Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

1. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

2. Act 1 • Dissatisfied woman prostrates herself before a man • Brick indifferent • She poses, undresses, changes – seductive and vulnerable • He remains cold – look of disgust • Maggie in the mirror – ‘hideous transformation’ into ‘Maggie the cat’

3. Maggie in the mirror, the most fascinating character in the play • Masochistically bound to Brick, frustrated • Husband’s indifference and childlessness • Insecurity added to by Big Daddy’s imminent death • Brick cool but a broken man – his injury symbolising his ‘castration’, loss of masculinity, he is broken emotionally

4. Act 1 – Part 2 • Maggie’s humiliation • 2 interruptions and constant potential with noise from off-scene • Rivalry between the play's 2 cats • Fertility vs Maggie’s childlessness • Attempts to seduce Brick • He fends her off like a lion tamer • Tries to make him jealous – ‘other men want me’ – precursor to next scene

5. Big Mama introduced • Bad taste – fat, embarrassingly devoted to a man who hates her. • Represents marriage and family, what image???? • Use of off-stage telephone to rehearse the lie to be told to Big Daddy – like voices represents the ‘spies’ in the house

6. Act 1 part 3 • Maggie states her fondness for Big Daddy • Talks about her past and how poor she was • One can be young without money but one cannot be old without money • Tries to goad Brick into a reaction – talks about Skipper • Brick calls for his niece to bring the party upstairs

7. Alludes to his homosexuality • Brick threatens her with the crutch • Accuses Maggie of naming the ‘one great good true thing’ in his life, dirty – their love assumes mythical, legendary proportions • Details about the Skipper, Brick, Maggie triangle – Maggie was a ‘trophy wife’ – the Beckhams!! • Skipper and Maggie both found themselves before their God – like a Greek God • Maggie shouts, Skipper is dead, Maggie the cat is alive

8. Brick loses his cool • Brick throws his crutch and falls to the ground • Brick is finally provoked into rage, his coolness shattered • Dixie’s interruption – reminding Maggie of what she lacks – a child • Maggie drops Maggie the Cat, puts on her public face and turns to face the family