In the play Cat on a Hot Tin Tin Roof, Tennessee Williams argues that denial of the truth surrounding a person's situation disrupts the relational dynamics between this person. and others around him. Williams develops this view of denial by describing the dysfunctional actions and choices of the Pollitt family. This is especially seen through the actions of Margaret, Brick, and Big Mama. Brick denies Skipper's sexuality and, therefore, his own sexuality. This denial carries over into his relationship with Margaret, who denies what he feels for her. Big Mama faces her own form of denial over Big Daddy's failing health. Additionally, Williams includes less salient instances of denial, such as that which also occurs when he is told the truth about his failed recovery. Williams explains to readers that denial of the truth can lead to unrest between members of a family or group. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The Pollitt family is reunited for Big Daddy's sixty-fifth birthday and to find out whether or not Big Daddy has cancer. The delusion that Big Daddy may not have cancer, and then the truth that he does have cancer, is what causes Big Mama's denial. Big Mama demonstrates the effect of denial of mortality on the family. Williams uses this scenario to show how heads of households play a vital role in family dynamics. Big Daddy is the glue that holds the family together and the recognition that the head of the family might die means the disruption of the current family dynamic. Throughout the first two acts of the play, Big Mama repeatedly shows optimism that Big Daddy does not have cancer. This optimism changes in the third act when Big Mama is confronted with the fact that Big Daddy is indeed dying of cancer. She said, “Yes, it's just a bad dream, that's all, it's a fair and horrible dream (Williams 103). Big Mama's denial about cancer further disrupts the already turbulent dynamic between her and Big Daddy. Big Daddy is very open about his feelings about his relationship with Big Mama. He tells Brick in a private conversation, "All I ask of this woman is to leave me alone." But she can't admit that she makes me sick. Williams says in a staged statement: "Big Daddy is famous for his jokes at Big Mama's expense, and no one laughs harder at those jokes than Big Mama herself. » Big Daddy covets the other women in the family, mainly Margaret. Big Mama's denial of Big Daddy's feelings sets the tone for the dynamic of the rest of the family since they are the head of the household. Big Mama's denial that Big Daddy is dying and Big Daddy's denial of his own mortality lead to a power struggle between Gooper, his wife Mae, and Margaret. Both sides want Big Daddy's legacy; however, neither can tell Big Mama directly due to her denial of Big Daddy's ailing health. Likewise, neither party can tell Big Daddy about the inheritance because he believes, wrongly, that he is not dying. With the entire Pollitt family together, it quickly becomes clear that Brick has a drinking problem, in fact, he declares it directly to Big Daddy. that he is an alcoholic. This stems from the interaction between Margaret and Skipper which resulted in Skipper's suicide. Skipper's suicide was also fueled by his own denial of his feelings for Brick. The pressure of this denial has become too much for Skipper to handle and, just as Brick drinks hisproblems, Skipper chose to end his life to deal with his problems. Rebecca Holder states, "Brick believes he is the only member of his family to tell the truth instead of engaging in staged truth, but he discovers that his 'truth' about Skipper is just as performative as the Margaret's fake pregnancy announcement and Big Daddy's delusions about Skipper. his health."Brick doesn't deny that he has a drinking problem, but rather he denies the idea that he may not be part of the sexual norm. As his true crutch, Brick uses alcohol as a psychological crutch to block out any thoughts that might revolve around his sexuality. Margaret does not directly state that Brick is using alcohol to mask his memories of Skipper, but she does state that he is denying Skipper's death by not taking Margaret to bed. Marian Price says: “Margaret and Big Daddy surely touched a wound, namely the fact that Brick knew that this homophobia contributed to his friend's disappearance. » Although he denies his own sexuality and wants to block the idea of ​​it, he always recalls his friendship with Skipper. In fact, he denies Skipper's death. To combat his denial of Skipper's death, Brick tries to remember the days when they played football together by going to the local track at night. This then causes Brick to break his ankle and increases dysfunction in the family. In the first act, Brick says, "I don't want to lean on your shoulder, I want my crutch!" » Brick's broken leg increases tension between Brick and Margaret, as it is a truer symbol of Brick's reliance on alcohol to take away his potentially problematic thoughts. Brick's denial of Skipper's sexuality and questioning of his own sexuality are part of this. of Margaret's denial. Williams uses Brick's refusal to have anything to do with Margaret after the adultery that ensued between her and Skipper to fuel Margaret's denial of Brick's true feelings for her. This scenario is fueled by the stereotype that women must have children to be successful and Williams also uses this to show the effect of wealth. Before marrying into Brick's family, Margaret was poor and if she doesn't have children with Brick, there is a greater likelihood that he will not receive Big Daddy's inheritance and she could become poor again. Her constant drive to get Brick to give to his children creates a greater divide between her and Brick. Other family members begin to recognize that Margaret and Brick are having problems, especially Mae. Margaret goes so far as to tell the rest of the family that she's pregnant, when the truth is that Brick won't sleep with her: "Brick and I are... having a baby!" ". This fact reinforces Margaret's denial of Brick's true feelings for her. Margaret is unable to accept that Brick wants nothing to do with her. Part of this might come from her own view of herself. Margaret directly compares herself to "a cat on a hot tin roof" (Williams, 11), or, in other words, she considers herself a real feline; however, since she can't get Bick to sleep with her, she is all alone. Margaret's denial of Brick's feelings for her and her stubborn determination to have children with Brick move the play forward. Yet another example of denial in the play comes once again from Big Daddy. Big Daddy not only denies his own failing health, but he also denies that his son, Brick, might be gay. However, on pages 60 and 61, Big Daddy talks to Brick about Brick and Skipper's friendship and says that there wasn't "quite normal in [their] friendship". In response, Brick becomes belligerent and denies.