I.

A. B. C.

II. A.

B.

C.

III. A.

B.

C.

IV.

A. B.

Thesis Development Bricks belief in a need for secrecy when it can protect someone from a dark reality is showcased beautifully in Tennessee Williams tragic drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof where there this obscene need for secrecy would be able to be conquered were it not for the lack of communication Bricks family maintains. Bricks multitude of secrets he must keep up results primarily from his fathers illness, his wifes past involvement with Skipper, and the grief and guilt he still upholds because of Skippers suicide. Through the eventual revealing of all the well kept secrets towards the end of the play, Brick and the rest of the family members are finally able to accept reality and let the ugly truth sink in, for the better of themselves. First Claim: Brick has this terrible grudge against himself and Maggie for Skippers death considering Maggie the cat, let herself out of the bag so to speak by interrogating Skipper about his true feelings towards Brick. Evidence: While arguing with Maggie, Brick makes sure to find the click he undergoes when he has enough alcohol because it will make [him feel] peaceful (Act I Page 33). 1. Commentary: Turning to alcohol lets Brick forgot of the past and drown the lies, making life bearable without actually having Skipper there with him and simply trying to escape the inescapable. 2. Commentary: Brick is so haunted by his past and his current situation with Maggie in her past complicity with Skipper that he cant help but take more and more drinks or a war of lies will wage in his head and be unable to numb the mendacity surrounding him constantly. Evidence: His former athleticism continues to haunt Brick, due to the glory and relationship he shared with Skipper then, but since Brick can just sit in a glass box watching games [he] cant play, he just lies to himself about his diminished athletic fame (Act II Page 113). 1. Commentary: Bricks lifestyle as a commentary only works to reveal the lies that sustain him now and sustained him before because he becomes part of the society that once who have had admired him as a superb football star. 2. Commentary: Bricks warped up ideals dealing with athleticism only sink him father in his mendacity as he cant accept he is no longer the athlete he used to be and he is no longer with Skipper he used to enjoy football so much with. Evidence: The one great good thing which is true for Brick was always Skipper and when Maggie puts off their relationship as dirty, Brick gets immediately angry to hide the lies behind his true feelings. 1. Commentary: Brick reacts to Maggies mention of Skipper and any sexual implications aggressively because he equates homosexuality with disgust as society does and much emotion, however, with Maggies own sexual advances Brick lacks any emotion and is very detached. 2. Commentary: Bricks need for secrecy with anything involving Skipper results from him being unsure about his own feelings towards Skipper and how society might have viewed it if he were in fact homosexual. Second Claim: Brick, as the secretly caring son of Big Daddy, is required to keep a secret from his father which leads him to burrow himself further in all the mendacity surrounding the household so he ends up finally coming clean. Evidence: Maggie describes frankly Big Daddys cancer as malignant and terminal which emphasizes how final it is to everyone in the family that Big Daddy will be dying and makes it harder for Brick to reveal this secret to his own father (Act 1) 1. Commentary: Brick seems to believe that truth can only be found in death as all of life is just made up of lies. 2. Commentary: Swimming in denial is what the family thinks is going to gain them wealth so they play along with Big Daddys birthday but Brick not participating in this shows how he really doesnt appreciate all mendacity Evidence: Brick knows that each family member is determined to knock off a bigger piece of Big Daddys inheritance power and struggles to keep this avarice beneath himself by avoiding it all together (Act II Page 80) 1. Commentary: This avarice and greed is what motivates Mae, Gooper, and Mae up to the point of physical violence to receive some form of monetary value by whatever terrible lies that are produced. 2. Commentary: Bricks avoidance of all greed toward Big Daddys death is the only thing he actually keeps honest from the beginning by not wanting to be part of it at all. Evidence: Big Daddy like Brick has had to pretend stuff and put up with all the lies he feels with Big Mama and not even being able to stand the sight, sound, or smell of her just like Brick cant stand Maggie (Act II, Page 108) 1. Commentary: Brick realizes Big Daddy may be successful and wealthy but that it was all made of lies and detached feelings of love. 2. Commentary: Big Daddy, however, is the only one who seems to sympathize with Bricks inability to communicate about Skipper and tries to resonate with him but fails as Brick seems doomed by a loveless marriage, haunting lost friendship, and a broken family. Conclusion: Universal Reference: In William Blakes Auguries of Innocence, a poem with a series of paradoxes speaking of innocence juxtaposed with evil and corruption, Bricks dilemma is summed up perfectly with Blake musing that A truth thats told with bad intent/Beats all the lies you can invent. Connection to the Play: In Tennessee Williams Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Bricks desire for past glory and friendships do not outweigh his necessity for secrecy and through honesty and effective communication with his family, Brick could have avoided many dark tragic situations he ends up experiencing because of his undisclosed guilt and pity for himself, Skipper, and his father.