Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

When I began reading Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, I had trouble following the storyline. I believe this is because the play begins in an eventful scene and it hard to envision not only the characters but the setting immediately. As I kept reading through the scenes the play made more and more sense to me as I was able to envision what was happening in the play. After reading the play and talking to my husband about it he told me he found the play in the movie form on Xfinity on demand. We ended up watching the movie together. Although the movie was varied from the play it was captivating and entertaining watching the actors play out each scene.

I really enjoyed reading this play and believe part of the plays success through the years can be attributed to the diverse characters. When you think of it almost everyone most likely knows a bossy Big Daddy, submissive Big Mama, self destructive Brick or loud, outspoken Mae. Although the storyline was based on the lies, deception and lack of communication of its characters it was intriguing. The dynamics between Brick and Maggie were classic - the rich boy marries the poor girl and she does everything in her power to hold on to her new-found status. I believe Maggie must have been envious of Brick and Skippers friendship as she did not possess the emotional bond with Brick as Skipper did. Honestly, I don’t believe that Brick was gay….or at least did not see himself as gay. I believe that he may have had a boy’s boy mentality and clung to his best friend while keeping his wife at a distance. Skippers untimely passing may not have been Maggie’s intention but caused her to the little bond that she had with Brick as he blamed himself for Skippers death. Either way the disconnect between Brick and Maggie goes way deeper than Brick disconnecting because he blames himself for Skippers death.  It makes me wonder what other mishaps/miscommunications may have occurred during their time together? Was Brick every really committed to Maggie or was she just a distraction from football from time to time?

The most disturbing part of the play for me was the deception practiced by the entire family with Big Daddy’s illness. Having multiple family members with Cancer, some living and some have passed. Makes me wonder how / why the entire family collectively went along with the lie about Big Daddy’s health. Death is scary. Loosing someone to an illness never seems fair. Lying to someone about their health is wrong and unacceptable. Working in healthcare, on the oncology unit, I have seen death’s ugly face more than I would like to admit. Watching families greave is horrifically painful, so much so that I have become emotionally numb to it. I still feel sad and do what I can to help the families but I no longer allow death to touch my soul. I have seen patients dying from cancer that lie to their family about their diagnosis to “Protect” them. Truth be told, honesty is seriously the best policy. Both the patient and the family need as much time as possible to prepare to close that chapter in their life. This is the time where people get to lean on, connect or reconnect with God. I feel like the family stole something from Big Daddy in lying to him, they stole his trust and confidence. Although Big Daddy is able to understand why, it was an unfair blow to a dying man.

All in all the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof sparked deep thought and reflection. Like the movie relationships with your spouse, family members parents, and in-laws are not always easy but are necessary. It is important to keep those relationships as honest and pure as possible because you never know then life can snowball into something ugly.