Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: What do you learn about Maggie from the way Tennessee Williams has presented her so far?

We also get the impression that Brick doesn’t find his wife as attractive as other men do. On page twenty-one, Maggie says “Way he always drops his eyes down my body when I’m talkin’ to him, drops his eyes to my boobs an’ licks his old chops!” The fact that she’s telling her husband how other men show interest in her comes across as a subtle hint to her husband that perhaps he should appreciate her more. Almost reassuring herself, as well as him that she’s an attractive woman. Brick’s response however doesn’t seem like the reply she was looking for. He describes her “talk” as disgusting. There’s also a sense of insecurity on Maggie’s front. When she catches Brick staring at her, she asks him continuously what he’s thinking when he stares at her like that. On page twenty-five, Maggie says “…I wish you would lose your looks…” This is a particular strange request to make of one’s partner. It makes readers assume she doesn’t want to be attracted to Brick any longer. This assumption is soon backed up with further lines on page twenty-eight when the couple talk of the “conditions” Maggie has to follow in order for Brick to continue living with her. They also refer to their bedroom as a cage, giving the sense of entrapment.

Margaret’s relationship with Mae seems strained and false. Maggie’s continuous insulting of Mae’s children gives the impression that they don’t get along particularly well. The topic of children in Maggie and Brick’s relationship also seems awkward. Mae seems to take a patronising tone with Margaret on page twenty-nine when she says “Maggie, honey, if you had children of your own you’d know how funny that is…” It seems that Mae is well aware of Maggie’s envy towards her for having children and likes to bring it up from time to time.

Margaret often refers to Big Daddy when she’s attempting to make Brick jealous. When she was talking of the man who was looking her up and down, she was talking of Big Daddy, Brick’s father. She uses him as an example of a man who gives her attention to try and get Brick to do the same. She also talks of Big Daddy not getting along with Gooper, Brick’s brother or Mae. On page twenty, she says “Big Daddy dotes on you honey. And he can’t stand Brother Man and Brother Man’s wife…” Big Daddy is also supposed to be dying of cancer, therefore there’s a lot of talk of who will be getting the large share of his will.

Margaret is obviously very aware of her sexuality. On the first page of the play, a stage direction says “She steps out of her dress, stands in a slip of ivory satin lace.” She also cares a lot about her appearance and what Brick thinks of her. I feel this because of her asking Brick what he thinks of her when he looks at her and because of stage directions such as “She adjusts the angle of a magnifying mirror to straighten an eyelash…” Her relationship with her husband seems one sided and cruel. It seems as thought she wants children and a happy marriage like her sister in law however it’s made obvious that Brick doesn’t share the same passion. We know from the continuous talk of Big Daddy’s will that she has dreams of being rich. So far, Williams has made Maggie seem like a desperate, hurt character that covers her pain up with her loud personality.