The Cat Has Nine Lives

I enjoyed reading Bernard F. Dukore's analysis of Tennessee William's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The themes of life and death, alcohol and sex are ever prevalent in the play and Dukore does a great job of bringing them to life and explaining their significance in the story. The animalistic personalities of the characters are present in how they fight with each other and communicate in certain situations. Homosexuality is also brought up in the character Brick's fear of being gay and thus cowering from the topic and acts of sex altogether in order to never have to face the truth. Most of the characters being labeled the same as their roles in the play, such as, Big Mama, Big Daddy, Brother Man, and Sister Woman helps aid the understanding of the characters themselves. The more complex characters are referred to by their given names, Brick and Maggie, so that they are not stunted by any labels whatsoever. The dynamic of life and death is an interesting one in the story, with the older man wishing for youth and a longer time on Earth, and the younger man actively seeking an early grave. The entire life cycle is being played out in the text, and all the bumps and obstacles that could be along the way. Big Mama and Big Daddy have raised Brick in order for him to fulfill the next generation of life cycle by getting married and having his own kids, to begin the cycle over again.


Brick is obviously hesitant and uncooperative in his role of the pro-creator and refuses to accept that he is getting older and must face responsibility. He puts it off by not bedding Maggie and thus diving into adulthood. The process of life must continue whether Brick wants it to or not. And apparently he is going to be a participant in it whether he likes it or not. Big Mama and Big Daddy even state that they want " a grandson as much like his son as his son is like Big Daddy!" further pushing the never-ending generational cycle onto him. It is also interesting that Brick is the one hesitating to have sex and instead chooses the bottle, and Maggie is the more sexually aggressive and excited. There is a bit of sexual role reversal in regards to gender views of sex. Brick is even rather grossed out by sex and cringes whenever the subject comes up, especially involving Maggie. Anything that could further his inevitable responsibility as a father and husband is met with his disdain. Brick has no appreciation for the life he has been given and is taking it for granted for no reason. Big Daddy is dying of cancer and is trying to live as best he can while he has time left. He pleads with Brick to live his life better before he regrets it. He tells him to fight back and live the best life he can while he is still young and has so much still ahead of him. Big Daddy regrets not doing more and it may be too late for him now. He does not want Brick to go through the same thing.