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Cadet Mills ZL
COL McDonald
HNL-372WX-01
6 March 2014
Southern American Gender Role Transformations
During the twentieth century, America gender roles experienced a tremendous
transformation. Typically, men acted as patriarchal figures who dominated the family, and
women were expected to care for household duties and satisfy all male desires. After undergoing
two wars, women’s role in the social hierarchy of twentieth century America progressed
significantly. Unlike their helpless past, the post war female role in society became more
equalized with their male counterparts. In Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the
character developments in the story represent tremendous gender role developments. The
dramatic character changes of both Margaret and Brick represent the gender role transformation
that occurred during the twentieth century.
In the beginning of Williams’ drama, Brick Pollitt represents the typical southern
American all-star. As a former football star, Brick represents the stereotypical dominant male
character southern gender culture as he appears to completely control the relationship with his
wife Margaret. As the play continues, however, his alcoholism shreds any sort of dominant role
in the play. He continues to deny his problems and pass the buck of his personal issues with
Skipper until his father Big Daddy finally confronts him (70). When Brick’s guilt finally
explodes and he admits to his homosexual relationship with Skipper, he acknowledges his
feelings, which represents his humanization from typical southern stereotypes. After his
acknowledgement, Brick continues to emotionally break down and turns to alcohol to drown out
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his problems until Margaret takes control. This represents a dramatic shift in the power struggle
between the typical dominant male and subordinate female gender roles. By analyzing Brick’s
emotional development, the symbolism of the changing southern male social dominance
becomes apparent.
In addition to Brick’s transformation, Margret’s rise to a dominant role in the husband
and wife relationship represents the development of female gender roles in twentieth century
America. Initially, the marriage problems between Brick and Margaret represent pre-war gender
norms. Initially, Big Mama accuses Margaret as the culprit of the marriage issues because “when
a marriage goes on the rocks, the rocks are” in the bedroom (23). Even though Brick and his past
with Skipper is the true instigation of the quarrel, the transfer of blame to Margaret symbolizes
the helplessness of women. As the play continues, however, Margaret’s presence evolves into a
powerful force. When Margaret finally realizes that she is in fact stronger than Brick, she finally
takes charge of the situation and vows to finally break the abstinent agreement between her and
Brick (107). This represents the development into powerful female roles in society following the
wartime environments. While men were away at war, women’s expanded role in society led to a
more equal relationship between male and female gender roles. Therefore, Margret’s character
development represents the evolution of women’s gender roles in twentieth century America.
By examining both Brick and Margaret, the equalization of gender roles in later twentieth
century America becomes apparent. Although initially the roles of men and women in Cat on a
Hot Tin Roof were similar to typical southern patriarchal families, the character developments in
the drama represent the modernization of gender roles in America during the twentieth century.
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Works Cited
Williams, Tennessee. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. New York: New Directions, 1975. Print.