A paper about life

Aeden Sutherlin

Presentation notes and explanation of contribution for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by Tennessee Williams

Unfortunately the academic article that was supposed to be distributed last week was not so the only contribution that I am able to attest to will be my possible help in the discussion and the late distribution of the article on the webct. I will also have a hand out and some graphics to enhance the presentation.

Tennessee Williams writes about characters that are not unusual to the world especially in the kind of world he leads his audience through. Within these worlds there is much misery and pleasure which accompanies any human throughout their life. It is the process of life and death and the constant regeneration of it, “not for better or worse but for better and worse”. (The Cat Has Nine Lives, Dukore, f. Bernard, MIT Press) In all of life there is both good and bad and sometimes good things turn bad which is what could be seen of both Brick and Maggie’s relationship and Big Daddy and Big Mama. Life goes on even in death there can be a cycle passed down through generations. Can the cycle be broken especially if it is a vicious degrading cycle with the intent to oppress love. This question would pertain to the cycle of hate towards homosexuals and Williams must have had hope that this play would not only relay the human experience but would also make aware the ridiculous ideologies that have caged these characters such as the need for wealth to be happy and the prejudices of ideas foreign such as homosexuality. In this knowledge one might hope the cycle could be broken, and quite possibly has had some advancement in that arena due to writers such as Williams.
Brick seems to be the only character tortured by what the world has to offer and the others are just trying to scratch out as much of it as they can. Both Maggie and Mae are trying to manipulate Big Daddy into favouring one over the other. Big Daddy is well aware of the lies and tags them as having the same look in their eyes. He is completely cognizant of the harsh world around him but has accepted his plight as a human with all it’s evils. This is explicit in his explanation of Barcelona. He notes how he could feed all the country but instead gave only what was necessary to the pitiful children in order to facilitate his escape. One might say Big Daddy has almost embraced his and others inadequacies or weaknesses; he boasts how he can stand all the mendacity so why can’t Brick. Lies are a part of life such as the greed and evil of man, so learn to live with it is essentially what Big Daddy is saying.
In the academic journal chosen it is stated, “this play deals with death and with life. As Reverend Tooker says at one point, “The stork and the Reaper are running neck and neck!” The play shows the process of life (growing older, procreating, dying) as it continues in its cycles.” (The Cat Has Nine Lives, Dukore, F. Bernard, MIT Press) Other such subjects of interest are homosexuality, mendacity, ambiguity, love and what sustains it.