In the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tennessee Williams supports the idea that denying the truth about one's circumstances disrupts the dynamic of that person's relationship and others around him or her. Williams develops this vision of denial by describing the dysfunctional actions and choices of the Pollitt family. This is especially demonstrated through the actions of Margaret, Brick, and Big Mama. Brick denies Skipper's sexuality and, in turn, his own sexuality. This denial feeds into his relationship with Margaret, who denies how he feels about her. Big Mama faces her own form of denial when faced with Big Daddy's failing health. Additionally, Williams includes less prominent examples of denial, such as the denial that occurs even when he is told the truth about his failure to recover. Williams explains to readers that denial of the truth can lead to unrest among people in a family or group. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Pollitt family reunites for Big Daddy's sixty-fifth birthday and to find out whether or not Big Daddy has cancer. The illusion that Big Daddy may not have cancer and then the truth that he does have cancer is the root of Big Mama's denial. Big Mama demonstrates the effect that denial of mortality has on the family. Williams uses this scenario to show how the heads of the house play a vital role in the family dynamic. Big Daddy is the glue that holds the family together and the recognition that the breadwinner may die means a disruption to the current family dynamic. Throughout the first two acts of the show, Big Mama repeatedly shows optimism that Big Daddy does not have cancer. This optimism changes in the third act when Big Mama is faced with the fact that Big Daddy is indeed dying of cancer. He says “Yes, it's just a bad dream, that's all, it's just a terrible dream (Williams 103). Big Mama's denial about cancer further disrupts the already turbulent dynamic between her and Big Daddy. Big Daddy is very vocal about his feelings towards his relationship with Big Mama. He tells Brick in a private conversation: “All I ask of that woman is that she leave me alone. But she can't admit to herself that it makes me feel bad. Williams states in a direction: "Big Daddy is famous for his jokes at Big Mama's expense, and no one laughs harder at these jokes than Big Mama herself." Big Daddy lusts after other women in the family, mainly Margaret. Big Mama's denial about Big Daddy's feelings sets the mood for the rest of the family's dynamic as they are the breadwinner. 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 of them can talk about it directly with Big Mama due to her denial of Big Daddy's ailing health. Likewise, neither party can talk to Big Daddy about the legacy because he believes, falsely, that he is not dying. With the entire Pollitt family together, it quickly becomes clear that Brick has an alcohol problem, and he declares it directly to Big Daddy. who is an alcoholic. This stems from the interaction between Margaret and Skipper resulting in Skipper's suicide. Skipper's suicide was also fueled by his own denial of his feelings for Brick. The pressure of this rejection has become too much for Skipper to handle, and just as Brick is drinking away his problems, Skipper has chosen to end his life to handle his problems. Rebecca Holderstates, "Brick believes he is the only member of his family telling the truth that is happening instead of engaging in the truth being portrayed, but he finds that his 'truth' about Skipper is just as performative as the false announcement of Margaret's pregnancy and Big Daddy's delusions about his health.”Brick does not deny having a drinking problem, but instead denies the idea that it may not be part of the sexual norm, Brick uses alcohol as psychological crutch to block 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 states that he is denying Skipper's death by not taking Margaret to bed. Marian Price states: “Margaret and Big Daddy have certainly touched a wound, namely Brick's repressed awareness that this homophobia contributed to the death of his friend.” Although he denies his sexuality and wants to block the idea of ​​it, he still remembers his friendship with Skipper . In fact, he denies Skipper's death. To combat his denial of Skipper's death, Brick tries to remember when they played soccer together by going to the local track at night. This then causes Brick to break his ankle and increases the dysfunction in the family. In the first act, Brick states, "I don't want to lean on your shoulder, I want my crutch!" Brick's broken leg increases tensions between Brick and Margaret, because it is a truer symbol of Brick's reliance on alcohol to stave off his potentially problematic thoughts. Brick's denial of Skipper's sexuality and questioning of his own sexuality is part of the cause of Margaret's denial. Williams uses Brick's refusal to have anything to do with Margaret after the ensuing adultery 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 has no children with Brick there is a greater chance that he will not receive Big Daddy's inheritance and she may be poor again. Her constant focus on convincing Brick to give to her children causes a larger gap to grow between her and Brick. Other family members begin to recognize that Margaret and Brick have 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 going to have a baby!". This fact increases Margaret's denial of Brick's true feelings for her. Margaret can't accept that Brick wants nothing to do with her. This may partly stem from her view of herself. Margaret directly compares herself to "a cat on a hot tin roof" (Williams, age 11) or, in other words, considers herself a real feline; however, since she cannot convince 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 drive the play forward. A further example of denial in comedy once again comes from Big Daddy. Big Daddy not only denies his own failing health, but also denies the fact that his son, Brick, may be gay. However, on pages 60 and 61 Big Daddy talks to Brick about Brick and Skipper's friendship and says that there was something "not exactly normal about [their] friendship." In response, Brick becomes belligerent and passionately denies these accusations while becoming defensive. This refusal leads to even more tension between Big Daddy and Brick. 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