The Pollitt Family

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Throughout the history of theatre, there have been a multitude of plays that delve deep into the complex relationships between their characters. One play that closely focuses on family relationships is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams. The presence of deceit and sexuality in the lives of the Pollitt family has a major impact on the plot of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, as well as on the lives of the Pollitt family.
In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the plot is centered on the Pollitt family, a family living in the American south around the 1950s. Brick Pollitt and his wife Maggie have been having difficulties in their marriage as Brick has turned to alcoholism ever since the death of Skipper. Skipper was Brick’s old friend who had romantic feelings …show more content…
In Williams’ notes for the designer of an original production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, he notes that the room that the play takes place in should feel as though it is “haunted by a relationship that must have involved a tenderness that was uncommon” (Williams 15). This seems to relate to the ambiguous relationship between Brick and Skipper portrayed in the play, with them either being close friends or lovers. The relationship between Brick and Skipper haunts Brick throughout the play. When Maggie is talking to Brick about his relationship with Skipper, and insinuating that they had an unrequited love for each other, this statement angers Brick. The reason Brick is angry may be that he avoids being reminded of his closeness with Skipper, as it is too painful for him to reminisce about Skipper after his death. If there is unrequited romantic love, from Skipper or from Brick, Brick may be angered that he never could have a romance with Skipper or that he never tried to have a romantic relationship with Skipper even if he wanted to. Maggie tells Brick that she and Skipper “made love to each other to dream” that it was Brick (Williams 57). This relates to Skipper’s unrequited love and attraction for Brick. Also, it relates to the theme of love and sexuality as this is a confession from Maggie that she cheated on Brick with Skipper, the man she believes Brick loved. One way she shows that she believes that Brick loved Skipper is that she tells them that on the double-dates they used to have together that it was “more like a date” between Brick and Skipper (Williams 59). Brick responds to this accusation with anger, which may be a sign that there is a glimmer of truth to this claim than he is willing to admit, whether to himself or to Maggie. Also, Brick mentions that Skipper “made a drunken confession to him” that Brick hung up on
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