Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” and Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” both embody the idea that masculinity is presented as a significant factor in society and is explored in different ways. The question ‘what is it to be a ‘man’?’ Has travelled through generations and is still in this day and age is constantly changing. Masculinity during the 1950’s was perceived as `
Masculinity can be defined as ‘the characteristics that are traditionally thought to be typical of or suitable for men’ (in the Cambridge Dictionary) and is demonstrated by both playwrights, but more precisely their actions implicate hegemonic masculinity traits. ‘Death Of A Salesman’ was written in 1948, the focal point in Miller’s play is Willy, where throughout the duration of his life he continuously fails in all his business ventures. This is replicable to Miller’s father’s business which disintegrated due to the 1929 Wall Street Crash. The concept of the American Dream is thoroughly perpetuated during the play and how it only supplied false hope to the nation in the 1950’s. Whereas, in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ which was published in 1955, the plot is centralised on Big Daddy’s birthday party. The play focuses on how Big Daddy and his two sons, Brick and Gooper and their challenge to confront their realities, such as Bricks homosexuality. During the time the play was written and performed, most states of America there were laws and legislations of some sort which criminalised homosexuality. ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ reflects the virulently hostile attitudes of the majority of American society in the 1950’s. This essay will explore how both writers use different methods to explore masculinity through physical masculine stereotypes, how male characters are emasculated.
In ‘Cat in a Hot Tin Roof’ the male characters engage with hard truths in different ways which also portrays the versatility between each male character and in general the raw traits of masculinity. Brick uses his crutch and alcohol as a coping mechanism for hard truths. Brick’s alcoholism is induced as a expression of his inability to define his sexual identity. It is only till later on in the play that Brick’s obsession with alcohol is exposed to Big Daddy, it is whilst Big Daddy speaks of arranging a new sex life for himself, to which Brick explains his reason as to why he turns to drinking: to find peace. Big Daddy as a controlling masculine force then throws Brick’s crutch across the room which asserts his dominance and how he is using forceful behaviours in order to put an end to Brick’s habits and “straighten you out”
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