Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Mendacity

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Mendacity in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
In the play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tennessee Williams criticizes the ways people manipulate their lives through repression to avoid breaking social code. The foundations of the weak relationships between characters are based around manipulations of the truth in order to create a certain image in society. It leads to tension between characters that become disgusted with one another as well as themselves.
As a result of societal pressure, the characters in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof struggle living in a society described as a mendacious system where “Liquor is one way out an’ death’s the other…” (129). The play takes place on a plantation in the deep south in a time where the gender expectations were strict, social class defined success, and heterosexuality was the norm. Big Daddy reflects on his life of falsehood with his son Brick after he learned that he is going to die. His life was false in the fact that he did not love his wife and his wealth did not bring him happiness. According to society’s standards men …show more content…

Brick is conflicted because he is a manly athlete who is supposed to behave in a certain way that contradicts his true feelings. Society had conditioned Brick to repress the feelings he had for his friend Skipper, because at the time it was not socially acceptable or even discussed. Brick’s denial of Skippers love for him leads to Skipper’s fall and eventual death. Unable to cope with the repression of his feelings toward Skipper, the elimination of truth, and his guilt for his role in Skipper’s demise, Brick turns to alcohol to help him eliminate the disgust he feels with himself. The alcohol allows Brick to escape the lie that is his life and finally feel at peace. Up until he hits that level of intoxication Brick is unable to live with himself and the people around

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