I've Got the Guts to die.. Do you have the guts to live?

Ambiguity is saturated throughout Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Tennessee Williams has a certain ease and fluidity in his character development, which makes the reader aware certain characteristics; however also leaves them constantly dissecting the dialogue. At face value, the characters embody the norm of family values and familial constructs. However with further analysis it is evident that these individuals are extremely complex and almost have an aura of deception and lies.One aspect of ambiguity that really stood out, that really wasn't discussed in class, was the aspect of the interruptions throughout the play. During conversations between characters, there was always something else going on. Like when Big Daddy and Brick are having one of the most real conversations of the play, the phone is ringing. Big Mama purposely walks through the room where they are talking to answer the phone; and Williams bounces between the phone conversation and Brick's and Big Daddy's talk. It is clear that Williams wants to portray that there is no privacy in the house. Big Daddy's tells Brick this that "The walls have ears..." It is stated that someone is always listening throughout the play, but it is humorous because there is so much drama. However, Mae and Gooper have mastered hand signals to avoid the eavesdropping.There was a reference made at the end of last class about the meaning of a cage. One gentleman stated that each bar on the cage represented a choice that the character made; that made a certain choice that eliminated another possible one. The choice could be a positive one, or could have been one full of regret. An ambiguous angle is Maggie has built her cage beautifully in her eyes. She married into money and now has the possibility to own one of the richest lands this side of the Nile. Her poor upbringing is mentioned numerous times, which validates her reasoning to stay in a marriage that is still together simply to save face. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Big Daddy regrets certain bars of his cage. He built his empire from the ground up, and he is very proud of his accomplishments. However, with the good news of a "spastic colon" he re-evaluates his life; and it isn't what he wanted. He is married to a woman who he has been married for forty years, and it seems like he is totally unhappy. He makes numerous remarks about his fat wife, and how he encourages Brick to sleep with more women. The cage metaphor is great because it allows the reader to see what money can do to people. Maggie had none growing up, and now that she has it she will do at nothing to loose it. Big Daddy has more money than most will see in a lifetime, yet is dying, and not happy in the least. Oh, the joy of irony.