Themes

Mendacity and Lies

Maggie:

1. Mendacity and lies are constructed by Maggie about her marriage in order to maintain her
reputation and honor. Audience would sympathize with her lies about a fully functioning and
passionate marriage, since she is the only one who makes tremendous efforts to hold the
marriage together, unlike Brick.
2. The lies or “hidden / skewed truths” is also a form of self-denial, in order to motivate her to keep
up with appearances and avoid re entering a life of poverty, should they fail to secure the
inheritance from Big Daddy.
3. On the other hand, the self- denial may be seen as a self-survival tactic, as vulnerable aspects
should not be made transparent to potential enemies who may weaponize the truths. Hence,
lies and mendacity are crucial as a form of self-protection / self-preservation.
4. Maggie also lies about her potential pregnancy, and this mendacity may be interpreted as simply
delaying a possible outcome, since she lies to work hard to change her reality.

Brick:

1. Brick only lies to himself, in the name of honor and self-preservation. His mendacity and self-
denial about his homosexual tendencies, like Maggie, is crucial to keep his sanity and life
together, though barely.
2. Brick’s honesty may not be highly appreciated by the audience as it is not done in the name of
upholding high morality. Brick’s hatred towards mendacity is simply because he wishes to
weaponize truths to hurt others, or because he has nothing to lose and lack care for others.
More significantly, he may be able to tell truths much more readily because it can be a form of
distraction from his own truth about this sexuality.

Big Mamma:

1. Similarly, Big Mamma commits mendacity to herself because she cannot face the harsh reality;
her husband is loveless and abusive, and her favorite son is an irresponsible and selfish drunk.
2. For Big Mamma, mendacity is wishful thinking or false hope, a delay to face the truth, in order to
give the reality a chance to change itself for the better.
3. In regards to Bug Daddy’s diagnosis, mendacity and lies are done against Big Mamma for selfish
reasons – which is to allow ample time to manipulate Big Daddy’s affections and heir decision
making, instead of the more noble reason – which is to spare Big Mamma’s feelings for as long
as they can.

Big Daddy:

1. Big Daddy abhors mendacity and speaks the truth because of the powerful position that he is in,
as the family’s patriarch.
2. Bug Daddy presents the more extreme consequence of abandoning mendacity or white lies, as
his brutal honest criticisms are hurtful and offensive, and are done tactlessly by him, to perhaps
be exemplary to his lying family, or as a defense mechanism to fight against their mendacity and
 deceitful behaviors towards him, in hoping to secure his affections and subsequently, the
inheritance.
3. Big Daddy touching attempts to break through Brick’s mendacity and self-deceptive lies and face
the truth is commendable, as he is a trustworthy figure to Brick due to his honest trait. However,
it is ironic that Brick may prefer a father who does not dislike mendacity and lies so much as it
may reduce the desire to uphold disturbing truths (his sexuality)

Mae and Gooper:

1. This functioning duo commits mendacity in terms of creating a picture perfect façade about their
marriage and family life.
2. Mendacity for them can be interpreted as manipulativeness, insincerity and deception – when it
comes to winning over Big Daddy’s trust and affection.
3. Their role in mendacity and lies about Big Daddy’s misdiagnosis are also significant, because they
have the most to lose, should they fail to secure his affection and the inheritance.

Unrequited Love, Masculinity, Female Sexuality

Maggie:

1. She experiences unrequired love from the one person she needs it from and is lawfully expected
to provide her with unconditional love – her husband Brick.
2. Williams numerous depiction and description of her sensuality, youth and beauty, especially in
contrast to Mumsy Mae and Fat Big Mamma, marks Maggie as an ironic figure of unrequited
love: the most sexual female to be the most rejected.
3. Other male characters, such as Big Daddy’s lech towards Maggie further underscores her ironic
fate, since her sexuality is quite prominent that even taboo figures such as her own father in law
finds her irresistible.
4. Maggie makes use of her sexuality as a powerful tool to seduce and be alluring – towards Brick,
Bug Daddy and even Skipper – to get what she wants – a child, a confirmation of her female
identity and the inheritance, respectively.
5. Maggie represents a more superficial figure of sexuality, whereby despite her sensuality, passion
and beauty – she fails to reproduce, and the fundamental function of her female sexuality is lost;
won by the least attractive female – her antithesis – Mae.
6. Maggie is the second “queer” in the text, after Brick, who is the main queer figure as she is
incomplete in her sexuality ; failing to reproduce and married to an effeminate man.
7. Female sexuality seems to be the only tool for Maggie and the other female characters has in
the end, and uses it rather aggressively. She has to sabotage a more modern sense of self worth
and stoop low to barter sex with alcohol, in order to conceive a child with the unwilling Brick.
Lawfully, under the influence of alcohol and not sober to give consent, it is a form of spousal
rape, for modern audience.
8. Maggie may also be a symbol of emancipation of female sexuality, where she flaunts and
weaponizes her sexuality, in contrast to society’s more traditional expectation of a woman –
meek, passive and unsexual.

Big Mamma:
 1. Big Mamma is a reflection of Maggie’s future, should she stay in a one-sided marriage, a willing
victim of unrequited love, in the name of loyalty and privileged lifestyle.
2. Big Mamma interactions with Big Daddy provide emotional scenes for the audience as her
efforts to show her love and loyalty, by expressing immense relief, happiness and gratitude to
the false cancer free diagnosis underscore the significance of Big Daddy’s presence in her life.
And unrequited love scenes allow the audience to explore notions of sexism, spousal mental and
emotional abuse, dysfunctional marriages and the fallbacks of unwavering / unchecked /
unconditional love.
3. Big Mamma is often described as unattractive, boisterous, crass, fat and pathetic. And the
ridiculousness of Big Mamma is further underscored with her luxurious and beautiful clothing
and accessories, which does little to increase her allure and sexuality. In fact, it may be mocking
her sexuality, where the beautiful adornments starkly contrast her natural unattractiveness and
unappealing sexuality – so much so that her husband looks forward to having sexual relations
with other women.

Brick:

1. Brick is an ironic figure of perceived unnatural sexuality. He is a homophobic homosexual who is

trapped in a downward spiral of denial, self-disgust and shame, through his alcoholism.
2. Brick’s self-inflicted denial of his sexuality and its negative consequences on his mind and body,
underlines the importance of being true and honest with oneself, which includes one’s sexual
orientation and romantic inclinations (like how Maggie is).
3. Brick is the source of unrequited love for Maggie, and his parents as they show sincere concern
for his well being and ready support for his true sexuality, but Brick chooses to be defensive and
blinds himself to this support system.
4. Brick’s sexual feelings for Skipper is destructive and he merely numbs and replaces these feelings
with another destructive behavior – which is alcoholism.
5. Brick believes that by repressing his homosexuality, he is solidifying, making “brick” of his
manliness.

Big Daddy:

1. Big Daddy’s hypermasculinity is marked by his sexist, crude, sexually offensive remarks about
women- his own wife, his sons’ wives, and other women in general. His language has explicit and
suggestive content which is evidence of his masculinity, or toxic masculinity.
2. Big Daddy reduces women to their sexuality – in terms of reproductive prowess and sexual
allure. His perception of females and their main function in life also relies heavily on their
sexuality, as he only seeks pleasure, not partnership or friendship – with them.
3. Big Daddy is not seeking romantic love in the text. He only associates female with sex and
sexuality.
4. Big Daddy touchingly and tragically admits his devotion to be Brick. He appears gentle, caring,
frightened and violent in his concern for Brick and it is met with indifference and denial by Brick.
This is, in a sense, a form of unrequited love and loyalty – of a father for his son.

Mae:
 1. Mae is defined by her sexuality – both her strength and weakness. Her identity is wrapped up in
the traditional roles of a wife and a mother.
2. Her sexuality and reproductive successes are mocked by Big Daddy and her children are depicted
as insincere tools or performing monkeys, used by Mae and Gooper to adhere to societal and
familial expectations and norms. Her sexuality is a powerful tool which tragically can be misused
and consequently undermines the honor and purity of motherhood.

Love and Dysfunctional Marriage

Maggie:

1. Maggie is a functioning female who is imprisoned in a loveless and dysfunctional marriage, due
to Brick’s selfish and narcissistic stubbornness.
2. Maggie genuinely loves and admires Brick due to his attractiveness and sexual prowess, in the
beginning of their marriage.
3. Maggie’s love may be deemed as unconditional as she offers support and friendship, despite
knowing that Brick may be at least bi sexual, if not homosexual.
4. A marriage is a mutual partnership between two people and despite Maggie’s best efforts, her
marriage is visibly a sham and dysfunctional because Brick does not contribute towards mending
and maintaining their relationship.
5. Maggie may be too engrossed in society’s expectations of love and marriage, where despite the
glaring red flags of a sexless and loveless relationship, she still forces Brick to keep up with the
façade of young love’s dream.
6. Women like Maggie may see marriage, especially one to a wealthy heir, and a rich family, as the
ultimate goal in life, even if it means to abandon self-worth and self-love, and imprison herself in
a one-sided marriage.
7. For a woman like Maggie who had lived in poverty, wealth and stability means more than
romantic love.

Big Mamma:

1. Big Mamma is a loving and supportive wife and mother who is underappreciated and
misunderstood as ridiculous and rowdy.
2. Despite her best efforts and numerous displays of love and loyalty, insecure yet narcissistic men
like Big Daddy chooses to interpret her lovingness as insincere, stemming from greed.
3. Like Brick, Big Daddy seem to contribute towards the dysfunctionality of the marriages in the
play.

Mae and Gooper:

1. In comparison to the other two marriages, theirs seem to be the most stable, despite hints that
Gooper may have been physically or emotionally abusive in the marriage.
2. The least dysfunctional marriage seems to come from a family unit that fits society’s
expectations – the breadwinning husband, the fertile wife and plenty of children.
Death and Immortality

Big Daddy:

1. BD seeks immortality through his accumulation of wealth and possessions. He believes that his
identity and immortality is directly tied to evidence of his life – which is a successful, wealthy life.
Thus, it makes sense that he places a lot of value of earthly possessions.
2. Contrastingly, BD does not care for a biological legacy, establishing immortality through his
descendants, as seen from his inability to love Gooper and his children.
3. A powerful man like BD was stunted by mortality and his passivity throughout his cancer
diagnosis allowed Big Mamma, who is otherwise the underdog, to manage the household, taking
over from BD.
4. A near death experience, and a second chance at life re-invigored BD and the new lease on life
acts as a dramatic contrast to Brick who seem to be throwing it all away, much to the dismay and
annoyance of BD.
5. But when he learns that he does in fact have cancer, all of his assurance, strength, and power
disappear. He rushes off in grief and impotent rage, and is not seen again in the play. Only his
mortal howls of anguish are heard. For all his wealth and former power, Big Daddy can't face
death.

Big Mamma:

1. Maternal ideologies and motherhood have programmed women to believe that their main role
is to procreate and make sure their husband’s and family’s legacy lives on by birthing heirs. This
explains Big Mamma’s inappropriate and offensive nosiness about Maggie’s childlessness and
Brick’s sex life. She wishes to gift BD descendants, by making sure that Maggie and Brick
procreate.
2. This begs the question: Why is Gooper and Mae sidelined when they have fulfilled this
expectation.

Brick:

1. Brick hates hypocrisy, falseness and mendacity. This makes him a judgmental and intolerant
person, who follows society’s norms and rules to the tee. Because his life does not go according
to moral and religious rules, he chooses to throw it away and desires death.
2. The death of his original heterosexual identity, replaced by his repressed homosexuality, the
death of Skipper, the death of his platonic friendship with Skipper, and the death of his marriage
are a tragic combination of conflicts faced by Brick. His death wish, through his alcoholism, may
be understood and sympathized by some audiences.
3. Discussions about the preciousness of life, and how life goes on, and honest / honorable life is
overrated and one should keep on surviving through life – between BD and B – is a significant
point in the play as it draws attention to the value and meaning of life – by one who is
desperately holding on to it, and by another who is throwing it away recklessly.
4. Brick is the only character in the play who has a death wish, and the others dig their claws
deeply into life and go through tremendous lengths to keep on living. This may cause a division
in the audience where some may find Brick’s indifference and distaste of life to be a sign of
 arrogance and entitlement. Others may applaud his conviction to live an honest mendacity life,
and if impossible, death is the only other option.

Skipper:

1. An absent but pivotal character who is connected to the main conflict in the play.
2. His death is martyrdom- like, a cautionary tale, warning people of the effects of an intolerant
society.
3. He uses death to escape guilt, shame and disgust of homosexual attraction, mirroring Brick’s
desperate need to disassociate from reality through his alcoholism, even at the risk of possible
death.

Truth and Communication Breakdown

Brick:

1. Brick evades the truth and disassociates from reality. He is detached, indifferent, nonchalant and
ignorant in his communication with others, as he desires for his homosexuality truth to be
hidden and buried.
2. Despite genuine efforts to open honest discussions by BD and Maggie on issues of love,
homosexuality, life, adultery, children and marriage, Brick is adamant to be unresponsive and
uncommunicative, as a form of self-protection, and also self-denial.
3. Brick stops and interrupts emotive and difficult conversations about Skipper through desperate
measures such as denial, changing topics, calling out on other characters for interruption,
feigning confusion, giving flat and disinterested responses to stunt topic flow.
4. Nonverbal cues are what he desires where he wants to mute all conversations by drinking for the
long awaited click / switch off to happen.

Big Daddy:

1. The most honest and transparent character whose script has very strong communication clarity.
2. Only has sincerity in communication with Brick, out of love and desperation to inject his son with
self-forgiveness, self-acceptance and renewed zest for life, with the promise of wealth. Despite
his persuasive and zealous speeches, Brick remains unperturbed and even when he explodes
and reacts, the connection BD hoped to create backfired because Brick transformed into an
angry, shameful and highly defensive person ; making communication difficult.
3. He is clear about his distaste for other members – Mae, Gooper, Children and Big Mamma, but
all refuse to listen to the communication of his dislike, and still schemes and presses for his
affection.
4. It is tragic that the most communicative person, alongside Maggie, is the one being lied to the
most.

Big Mamma:

1. Her blunt communication script and style, towards Maggie, show her desperation to transform
Brick into a responsible husband and father, in order to help BD achieve immortality through the
production of heirs.
 2. Her self-deprecating, loud and domineering communication style with most paint her as a tragic
figure who, despite her volume and passionate speeches, is still bullied and constantly on the
receiving end of BD abusive insults.
3. Scenes which show her difficulty to rally everyone together for a smooth birthday party
celebration, despite many servants and all attendees being under one roof underscores the
communication breakdown she has with her family.
4. She is also a victim of mendacity where the tragic lie of BD misdiagnosis will hurt her just as
much as BD, if not more.

Maggie:

1. Like BD, Maggie is desperate to counteract communication breakdown by having intense

communication sessions with Brick. Her methods range from being blunt, nostalgic, seductive,
passionate, angry, critical, amusing, entertaining, dramatic and pitiful. Her myriad of tones,
approaches, topics, alongside her dramatic stage directions underline her urgent and desperate
need to achieve a productive and effective communicative session with Brick, in order to
improve their relationship and secure a financially stable life for herself.
2. Her exasperation at being misunderstood, criticized and ignored make her a sympathetic victim
of communication breakdown.
3. The audience may feel strongly for Maggie because she fails to communicate with her husband,
despite her numerous and tremendous and creative efforts; this adds to the dramatic tension
and conflict of the play.

Mae and Gooper:

1. Their communication is transparent and effective, so much so that even their non verbal
communication cues show partnership and common goal – to win Big Daddy’s affections by
presenting wholesome and sweet grandchildren.
2. Gooper’s communicative skills peak in Act 3 and through his speech the audience may begin to
sympathize with the parental bias he has been subjected to.
3. Gooper, like Brick, is less dramatic, less catty and less offensive, when communicating with
others. The male characters may have more transparent and honest communication skills,
compared to the women, whose connotations and double meanings may open more doors for
conflict and misunderstanding.

Greed, Wealth and Power

Big Daddy:

1. The reigning patriarch, whose wealth is the root cause of the mendacity, manipulation, scheming
and breakdown of the family unit, deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labor as he is representative of new
money ; his hard work and dedication enables him to achieve the American Dream, sans class.

2. BD stays true to his roots, and retains his blunt speech and aggressive crassness, true to a
southern lower / lower middle class group. The red-neck ways and intonations in his speech indicate that
wealth may not necessarily buy class and refinement.
3. His wealth is his power where it increases his popularity (though insincere) and opportunities of
experiencing sexual favors and consumerism / materialistic habits. It also is a tool for purchasing
possessions which mark his legacy and perhaps help him achieve immortality.

4. Wealth and greed are failed attempts to secure immortality.

Big Mamma, Mae and Maggie:

1. These are privileged wives of rich men. However their similarities end there. Maggie’s
desperation and greed may be euphemized by these facts:
a) Monetary compensation for marriage breakdown and emotional abuse at the hands of Brick.
b) Monetary compensation for denied rights to motherhood.
c) Comes from an impoverished background and deserves to stay afloat.
d) Married to the favorite son and has good rapport with BD.
e) Does not have anything positive in her life except for wealth.
2. Mae on the other hand is the total opposite of Maggie whereby the picture perfect American
Dream reputation should make her feel blessed and privileged enough to not be greedy and
scheme for more money.
3. On the other hand, it can be monetary compensation for abuse and insults and bias from BD.
4. Her motherhood duties and sense of responsibility is strong that she wants to secure the best
for her children. She has dependents, unlike Maggie, Wealth is required to ensure survival of her
descendants.
5. Big Mamma, similar to Maggie may not be labelled as greedy or scheming because she has to
tolerate BD’s abusive treatment, when she stays in this privileged lifestyle.
6. However, Big Mamma is described to be a shopaholic who may not be as generous as she can
afford to, and she freely spends BD’S hard earned money, to purchase superficial vainglorious
items which will rot in time. Her wealth is intangible and temporary.
7. Big mamma and BD both lack the wealth in the aspect of health as both face obesity related
diseases and cancer. Despite their wealth, both cannot escape marital issues, discontentment,
manipulation, mendacity and chronic diseases.
8. Big Mamma is dressed wealthily with black luxurious laces, as it may symbolize not just the
impending death of her husband, but the impending death of their wealth; through possible
mismanagement by Brick or usurpation and vengeful greed by Gooper.

Brick:

1. When Maggie makes snide comments about his rich boy liquor preference and lifestyle, the
audience are reminded of Brick’s privileged upbringing, and in contrast, do not truly appreciate
the wealth his family has.
2. Because of this, he may be deemed as undeserving of the inheritance as he does not desire it. To
desire it, like the rest, may not necessarily simply indicate greed. It may also be a declaration of
the appreciation of life and family and the desire to survive and avoid an impoverished life as life
is too precious to waste, the way Brick is doing to his own life.
3. Brick’s power to indulge in unemployment, alcoholism, and indifference towards life stems from
his wealthy background. He is not desperate to survive and hence has the time to indulge in self-
disgust and sexual orientation confusion and denial. Everyone else is too busy to overthink and
must make continuous efforts to survive in life.
Memory, Nostalgia and the Past

1. Brick – memories of Skipper platonic friendship, memories of innocent / ignorant youth,

memory of masculinity

Brick escapes into the past to hold on and retain his masculinity and purity of friendship with
Skipper.

Brick tries to reconnect his heterosexual identity and masculine traits since his current reality is filled
with confused sexuality, denial and self-disgust.

Brick tries to run his way out of the current reality by jumping hurdles. His failure to do so may be
symbolic of how his true identity and sexuality is not compatible with his preconceived
heterosexuality in the past.

He romanticizes his nostalgic memories with Skipper in order to convince himself and others of the
innocence and platonic nature of their friendship.

He may find genuine happiness when reliving memories of his past with Skipper when sincere
affection and respect exists between them, before shameful homosexual attraction muddles their
friendship.

2. Maggie – Brick and happy marriage, sexual attraction, memory of poverty, memory of adultery

Maggie reminds the audience of her romantic love for Brick, defined by their healthy and passionate
sexual chemistry in the initial stages of their marriage.

Maggie revisits the happy past when her female sexuality and identity is not questionable, not
undermined, as it is defined by Brick’s activeness and willingness in their marital bed. In the current
situation, Brick’s refusal to be attracted to her sexuality is emasculating her, undermining her
feminine identity, displacing her traditional role in society as potential wife and mother, and
catapults her down the hierarchy as the childless dysfunctional female.

Maggie gains audience’s sympathy or understanding when she justifies her catty behavior and
tenacity to stay on the lucrative roof of the Pollitt family legacy, by delving into her hard past, a life of
poverty, compared to Mae. In other words, she deserves to fear poverty as she has experienced it
before and she deserves to be happy and secure, at least in the financial aspect.

Recounts of adultery is presented to highlight their dysfunctional marriage and may make audiences
judge Maggie more harshly as she places high value on money, by staying in an obviously broken
down marriage.

Adultery memories also act as a confession or a loaded topic, in order to force emotions on the
indifferent cold Brick.

Her promiscuous indiscretion in the past also can be evidential of Brick’s negligence of her sexual
needs and his mistreatment whereby she seeks attention and affection elsewhere, specifically
Skipper, just to be close to Brick.
 Her adulterous pat, ironically, is her final warped and desperate attempt to feel “loved” by Brick, or
her ultimate sacrifice to show her obsessive attraction towards Brick, by sleeping with the closest
thing to him.

3. Big Daddy – Memory of rags to riches, memory of wealth and power pre cancer diagnosis

Big Daddy’s nostalgic recounts about Ochello and Straw revolve around how they helped provide
him the initial opportunity to work his way up the plantation, as well as their suspicious bond which
have homosexual connotations. These two aspects – homosexuality and wealth- are the two most
important things in BD’s life – Brick, and his empire.

Big Daddy is able to share his fears and regrets and sense of hopelessness, during his cancer
“misdiagnosis”, with Brick, because he is free of the diagnosis prior to their heartfelt discussion
about life and second chances. He is able to look at the dark phase philosophically and with
nostalgia, which is expected from most people who survived a harrowing life / death situation.

His memories of what his wealth allowed him to do involved excessive materialism (shopping),
corruption and sexual exploitation. He looks back and recites these accounts to Brick in an
unapologetic and blunt manner, and this shows an unhypocritical and realistic / cynical side of BD –
whereby life is undeniable filled with suffering for the underdogs. This is in contrast to Brick, who has
an idealistic view of life and even romanticizes his nostalgic memories of Skipper and his youth.
Maggie as well recites some romantic memories in a touching manner. BD, walks down memory lane
with realism – “it is what it is” attitude.

The American Dream

Exploring how each have attained genuine American Dream, or have wasted it away. How has American
Dream shaped their failures and successes.

1. Big Daddy

He is the epitome of the American Dream, which stops short at ideal family life. On the outside he
has two healthy highly potential sons, and grandchildren, but conflicts fill up their family life.

His story is the story of the underdog. The underdogs have made it! – two homosexuals paved the
way for a hardworking redneck, to grow very rich and powerful and start his own empire.

On the surface, BD is living the dream whereby his hard work secured wealth and success and gives
him power and prominence and control over most people – socially, financially, sexually.

His American dream is very much focused on the wealth and health aspect.

DESPITE all this, he still cannot beat mortality. His American Dream wealth cannot buy immortality.

2. Maggie

She is similar to BD whereby she is the story of rags to riches. But the promise of the American
Dream, and marrying into one – blinds her to exercise independence and lead an honest life. The
 allure of the dream – wealth, career and family – forces her to attain the dream – through desperate
measures : mendacity, staying in a dysfunctional marriage.

3. Gooper and Mae

The American Dream they ae living in is tainted by the allure and enticing possibility of maintaining
and expanding the dream – for their children – with the help of securing BD inheritance, through
mendacity and falseness.

4. Brick

Wealth, popularity, a beautiful loving wife, a supportive and loving set of parents, masculinity,
attractiveness, charisma, a bright future ahead. Brick has the recipe for the golden product of BD
American Dream, whereby BD American Dream legacy can live on through Brick.

This is the tragedy of Brick and his family. They are all products or by products of the American Dream –
but because of reasons ranging from greed, jealousy, moral arrogance to desire for immortality – their
dream turn into nightmare.

Sexism and Women (look at googledocs notes on love and sexuality)

Exploring how these women play roles of empowerment, feminism, and also victims of sexism – whether
willingly or unwillingly. *Mae and Maggie*

Exploring the sexist behaviors of the male characters.

1. Big Daddy

Williams has depicted BD throughout the play to be a misogynistic sexist. His speech and behavior
are insulting, aggressive, offensive and demeaning towards women – including his wife and her
daughter in laws. His sexism varies from blunt name calling, direct insults to sexual crude jokes.

It may stem from the need to show his gender dominance – which is by elevating his sex, through
putting down and disrespecting the second sex – women.

Female member in his family in a way enables BD to dominate them – and understandably during
their time, gender inequality is still embedded, and to an extent accepted as the norm, in their
society, in most aspects.

2. Maggie

Sexuality is strength / weapon / tool to survive. It is also her Achilles heel where her female sexuality
is the root of the problem in her marriage since her husband is homosexual. Also, her sexuality limits
her identity to just wife and mother and because she fails to fulfil the later, she is presented as less
of a woman.

3. Mae
 Similar comments as above whereby her traditional role and take on female sexuality – focusing on
reproductive responsibility – has helped Mae gain the respect of her husband, her mother in law,
and her society in general.

Modern audience may be slightly sexist and perceive Mae as backwards or anti-feminist because of
her dependence on Gooper, and her identifying mainly as a mother and nothing else. Others may
acknowledge how she has the intelligence and confidence to exercise her choice and achieve her
personal objectives through her sexuality.

4. Big Mamma

She is a loyal wife and a caring matriarch who tries in earnest to bring everyone together. She has
the bad luck of being married to BD.

To a certain extent, BM proves to be a fighter, in her own way, through her cheerfulness and
patience, for withstanding and outliving BD- a bully and a sexist who may have chased away other
women way earlier. But BM persevered, in the name of love and devotion.

On the surface, she can be perceived as the epitome of the traditional ideal woman – loyal and
loving wife, caring (nosy) mother, and doting grandmother. Even with her unattractiveness, she
managed to bed BD regularly, despite his disgust. She fulfills the role of a female quite aptly, in the
best way she knows how – especially when presented with a scheming jealous son, an alcoholic son
and a bully sexist husband.

Family Relationships

Exploring the dynamics – wealthy, traditional, ideal, hybrid and in conflict family.

Wealth and jealousy can shift loyalty / allegiances / breed jealousy, mendacity and greed. Only wealthy
families have high risk of this?

1. Parents

Doting father and the lost son – BD and Brick

Responsible father and well trained / disciplined children – Gooper and children

Concerned and indulgent mother – BM and Brick

Parental bias as child is not built in their image – BD BM and Gooper

Children learn life goals and ambition from parents – continuation of legacy – Gooper and BD – with
desire of power and wealth.

Straw / Ochello and BD – expansion of plantation and his hippie lifestyle of “bumming around” – like
the two homosexuals.

May have superiority complex and built in right to dominate or manage their children’s (even in
adulthood (gooper and brick) - lives, sex lives etc.

2. Siblings
Sibling rivalry may be due to parental bias.

Rival bothers may seek and trust wives’ perceptions, more than their siblings.

3. Sons

Built in the image of their father – may explain Brick and BD bond

BD is pseudo son of Straw and Ochello – closest thing to their heir and son – since their
homosexuality will make procreation impossible.

Heir and legacy

Help father or family achieve immortality through continuation of empire / legacy .

4. Daughter in laws

Jealousy and rivalry may run deep, especially if husbands are rivals as well.

Highly insecure as they have most to lose should affections dwindle.

Non blood family members who may not get genuine love and respect from parent sin law

Only seen as their sons’ plaything, sexual partner, servant, reproductive machine, status symbol.

BM may be resentful should she finds that the daughters in law are not living up to her expectations,
in terms to the sons’ happiness and fulfilment.

5. Heirs and Children

To act as political tool or symbols of picture perfect family ideals.

Help parents attain high levels of respect and success by helping the husband wife elevate their
status to mother and father – main responsible carers.

Mirror of their parents and may imitate behaviors (good or bad) of parent – Mae and her rude child.