1. PHYSICAL AND MORAL DISEASE IN CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS.
- Author
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Ursulescu, Oana
- Subjects
- *
METAPHOR in literature , *FAMILIES in literature , *THEATER history - Abstract
In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Williams portrays a family of Southern plantation owners, whose mutual mis-understandings and deceit become a metaphor for the fallen Southern ideals. This paper proposes to look at the images of physical and moral deficiencies, and how they embody the quickly declining relation-ships between the characters. It shows how, making use of such devices as speech patterns and dialogues pregnant with meaning and symbolism, Williams paints a world that, as one critic says, may be summed up in one single word: mendacity. The paper em-ploys a close reading of the original text and relies on the major general works about Williams' plays. In its final part, the paper makes a comparison between the now famous two versions of the final act, trying to see how catharsis is achieved in each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014