40 pages • 1 hour read
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
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Book Brief
208
Play • Fiction
Mississippi Delta • 1950s
1955
Adult
18+ years
NP0L
Super Short Summary
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams revolves around the Pollitt family, who gather to celebrate patriarch Big Daddy's birthday, unaware he is terminally ill. His sons, Brick and Gooper, along with their wives, vie for his inheritance while facing personal struggles, deception, and family secrets, culminating in dramatic confrontations. This book includes discussions on alcohol addiction, anti-gay bias, and suicidal thinking.
Mysterious
Dark
Emotional
Unnerving
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
62,471 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is widely lauded for its intense exploration of family dynamics, deceit, and personal anguish. Critics praise its sharp dialogue and complex characters, especially the portrayals of Maggie and Brick. Some reviews note the melodramatic tone and abrupt shifts in mood as potential drawbacks. Overall, it remains a significant, compelling work in American theater.
Who Should Read Cat on a Hot Tin Roof?
A reader who would enjoy Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams is likely drawn to intense family dramas and complex character studies. Fans of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman or Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day's Journey into Night will appreciate the intricate emotional conflicts and themes of truth and illusion in Williams' play.
62,471 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Brick Pollitt
Brick Pollitt
Brick is Maggie's husband and the younger son of Big Daddy. Once a star athlete, he grapples with alcoholism and a detachment from family affairs, except for his complicated friendship with Skipper.
Big Daddy Pollitt
Big Daddy Pollitt
Big Daddy is the wealthy and authoritative patriarch of the Pollitt family, grappling with health issues privately withheld from him. His affection for Brick complicates family dynamics surrounding inheritance.
Ida “Big Mama” Pollitt
Ida “Big Mama” Pollitt
Big Mama is Big Daddy's wife and the devoted, often naïve mother of Brick and Gooper. She is marked by her genuine, simple-minded love for her family, especially Brick.
Mae Pollitt
Mae Pollitt
Mae is Gooper's wife, known for her large family and her ambition to secure Big Daddy's estate. She competes with Maggie for favor, leveraging her children's existence as a strategic advantage.
Gooper Pollitt
Gooper Pollitt
Gooper is the elder son of Big Daddy and a successful lawyer who feels overshadowed by his brother Brick. He, along with his wife Mae, seeks to inherit the family estate in a calculated manner.
208
Play • Fiction
Mississippi Delta • 1950s
1955
Adult
18+ years
NP0L
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