks Brick why stare also emphasizes how much and apologizing. She starts The topic of Skipper is yet
he’s looking at her like that. distance there is between them reminiscing about how another subject Margaret knows
Brick claims that he wasn’t and how little they understand wonderful Brick was as a lover she should not talk about, yet
conscious of looking at her, but each other. and says that if she thought he another obstacle in conversation,
Margaret continues to speak. would never make love to her yet another secret or repressed
She says that she’s aware that 4 5 again, she would find a knife issue.
she’s gone through a and stab herself in the heart.
transformation and become She hasn’t given up hope, 2 4 5
thick-skinned and mean. however, and compares
herself to a cat on a hot tin
roof—trying to stay on the roof
as long as she can.

Margaret again asks what Brick is alternately silent and Mae enters, carrying the bow Mae and Margaret’s relationship
Brick was thinking of when he violent, making conversation of an archery set. She asks is another in which
was looking at her. She asks difficult. He loses his composure whether it belongs to Brick, communication fails, though
whether he was thinking of particularly when Skipper is and Margaret responds that neither party really tries. They
Skipper, and Brick ignores her, brought into the conversation. the bow is her Diana Trophy, both see the other as
as Margaret informs him that won at an intercollegiate competition for Big Daddy’s
the “laws of silence don’t 4 archery contest. Mae inheritance, so their exchanges
work.” Brick drops his crutch, reproaches her for leaving are full of catty remarks and only
and when Margaret tells him such a dangerous item around slightly masked insults.
to lean on her instead, he loses children, and a tense exchange Margaret’s Diana Trophy also
his temper, yelling that he ensues as Margaret puts away references her past, before she
doesn’t want to lean on her the bow. Mae tells Brick about was attached to this family and
shoulder. Margaret hurriedly her children’s musical marriage. Even back then,
hands him his crutch. performance for Big Daddy Margaret was a determined
after supper, and Margaret hunter, as her trophy, named
Margaret tells Brick that they Brick’s alcoholism is yet another
asks why Mae’s children all after the Greek goddess of the
mustn’t shout because the roadblock in his ability to
have dogs’ names—Dixie, hunt, symbolizes. The trophy
walls have ears—but she communicate with others. He
Trixie, Buster, Sonny, Polly. predicts the determination
believes that a crack in his uses alcohol as a means of
Mae asks Margaret why she’s Margaret has to get what she
composure is a good sign. dulling his senses and cares
so catty, and Margaret wants in the play. Though it's
Brick smiles over a new drink about little else, waiting for his
responds that she’s a cat. Mae significant, too, that Diana was
he has poured for himself and “click.”
starts to explain her children’s also the goddess of virginity,
says he only lost his temper
4 names before someone perhaps symbolizing both
because the “click” hasn’t
downstairs calls her away. Margaret's former purity and,
happened yet. He explains that
ironically, her current forced
he gets a “click” that makes him
"virginity" due to Brick's refusal
peaceful after he’s had enough
to sleep with her.
to drink.
Brick asks Margaret for a His exchange with Margaret 4 5
favor and tells her to keep her continues to be tense, as he asks Brick tells Margaret that being Brick's liquor is both a symbol of
voice down. Margaret her to be quiet so that he can catty doesn’t help matters, and and means to achieve his escape
whispers that she’ll keep her focus on his “click.” He is such a Margaret says she knows from the world. By saying she is
voice down if he agrees to drunk that he has forgotten his that—but she’s eaten up with spoiling his liquor with his voice
make this drink his last until own father's birthday. And yet longing and envy. Brick tells indicates how his escape is
after Big Daddy’s birthday Margaret doesn't care that he her that she’s spoiling his predicated on not
party, which Brick has has forgotten, just that he make liquor with her voice, and communicating. Meanwhile,
forgotten about. She tries to it seem like he didn't so they still Margaret says that she feels all Margaret again openly pines for
get Brick to sign a card for his have a chance at the money. It is the time “like a cat on a hot tin Brick, to Brick’s annoyance. It’s
present to Big Daddy so that noteworthy that Brick resists roof.” Brick’s response is that this constant rejection that
Big Daddy won’t know that lying. cats can jump off roofs and makes her feel like a “cat on a hot
Brick forgot his birthday, but land on their feet—he advises tin roof,” constantly jumpy and
Brick resists. 1 4
her to jump and take a lover. tense, just trying to hold on.
Brick says that they decided The conditions Brick mentions She says that she can’t see
on certain conditions when seem to imply lack of physical other men and wishes Brick 2
Brick agreed to continue living contact and not talking about would get fat or ugly so that
with Margaret, but Margaret certain things. Note also how she could stand their lack of a
retorts that they aren’t living physically difficult sex life.
together—just occupying the communication is in the Pollitt
same cage. She interrupts their household, with frequent
argument when she hears interruptions like this one, with
footsteps in the hall. Mae coming down the hall.

Margaret locks the door, and Margaret acts on her frustrations Big Mama yells for Brick again Brick continues to hide himself
Brick tells her not to make a and tries to use force to get Brick and then discloses that the away from the world, refusing
fool of herself. He tells her that to return her affections, while results of Big Daddy’s health even to speak with his mother.
she agreed to conditions, and Brick physically shields himself report were all negative—he’s This section is full of
she screams that she can’t from her. It is not a coincidence in fine condition, save for a miscommunication and
accept them and seizes his that he uses a chair the way a “spastic colon.” Big Mama is confusion, as Big Mama gives her
shoulder. He breaks away from lion-tamer does. Though they disappointed with Brick’s lack news to an unresponsive Brick
her and grabs a small chair to laugh, nothing is resolved. And of response, saying that she and Miss Sally interrupts the
block her. They pause before even in this intense moment, Big fell on her knees when she scene with her phone call.
breaking into laughter, at Mama interrupts them at the heard the news. She tells them Meanwhile, Mama's news about
which point Big Mama calls door. The house makes to get dressed, since Big Daddy's health report
through the door. uninterrupted communication everyone’s coming up to their introduces the idea of death—in
impossible. room to celebrate, on account this case it seems to be death
of Brick’s broken ankle. One of avoided.
2 4 the black servants interrupts
to say that there’s a Miss Sally 3 4
Big Mama says she has Big Mama comes in to bring
wonderful news about Big news about Big Daddy, but on the phone, and Big Mama
Daddy. Margaret opens the Margaret’s slip and the fact that shouts into the phone before
door while Brick hobbles into Brick has hidden himself away passing it on to Margaret to
the bathroom, but Big Mama distract her. Again, deliver the news about Big
meanwhile has entered communication is delayed. The Daddy’s health report.
through the other entrance, conversation here also furthers As Big Mama leaves the room, Big Mama makes assumptions
Gooper and Mae’s gallery the sense of competition she jerks her finger towards about Margaret and Brick’s
door. Big Mama tells Brick to between Margaret and Gooper the liquor cabinet to ask relationship that make it difficult
come out of the bathroom so and Mae, as Margaret seems to whether Brick’s been drinking, for Margaret to communicate
that she can give him the good be trying to make Mae and and Margaret pretends not to the truth of the situation—that
news. Meanwhile, she Gooper look bad in Mama's eyes. understand. Big Mama rushes it’s in fact Brick who does not
comments on Margaret The discussion of children also back and tells her to stop make her happy in bed. And, as
wearing only a slip, and foreshadows the end of the play. playing dumb. Margaret laughs will be revealed, the rocks in their
Margaret explains that one of and answers that he might marriage are to a large degree in
Gooper and Mae’s children 3 4
have had a highball after their bed. Margaret’s
used her dress as a napkin. Big supper. Big Mama tells her not unhappiness stems from the fact
Mama accuses Margaret of to laugh and that Brick started that she not only has to deal with
disliking children, but drinking after he got married. Brick’s lack of affection for her,
Margaret denies it—she says She asks whether Margaret but also his family’s. As she looks
she just likes well brought up makes Brick happy in bed, to in the mirror she seems to be
children. Big Mama responds Margaret’s indignation. losing hold of herself. She sees
that she ought to have some of Pointing at the bed, Big Mama herself becoming permanently
her own then and bring them that when a marriage goes on the tight, jumpy cat.
up well. the rocks, the rocks are
there—and leaves the room 2 4
with Margaret feeling alone
and fuming. Margaret rushes
to the mirror and asks, “Who
are you?” She answers herself
in a high voice: “I am Maggie
the Cat!”

Margaret straightens when Margaret tries to make Brick Margaret says that she’ll Margaret herself claims that she
Brick exits the bathroom. She realize how attractive she is by defeat Gooper and Mae is sticking with Brick because she
announces that she believes recounting how other men find though. She launches into a wants Big Daddy's money;
their sex life will revive as her attractive. Brick is still rant about having been poor all because she doesn't want to be
suddenly as it stopped, and indifferent, however, and even her life, always having to kiss poor.
that’s why she keeps herself pushes her to take a lover, which up to relatives she didn’t like,
attractive. She says that other she refuses to do. She’s just because they had money. 5 6
men still look at her and determined to hang on and get She says this is why she’s like a
recounts the story of one what she wants. It is never cat on a hot tin roof—it’s one
good-looking man who tried to entirely clear whether Maggie's thing to be young and poor, but
force his way into a powder refusal to do anything to let Brick she doesn’t want to be old and
room with her at a party. Brick divorce her results from her love poor too.
asks why she didn’t let him in, for him or her desire to gain Big
Margaret gets visibly upset Margaret brings up the past with
and she responds that she’s Daddy's money through him. It
again, moving restlessly about Skipper again, and Brick does
not that common and also may be that the answer is both.
the room as she says that she everything he can to try and stop
wouldn’t risk letting anyone
2 made her fatal mistake when her, even inviting everyone
catch her cheating. She doesn’t
she told Brick about the “thing upstairs when just few moments
want to give him any excuse to
with Skipper.” Brick warns her earlier he couldn't bear even to
divorce her. Brick responds
to stop talking about Skipper, talk to his mother. At first it
that he’d be relieved to know
but Maggie continues. She seems that Brick can't face the
that she took a lover, but
says that she and Skipper infidelity of his wife, but as she
Margaret says that she’ll take
made love, but they both did it explains that both she and
no chances—she’d rather stay
to feel closer to Brick. Brick Skipper loved Brick it becomes
on her hot tin roof.
says that Skipper is the one clear that he can't deal with the
Brick tells Margaret that she Margaret reveals the play’s big who told him first. Maggie possible homosexual aspect to
could leave him, but she lie—that Big Daddy doesn’t have doesn’t see why that matters his friendship with Skipper. His
refuses and adds that he cancer. He does! His coming and continues to speak, as comment that Skipper revealed
wouldn’t have a cent to pay for death has been hidden—been Brick turns and calls to a little the infidelity to Brick first is an
it except for what he gets from repressed. Big Daddy is dying, girl over the balcony, telling attempt to redeem Skipper, to
Big Daddy, who’s dying of and Mae, Gooper, and Margaret her to get everyone to come make him good and pure.
cancer anyway. Brick looks are all vying for a piece of his upstairs now. Margaret says Margaret's refuses to give into to
surprised and says that Big wealth. Brick, meanwhile, had that she couldn’t stop herself Brick's attempt to repress the
Mama reported that the been completely taken in by the from speaking, even if past.
results were good. Margaret lie. This will become more everyone were there.
reveals that both Big Mama important in hindsight, as Brick's 2 4 5
and Big Daddy were given a hatred of lying is revealed in Act
false story and that Big Mama II.
will find out the truth after the
night’s party. In any case, the 1 2 3 6
cancer is malignant, and this is
why Gooper and Mae have
been trying to convey Brick
and Maggie’s shortcomings to
Big Daddy before he makes a
will.

Margaret remembers a double Now the tension really starts to Ignoring Margaret, Dixie asks Brick’s surprisingly honest
date they had in school, during come out. Margaret's story Brick why he’s on the floor. response to the child reveals how
which it seemed more like makes clear Skipper's love for Brick responds that he tried to much he still lives in the past. He
Skipper and Brick were on a Brick. While Brick uses his kill her Aunt Margaret, but wants to go back to his days as
date, and the girls were crutch—his only support in his failed, and asks Dixie to fetch an athlete, throwing footballs
chaperoning. Brick interrupts physical brokenness—to try to his crutch for him. Margaret with Skipper, when their
the memory, threatening to hit shut Margaret up and in so doing explains that Brick broke his friendship was pure, good and (in
her with his crutch. He says preserve his only support in his ankle trying to jump hurdles on Brick's mind) uncomplicated. His
that his friendship with spiritual brokenness—the idea the high school track field, and jumping hurdles was a drunken
Skipper was the one true thing that his friendship with Skipper when Dixie asks Brick why he attempt to go back to those
in his life, and he accuses her of was pure and true and had no was jumping hurdles, he times. But you can't go back; and
making it dirty. Margaret homosexual overtones. Margaret replies that people like to do he broke his ankle trying.
denies this and says she’s seems to think that Skipper was what they used to do, even
aware that only Skipper ever the only one who harbored such when they’ve stopped being 5
harbored even unconscious feelings—and that it was sleeping able to do it.
sexual feelings for Brick. She with her that made him turn
Margaret tells Dixie to go Clearly, Dixie has either
reminisces about the completely to drink and then to
away, and Dixie points the cap absorbed what Mae has been
beginning of their marriage, die. But Brick's desperation to
pistol at Margaret, who loses saying or been conscripted to
which was ideal and happy, but shut her up suggests that
her temper and yells for Dixie help her mother in her "battle"
adds that eventually perhaps that isn't true.
to get out. Dixie says that with Maggie. The exchange also
something turned bad. Skipper
2 4 5 Margaret’s just jealous once again highlights the issue of
started drinking, and one
because she can’t have children, and along with Maggie's
evening, Margaret drank with
children herself. This leaves efforts to make sure that she can
him before accusing him of
Margaret shaken, and after conceive makes it clear that Big
loving her husband. He
Dixie exits, Margaret tells Mama's earlier comment about
slapped her and later that
Brick that she went to see a children was not idle: Maggie
night, they made
gynecologist in Memphis, and bearing Brick a child would play
love—afterwards, Skipper gave
the doctor confirmed that she a role in Big Daddy giving them
in completely to drinking.
can bear children. Brick says his money. Brick's sexual
Brick continues to try to attack Like the earlier interruptions by he doesn’t know how she’s rejection of Maggie is therefore
Margaret with his crutch as Mae and Big Mama, this one also going to have a child by a man doubly an issue for her: it hurts
she tells this story. She says arrives in the middle of an who can’t stand her, and her emotionally and sexually, and
that she knows what she did intense exchange between Brick Maggie responds that she’ll also affects her ability to get the
was wrong, but that Skipper is and Margaret, which doesn’t figure it out. She wheels money she craves. Now it is
dead and she’s alive. Brick allow them to carry the around and announces that Maggie looking to stop the
hurls his crutch at her and conversation any further. everyone is coming up to the conversation by using others as
misses, just as Mae and Margaret urges Brick to let go of room now. an interruption.
Gooper’s daughter Dixie runs the past—the ghost of
into the room with a cap pistol Skipper—so that he can be with 2 4
and shouts, “Bang, bang, her in the present. It's interesting
bang!” Breathless, Margaret that the child bursts into the
tells her that someone ought scene shooting an imaginary gun,
to teach her manners. doing imaginary killing. The
children seem to pick up the
violence inherent in the family.
Also note that Big Daddy's
"children"—Gooper, Mae,
Margaret, all seem to want him
to die so they can get his dough.
2 3 4 5

ACT 2 Moved by the spectacle, Big Big Mama’s speech makes
Mama again launches into a everyone uncomfortable because
A group enters, with Big Big Daddy is introduced—he is
speech about the wonderful they know that she’s
Daddy in the lead, followed by used to being the center of
results of the health report. unknowingly telling a lie about
Reverend Tooker and Gooper, everything, issuing orders, having
Margaret interjects, asking Big Daddy’s health report, so
who are discussing memorials. everyone do his bidding.
Brick whether he’s given Big Maggie interrupts her. Maggie,
Big Daddy interrupts the talk Reverend Tooker knows that Big
Daddy his birthday present Mae, and Gooper then get into
about memorials, asking Daddy is dying of cancer, and he
yet. Gooper bets that Brick their maneuvering to try to win
whether they think someone’s keeps talking about memorials as
doesn’t know what the present Big Daddy's love and money. Big
going to die. Reverend Tooker a hint to the family, hoping to
is, while Margaret opens the Daddy has no patience for it, or
laughs awkwardly, as Mae and secure some money for the
package. She sounds surprised for Tooker. Big Daddy is filling
Doctor Baugh appear, talking church after Big Daddy’s death.
as she pulls out a cashmere what is clearly his traditional
about the children’s Big Daddy's response shows that
robe, but Mae accuses her of role: whatever he wants, while
immunizations. Margaret tells he believes the health report—he
faking the surprise, since she telling everyone else what to do.
Brick to turn on the Hi-Fi. thinks he's going to live. And so
happens to know that Yet Big Daddy's anger at Tooker
When he ignores her, she turns the people surrounding Big
Margaret purchased it last talking about memorials
it on herself, and Big Daddy Daddy take on a different tone:
Saturday. As the conversation indicates Big Daddy's intense
shouts to shut it off again. The he thinks it is normal, little fish
gets cattier, Big Daddy bellows fear of death.
speaker is turned off following after a big fish, but
for quiet. The reverend
immediately, as Big Mama really Tooker and everyone else 1 3 4 6
unfortunately finishes a
enters the room and calls for are sharks drawn by Big Daddy’s
sentence in the silence after
Brick. Big Daddy shouts to wealth. Notice also Big Daddy's
everyone stops speaking, and
turn the speakers back on cruelty toward Big Mama—his
Big Daddy turns on him,
again, and everyone laughs, at effort to drown out her ability to
accusing him of speaking about
Big Mama’s expense. She communicate by turning on the
memorials again.
herself laughs it off and radio—and Big Mama's sad
approaches Brick. response. Their relationship is As the atmosphere in the room Big Daddy wants to know what
here revealed: he despises her; grows uncomfortable, Big happened to Brick last night, and
she is desperate to please him. Daddy turns to Brick and asks he doesn’t mind destroying the
what he was doing on the high conversation in the room in order
3 4 6 school track field last night. In to do it. Big Daddy's notion of
Big Mama fusses over Brick Big Daddy clearly has little crude language, he asks sexuality is crude and masculine.
and flops down on the couch, patience or affection for Big whether Brick was laying a He thinks nothing of asking Brick
pulling the reverend onto her Mama, though she seems very woman, while Mae quickly if he was "laying a woman" in
as a joke. Big Daddy bellows at sincere in her affection for him. ushers the reverend out on front of Brick's wife. Though
her to stop joking around, and The choir of Mae’s children is the gallery. Brick denies it, and perhaps he is being so crude in
Big Mama signals the cue for obviously contrived, a naked ploy Big Daddy continues to order to shock the conversation
the black servants to bring in to get Big Daddy's affection and, interrogate him, asking into truth, because he suspects
Big Daddy’s birthday cake and therefore, his money. But it raises whether he was drunk. Big the truth about Brick/Skipper?
champagne. Everyone except the issue that the birthday song Mama and Margaret try to
change the subject, drawing 2 4
Brick sings “Happy birthday to is contrived too, an example of
you,” and when that’s finished, the kind of lie that people create attention back to the cake, but
Mae signals at her children to to depict social harmony and Big Daddy bellows in disgust
sing another song about how project a non-existent love. Only for them to stop. Meanwhile,
much they love Big Daddy and Brick refuses to participate. Gooper has retreated to the
Big Mama. gallery as well.
1 2

Big Daddy says that he’s tired Big Daddy rejects Big Mama’s Big Daddy hears a sound from Here’s another example of a
of Big Mama trying to take affection, believing that she has the bedroom and asks who’s supposedly private conversation
over because she thought he ulterior motives for caring for there. Mae appears by the being interrupted. Even if the
was dying of cancer. Big Mama him. He believes that her gallery entrance, and Big topics being discussed in the play
tells him to hush, but he affection for him is a lie, an effort Daddy tells her to stop spying. weren’t so sensitive, conversation
continues. He says that he to take what he built and have it Mae accuses him of being would be difficult in this
made the plantation as for herself. The play explores unkind to those who love him, household. Mae accuses Big
successful as it was by himself, similar ideas with Maggie and to which Big Daddy tells her to Daddy of not returning the love
and he refuses to let her take it Brick, as Maggie seems to love shut up. He says that he plans of those around him—an
over now. Big Daddy claims Brick, to be impossibly physically to move Mae and Gooper out accurate assessment in the case
that his colon has been made attracted to Brick, and to want of the room next to Margaret of Big Mama, though Mae’s own
spastic by disgust for the money Brick may inherit. Big and Brick’s, since all they do is motives for caring for him are
hypocrisy and liars. Big Mama, Daddy sees love as a lie, though, spy and report their findings to suspect. Yet it's important to
upset, exclaims that she has a way for women to take what Big Mama. Mae leaves the note that Big Daddy thinks Big
loved him all these years, but belongs to men. Incidentally, Big room dramatically, pressing a Mamma has the same motives!
he doesn’t believe her. She Daddy's comment that "liars" handkerchief to her nose. For the characters, love and
rushes out onto the gallery, as gave him a spastic colon is more selfishness and become all
Big Daddy says to himself, true than he knows: the "spastic tangled up.
“Wouldn’t it be funny if that colon" is itself a lie, and so it was
was true…” literally given to him by liars. 2 4
Big Daddy tells Brick that Mae As Big Daddy turns the
1 2 3 4
and Gooper have reported conversation back to Brick and
Big Daddy asks to speak to Even Brick’s small actions—like that Brick won’t sleep with Maggie—to their sexuality or lack
Brick, and Margaret delivers wiping a kiss—reject Margaret, Margaret. He asks whether thereof—Brick again retreats into
him, exiting onto the gallery and Big Daddy notices this. Brick this is true and tells Brick to alcohol. Conversations in the
with a kiss, which Brick wipes and Big Daddy, when alone, get rid of Margaret if he play are often paused as he
off. At this point, Big Daddy seem to be able to communicate doesn’t like her. Brick, refreshes his drinks or waits for
and Brick are the only ones left more directly and bluntly than meanwhile, has gone to the his “click.” Big Daddy notices how
in the bedroom, and all the the other characters do. Brick liquor cabinet to freshen his Brick uses alcohol to block
others are out on the gallery. easily reveals what everyone else drink, and Big Daddy tells him communication, but also how
Big Daddy compares Margaret is trying to reveals: that Mae and he has a real liquor problem. communication is just difficult in
and Mae, and he and Brick Margaret both want a piece of He advises Brick to quit general.
agree that they both look like a Big Daddy’s inheritance. Yet drinking and stop throwing his
couple of cats on a hot tin roof. Brick doesn't reveal the real life away. Brick agrees, without 1 4
Brick says it’s because they’re secret, that Big Daddy's belief really listening. Big Daddy
trying to get a piece of Big that he's going to live on for some comments that it’s hard to
Daddy’s land, and Big Daddy time is wrong. Their truly communicate.
responds that they have a communication is not complete.
surprise coming to them—he’s
not planning to die for a while 2 3 6
yet.

Meanwhile, the clock chimes, This is a key speech by Big Big Daddy announces to Brick Big Daddy's cruel treatment of
and Brick remarks on how Daddy, linking his wealth and his that he’s contemplating Big Mama even as he tells Brick
pleasant the chiming sound is. health. He sees the source of "pleasure with women." He about his desire to experience
Big Daddy says that he and Big men's desire for wealth as a hope says that he slept with Big "pleasure with women" shows
Mama bought the clock on for immortality. Of course, this is Mama until five years ago, how little he cares for love, either
their European tour. Big a doomed hope, as the one thing when he was sixty, and he Mama's in specific or in general.
Daddy adds that he’s lucky he’s that wealth can't buy is never even liked her. Big Mama Papa sees women as a means to
a rich man because Big Mama immortality (though one might bustles through the room on pleasure, not to love. Mama,
bought so many items on that also argue that the play also the way to answer the phone meanwhile, tries to bear up
tour. He tells Brick to guess demonstrates that it can't buy down the hall. Big Daddy tells under his
how much he’s worth, and love). His comment about the her she should go through a mistreatment—seeming to think
when Brick doesn’t respond, Arab women also indicates how different room, but she just that endurance will win Big
Big Daddy informs him that he sees sex, perhaps from all makes a playful face at him and Daddy's love—but ultimately
he’s worth ten million dollars women—as something men hurries through. Brick has breaks down under his ill
and has 28,000 acres of the want, but something women use started to hobble towards the treatment of her. Brick's ongoing
richest land on this side of the to get money and comfort. He gallery doors to leave, but Big discomfort with any topic
Nile. He concludes on a remembers his trip to Europe Daddy tells him that the talk’s touching on sexuality makes him
somber note, however, saying with his wife not for its fond not finished yet. Big Mama once again try to escape, but Big
that a man can’t buy his life. He memories, not for the time he finishes talking to Miss Sally on Daddy is dead set on a
continues to reminisce about spent with her or the things they the phone, but when she tries conversation, on communication.
his trip to Europe, saying that saw and experienced to walk back through the
he has enough money to feed together—he remembers it for room, Big Daddy closes the 2 3 4
all of Barcelona, and the things they bought and what, door and doesn't let her in.
remembers how an Arab ultimately, they couldn't buy. After entreating Big Daddy to
woman sent her naked child to take back his earlier words
him to proposition him for sex. 3 5 6 about her trying to take over
He claims that rich men hoard the plantation, she retreats
their money to buy items, down the hall with a sob.
however, because they hope
that one of their purchases will
turn out to be life everlasting.
Brick pours himself another Brick dislikes communication of
drink and informs Big Daddy all kinds. He does not want to
that he’s talking a lot tonight. interact with people. It may also
Brick says that he prefers be that he is uncomfortable with
"solid quiet" and asks whether Big Daddy's thoughts about sex.
Big Daddy’s through talking to Big Daddy's question about
him. Brick tells Big Daddy that being terrified is important, in
they never truly talk—he tries that the play posits two things
to look like he listens, but he that men are so terrified of that
never actually listens. they cannot face or discuss them:
Meanwhile, Big Daddy closes death and homosexuality. Or as
the gallery doors so that he Brick will later describe them: the
and Brick are alone, and asks "inadmissible things."
Brick whether he’s been
downright terrified of anything 2 3 4
in his life. Big Daddy continues
on to say that he thought he
really had cancer. With the
new health report though, he
feels much better.

As Big Daddy goes back to As Big Daddy comments on his The children start chanting Gooper and the children
contemplating pleasure with desire for pleasure and a young that they want Big Daddy, and interrupt this time, breaking up
women, talking about how he women it begins to seem that he Gooper appears in the gallery the flow of conversation again.
plans to use his wealth to may see sex just as he sees door to ask him to come and But Big Daddy wants this
secure a young woman, Brick wealth: as a way to achieve a see the rest of the family, but conversation with his son, the
rises with effort. Big Daddy kind of immortality, or at least to Big Daddy shuts him out. He only person who he does love.
asks Brick what makes him so feel immortal. An aging woman demands to know who’s been Though one might conjecture
restless, and Brick responds just makes Big Daddy feel his lying to Brick. Big Daddy says that he loves Brick because he
that the “click” hasn’t own age. Meanwhile, Big Daddy he knows all about mendacity, sees himself in Brick—that Brick
happened yet. He explains the finally recognizes the extent of having had to lie about caring in this way gives Big Daddy a
click he gets when he drinks Brick's alcoholism, and in for Big Mama, for Gooper, for kind of immortality. So Daddy's
enough alcohol, and Big throwing the crutch he seems to Mae—in fact, he says the only love, too, might be selfish.
Daddy, astonished, calls him an be symbolically demanding that one he’s ever had any devotion Whatever its source, Brick
alcoholic, which Brick calmly Brick give up all his "crutches" to in his life is Brick. He says doesn’t return Big Daddy’s
accepts. Brick attempts to (including alcoholism) and face there’s nothing to live with affection—the entire play is a
leave again, saying that this and talk with Big Daddy for real. other than mendacity. Brick web of unrequited affections. As
talk is like all the others they’ve contradicts him, holding up his for lies, Big Daddy sees them as
had, going nowhere. Big Daddy 2 3 4 glass and saying that liquor is just something you have to live
seizes Brick’s crutch and something else to live with. with. Though it's interesting that
tosses it across the room. Big Daddy sees himself as the one
Daddy continues to talk about who is lying, here. He doesn't
his test results and how he comprehend that people might
believed he had cancer, and be lying to him. Brick clearly
Brick makes a wild dash for his would prefer to drink himself to
crutch. death than to lie or be lied to just
to make things look neat and
Big Daddy yells at him to stay, Like Maggie, Big Mama is
pretty.
and Big Mama rushes in to see constantly facing rejection. Brick
what all the yelling is about. uses alcohol as a defense, but 1 2 3 4
Big Daddy tells her to get out, notice how Big Daddy turns
and she runs out, sobbing. Brick's reliance on alcohol Big Daddy informs Brick that Big Daddy is more invested in the
Brick attempts to hobble against Brick, in essence holding that’s not living. He says that conversation than Brick is,
towards the gallery again, but Brick hostage until he speaks. he couldn’t decide who to showing how much he cares for
Big Daddy takes his crutch Maggie will do something similar make his will out to before the his son, who doesn’t return the
again. Big Daddy demands to later in the play. Brick's hatred of health report came in—to give affection. Brick is also the only
know why Brick drinks and liars and lying echoes Big it to Gooper and Mae or to one in the play (other than Big
refuses to return the crutch Daddy's comment that liars and support Brick as he rotted Mama) who is not concerned
until he gets an answer. He hypocrisy are what gave him a away. Brick responds with about Big Daddy’s wealth. Big
tells Brick that he’ll pour him a "spastic colon". indifference before heading to Daddy, well aware of his own
drink if Brick says why he the gallery door to watch Big material worth and the power
drinks. Brick responds that he 1 2 4 Daddy’s birthday fireworks. that comes with it, is stumped by
drinks out of disgust. Big Big Daddy stops Brick. He says this indifference.
Daddy asks what he’s that they shouldn’t leave the
conversation there, without 2 3 4 6
disgusted with, but Brick
refuses to say until Big Daddy being fully honest with each
pours him a drink. Brick other. Brick says that he’s
responds that he’s disgusted never lied to Big Daddy, but
by mendacity, or lying and liars. they’ve never truly talked to
each other either. Big Daddy
wants to continue the
discussion about Brick’s
drinking.

Big Daddy suggests that Brick Brick again shows regret that he’s Brick says that there was a The treatment of the pledge in
goes back to sports no longer as athletic as he once pledge at his former fraternity Brick's past deeply affected him,
announcing, but Brick was. This nostalgia is painful to who was found attempting to and made clear deeply
responds that he hates to sit in him and he has trouble letting go do an “unnatural thing” and embedded society’s homophobia
a glass box watching games he of the past, as evidenced by his was chased off campus. The in his mind. But Big Daddy
can no longer play. Big Daddy ankle injury on the track field. pledge fled all the way to pushes on, trying to uncover
comments that Brick started But now Big Daddy really starts North Africa. Brick asks why Brick's wounds, to truly
drinking when his friend to push, probing into what he true friendship between two communicate. But Brick sees this
Skipper died. There’s a silence suspects to be the real source of men can’t be respected as effort to talk about "inadmissible
for a few moments, and then Brick's alcoholism: Skipper's something pure and decent. things" as an attack and decides
Brick asks what Big Daddy is death. Brick's fear that people Big Daddy once again says to attack himself by revealing the
suggesting. Big Daddy says are talking about how "off" his that it’s hard to talk, but truth that Big Daddy doesn't
he’s suggesting nothing, but friendship with Skipper was instead of letting it go, he asks know. First, though, Brick gives a
that Gooper and Mae indicates his related fears about why Skipper started drinking. version of Skipper's death that
suggested that there was his own possible homosexuality Brick decides he’s going to tell mimics Maggie's earlier version
something off about Brick’s and his fear that what he Big Daddy the truth about the of it. And which makes Maggie
friendship with Skipper. Brick thought of as pure society will health report. First, though, he the guilty party—the liar who
loses his composure, asking think of as being dirty. grabs another drink and starts turned Brick and Skipper's
who else has made the telling Big Daddy his version of friendship into something dirty,
suggestion. 2 5 what happened with Skipper. by convincing Skipper of her lies.
He says that Margaret was
Brick yells at Big Daddy for The characters of this play have 1 2 3 4 5
jealous of their friendship and
accusing him, his son, of being an uncanny way of intruding
started planting in Skipper the
a queer. As Big Daddy denies when conversations of reaching
idea that he was in love with
this, Reverend Tooker steps in their most critical points.
Brick, and Skipper went to bed
to look for the bathroom. Big Reverend Tooker’s interruption,
with Maggie to prove it wasn’t
Daddy directs him on his way, in particular, is timely, since Big
true. When that didn’t work
and continues talking. He says Daddy and Brick are debating
out, however, he believed it
he’s seen a lot in his life, and homosexuality, a taboo subject
was true.
that the previous plantation (especially when it comes to
owners, Jack Straw and Peter religion). And Brick is very Big Daddy continues to press Big Daddy senses some
Ochello, had a special affected by the taboo nature of Brick, believing that he dishonesty in Brick’s story and
relationship. When Jack Straw the subject—he seems to feel purposefully left something pushes for the truth. Brick
died, Ochello stopped eating shame both that others might out of the story. Finally, Brick reveals that his difficulty
and died too. Brick wheels think he performed "sodomy" admits that Skipper called communicating or event talking
around and throws his glass and to fear that perhaps he did Brick long-distance to give a about homosexuality (in this case
across the room, shouting at have homosexual feelings. It's drunken confession of love, hanging up the phone) led to his
Big Daddy. Completely losing Brick who sees homosexuality as and Brick hung up on him. That friend’s death. Big Daddy
his composure, Brick accuses dirty. Interestingly, Big Daddy was the last they spoke to each observes that Brick's disgust with
Big Daddy of insinuating that seems less concerned. He seems other. Big Daddy tells Brick liars is actually disgust with
Brick and Skipper performed to bring up Ochello and Straw that his disgust is really with himself, as he was unable or
sodomy together. He charges not to attack Brick (which is how himself for digging the grave of unwilling to face the truth of his
Big Daddy with comparing Brick takes it) but to say that this his friend before he’d face the relationship with Skipper,
Brick and Skipper to a pair of is something that happens in life. truth with him. whatever that truth was.
dirty old men like Ochello and Notice here how now when Brick
Straw. Brick drops his crutch loses his crutch his father tries to 1 2 4
and falls without noticing the help him, support him.
pain, while Big Daddy helps
him up, trying to calm him 2 4 5
down.

Brick says that no one—Big Big Daddy imagines himself as ACT 3
Daddy included—can face the the bringer of truth. But now he
Everyone but Brick trickles Big Mama’s little lie about Big
truth. Brick blurts out that must face the truth himself. And
back into the room, calling for Daddy being very happy to see
everyone but Big Daddy while the truth drives Brick to
Big Daddy. Big Mama says the family is a perfect example of
knows the truth of the health alcoholism, it drives Big Daddy to
that she believes Big Daddy the type of mendacity that Brick
report, for example. As Big grief and rage. Brick is beyond
has left because he was just rejects—the kind of lie that
Daddy faces this revelation, caring about living or dying; but
worn out, but was really very society teaches us to spread in
Brick swings around on his that is all that Big Daddy cares
happy to see family. Margaret order to maintain social
crutches, finally escaping to about. And now he must face
goes to the gallery to fetch harmony. It's unclear if Mae is
the gallery. Big Daddy shouts both his imminent death but
Brick, while Big Mama starts to expressing true emotion for
for Brick, and Brick returns to also—as his rage at liars
get nervous that the family is Mama here, or is just continuing
apologize, admitting it’s hard shows—the understanding that
gathering around her. Mae to try to ingratiate herself with
for him to understand that the people around him knew, and
suggests that Brick said Mama while driving a wedge
anyone cares whether they live whether out of "love" or
something he shouldn’t have between Mama and Brick. Brick,
or die anymore. Big Daddy selfishness, were making him into
said to Big Daddy, and Big for his part, after being forced to
passionately condemns all liars something ridiculous—a dying
Mama wants to know what reveal himself, once again rushes
before leaving the room and man who did not know it, being
that might be. Before Gooper to alcohol to protect himself from
retreating down the hall. preyed upon by those he
can say anything, Mae rushes feeling anything.
Down the hall, there is the considers beneath him. The slap
over to Big Mama and gives
sound of a child being slapped. of the child is ambiguous, but it 1 3 4
her a hug, which Big Mama
It runs through the room, can be argued that it
impatiently pushes off. Big
crying, and out of the hall door. demonstrates the way that rage
Mama starts talking about
and violence are passed down, or
Brick’s drinking, as Brick
that Big Daddy can't stand the
appears in the room behind
idea of a child living on while he
her. Brick immediately heads
himself dies.
for the liquor cabinet.
1 3 Margaret tells Brick to sit with The truth finally comes out to Big
Big Mama as they deliver the Mama, who doesn’t handle it
news, but he tells Margaret to well. Her hysterics, however, are
sit with her instead. Gooper further evidence that her
and Mae reveal the news that affection for Big Daddy is
Big Daddy actually does have genuine. She even denies Gooper
cancer. In hysterics, Big Mama as her son based on Gooper's
calls for Brick, her “only son.” dislike of Big Daddy. She has, it
This statement offends Mae seems, completely sublimated
and Gooper, and Gooper asks herself to Big Daddy. Tooker has
what that makes him. Big made his efforts to secure money
Mama responds that Gooper for the church, now he leaves
never liked Big Daddy. when things get rough.
Reverend Tooker slips out.
Doctor Baugh leaves a 1 2 3
package of morphine on the
table in case Big Daddy has
pain, and then he leaves as
well.

Big Mama tells Margaret that Gooper and Mae reveal how Meanwhile, Brick is drinking Brick’s alcoholism again acts as a
she’s got to help get Brick much of this meeting revolves and singing to the moon. Big barrier between him and the
sober again so that he can take around Big Daddy’s inheritance, Mama says that he looks just others, removing him from the
hold of the estate, which sends as Margaret accuses them of like he did when he was a little conversation. Big Mama still
Gooper and Mae into a panic. greed. Gooper also references his boy. Big Mama tells Brick that dotes on him, however, even
They say that Brick is much too past—his own unrequited Big Daddy’s fondest dream though he’s unreachable—she
irresponsible to take hold of affection for Big Daddy—and would be to have a grandson reaches into her memory of Brick
things, and Margaret comes to reveals his resentment towards from Brick. Mae responds that in order to love him. Big Mama's
his defense, saying that his parents for their favoritism. it’s too bad Margaret and comment that Big Daddy would
Gooper and Mae’s campaign As the situation becomes tenser, Brick can’t oblige. In response, like Brick to have a son indicates
against Brick is founded communication also breaks Margaret grows determined another way that Big Daddy
completely in avarice and down further, with insults coming and says she has an might achieve
greed. Gooper, furious, admits out into the open. announcement to make. immortality—through the line of
that he does, in fact, resent Margaret announces that she his one son whom he loves and in
Brick and Big Daddy’s 2 3 4 5 6 and Brick are going to have a whom he sees himself. Seeing an
favoritism, but he knows child, and Big Mama gasps in opportunity, Margaret tells the
enough to protect his own happiness, while Gooper and play’s final lie. And just as Mama
interests. Mae and Gooper Mae dismiss the news as false. has clung to every other lie, she
grow increasingly nasty clings to this one, likely settling
towards Margaret and Brick as the question of inheritance in
Brick reenters the room. Big Brick’s favor—though this isn’t
Mama tells them to hush, and said explicitly.
Gooper signals for his
briefcase. He pulls out a large 1 2 3 4 5
sheaf of papers and says that Big Mama rushes out to tell Mae tries to reveal Margaret’s lie,
he’s drafted a trusteeship. Big Daddy the news, while even though she hasn’t been
Infuriated, calling the Mae screams that Margaret is entirely truthful throughout the
document "crap" because lying about her pregnancy. play either, spying and
that's the word Big Daddy Mae says that she and Gooper withholding information about
uses when he's disgusted, Big can hear Maggie and Brick in Big Daddy’s health report. The
Mama tells him to put it away the room and know that Brick cries of rage are implied to be in
or she’ll tear it up. won’t sleep with her. Suddenly, response to Big Mama's news
a cry of pain and rage fills up about Maggie's baby, and further
the house, and Mae and imply that Big Daddy doesn't
Gooper run to go see what it is, give a crap about "immortality"
leaving Brick and Maggie alone gained through Brick's baby. Big
in their room. Daddy wants to live for himself!
1 3 4

Margaret thanks Brick for not Margaret finally takes charge at
exposing her. Meanwhile, Brick the end of the play. Earlier HOW T
TO
O CITE
continues to drink and finally Maggie couldn't penetrate Brick's It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.
obtains his “click.” As he stands alcohol-based distance; but now
on the gallery, Margaret grabs she (like Big Daddy earlier) MLA CIT
CITA
ATION
all the bottles in the liquor realizes that Brick's dependence
cabinet and runs out of the on alcohol makes him weak, Cao, Diana. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 26
symbolized by Maggie throwing Nov 2013. Web. 26 Oct 2016.
room with them. When she
returns, she faces off with away his crutch and defense. She
Brick. She tells him that she’s can, basically, extort his love for CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL CIT
CITA
ATION
now stronger than him and can her, at least physically. Love Cao, Diana. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." LitCharts LLC, November 26,
love him more truly. Margaret continues to be a function of 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2016. http://www.litcharts.com/lit/
says that she’s locked up power—suggesting that the cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof.
Brick’s liquor, and they’re women's love for their men is
going to make her lie true almost entirely a function of their
before she unlocks it. As Brick dependence on them. But now
reaches for his crutch, Brick is dependent on her.
Margaret grabs it and runs out Further, Maggie realizes that
to hurl it over the gallery with this power she can be the
before returning, panting. first character in the play to turn
Suddenly, Big Mama runs into her lie into truth. Even Big
the room looking for the Mama’s interruption doesn’t faze
doctor’s package. She runs out Margaret, who calmly hands Big
again after kissing Brick and Mama the medicine before
calling him “Little Father.” As returning her attention to Brick.
the curtain falls, Margaret Mama, meanwhile, goes to "ease"
announces to Brick that she Big Daddy's pain—but his pain is
does love him, and he responds emotional and existential. In
sadly, “Wouldn’t it be funny if essence, Mama is putting Big
that was true?” Daddy on a drug much more
powerful than alcohol, and all
because of her sincere love for
him. Big Daddy wants to live, but
Big Mama, now that she has
control over him, is going to
ensure merely that he survives,
all motivated by love. Maggie, in
her power, similarly tells Brick
her truth—that she loves
him—and he, echoing Big Daddy
earlier in the play, doesn’t believe
her. He sees it as just one more lie
people tell each other. However,
unlike Big Daddy in his earlier
scene with Big Mama, Brick is
weaker than Maggie at this point.
His rejection doesn't matter
because she doesn't accept it.
1 2 3 4

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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

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When something is festering in your memory or your

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2 3 4 Wouldn't it be funny if that was true…

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•Mentioned or related char

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