Examine the relationship between Brick and Maggie in the first act of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", is there any hope for this relationship?
Examine the relationship between Brick and Maggie in the first act of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, is there any hope for this relationship?
“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 Brick’s replies short and emotionless, they are pernickety, and force Maggie to explain and justify every thing “why d’ya?”, “Don’t they?” which frustrates Maggie into answering snappily “Isn’t 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 Brick’s brother and sister-in-law, “it’s to bad because you cant wring their necks”. Maggie also seems to be the dominant figure in the conversation between her and Brick “ Maggie’s 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 they’re 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 “I’ve 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 body…an’ 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 room…moves on” Maggie’s vulnerability is not only in Brick’s 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 job’s 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 Brick’s “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”
