Context – Cat on a hot tin roof
Money, poverty and the American Dream
1950s America – America had just emerged from 2 major events
- 1930s Great depression
- WW2
Due to this poverty was a big issue at the time of Cat on a hot tin roof, which made the
American Dream a strong contextual area of the play. Big Daddy represents this as he
worked his way from being a plantation worker, to inheriting the plantation and becoming
the owner.
The Roles of men and women
Maggie represents the expectations of a 1950’s woman as she has the constant pressure to
have children “You’re childless” “D’you make Brick happy in bed” The expectation put upon
women was that their only roles were to have children, take care of their husbands, cook,
clean etc. Maggie and Mae are foils of each other in the sense that Mae has conformed to
this expectation, whereas Maggie is much more modern in her views
“Why don’t you ask me if Brick makes me happy in bed. It works both ways” believes
in/wants an equal relationship
“No neck monsters” lack of maternal instincts
Homophobia
Skipper and Brick’s possible relationship is an important factor of the play. Homosexuality
wasn’t accepted in the era of this play. Links to the symbolism of the shower. The shower
represents Brick trying to wash away what he sees as his sins.
Money, poverty and the American Dream
1950s America – America had just emerged from 2 major events
- 1930s Great depression
- WW2
Due to this poverty was a big issue at the time of Cat on a hot tin roof, which made the
American Dream a strong contextual area of the play. Big Daddy represents this as he
worked his way from being a plantation worker, to inheriting the plantation and becoming
the owner.
The Roles of men and women
Maggie represents the expectations of a 1950’s woman as she has the constant pressure to
have children “You’re childless” “D’you make Brick happy in bed” The expectation put upon
women was that their only roles were to have children, take care of their husbands, cook,
clean etc. Maggie and Mae are foils of each other in the sense that Mae has conformed to
this expectation, whereas Maggie is much more modern in her views
“Why don’t you ask me if Brick makes me happy in bed. It works both ways” believes
in/wants an equal relationship
“No neck monsters” lack of maternal instincts
Homophobia
Skipper and Brick’s possible relationship is an important factor of the play. Homosexuality
wasn’t accepted in the era of this play. Links to the symbolism of the shower. The shower
represents Brick trying to wash away what he sees as his sins.
