Summary:
Explores character relationships in the Tennessee Williams play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Discusses
the mendacity in relationships in the play. Describes how Williams presents the South as seriously flawed and yet tempers this view with a certain sympathy for its plight.
From Brick's shocking revelation to Big Daddy in Act 2 of 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' that it was his disgust with "mendacity" that drove him to alcoholism, the overall theme of mendacity in the play becomes a lot clearer. An insight into Brick's psyche and surroundings is given here; into 1950s America, into social position and wealth, and into chasing the American Dream, even if all this is not truly what you desire.
The Southern Ideals of perfection seem to be at the root of all the characters' problems, as lying and mendacity appear to be the only ways to assure ultimate success, by marrying for money and status, by conforming to a very rigid society, and by keeping secret anything that might be seen as 'abnormal', such as Skipper's and Brick's intimate friendship......
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. There are 1,288 words (approx.
4 pages at 300 words per page) in the full essay.
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