Cat On The Hot Tin Roof
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Tennessee Williams Cat on a Hot Tin Roof deals with several abstract relationships throughout the entire play. The characters, for the most part, seem to be self-centered and only looking to protect themselves. They talk horribly behind each others backs until the end of the play when Big Daddys two daughter in-laws finally go head-to-head showing their extreme disgust for each other. Goopers wife, Mae, is a self-centered woman who is consumed with greed for her husband and 5 children, while Bricks wife, Margaret, shows a more sympathetic side wanting nothing more than to please the rest of the family by giving birth to a child. While all of the characters continuously squabble with each other, in some cases, deep down inside they enclose extreme disgust with themselves. Behind all of the obvious disputes that Williams makes apparent throughout the play lies much deeper internal conflicts, such as Bricks alcoholism and Maggies self-consciousness, giving excellent reason for the immense amount of hate that is evident all through the play.
Williams uses the theme of ignorance to build an understanding of hate and disgust with the reader. There are a countless number of times in which Williams has the characters talk behind others backs, but when in contact with the character, they act as though there are no hard feelings. Gooper and Mae are constantly running and telling Big Mama about Brick and Maggies sexual problems, while Big Daddy notifies Brick of his excessive disgust for Big Mama. The entire play is based around lies and ignorance, which are obviously apparent themes throughout the play. Brick makes no effort to hide his repulsion towards Maggie, therefore making him one of the only characters who does not even attempt to veil his hatred. Beginning in Act I, Maggie makes Bricks hate for her known when stating, “Living with someone you love can be lonelier-than living entirely