Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Analysis
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
At the very opening of act one, Maggie uses the term “no-neck monsters,” not a very common description used for ill-mannered children. When her husband Brick asks what she means by this phrase, she explains these children do not possess any connection between their bodies and heads. Brick agrees with her by saying “All no-neck people are monsters.” I’d like to elaborate further on what the concept of “no-neck monsters” might mean for the opening as well as the general theme of this play.
There are many ways to describe the nature of how people act and what motivates them. When examining such questions it is common to note the contrast between one's mind and heart. The mind being the rational arbiter of right and wrong, proper and improper. Conversely, the heart serves as the emotional drive that compels us to act, often without reason, and sometimes even in a harmful manner. As humans, we encounter conflict between our minds and hearts on a regular basis.
There is debate on whether the mind has the innate power to control the heart in every situation. In a book called the Tanya from Rabbi Zalman Schneorson, the founder of a prominent Hassidic movement known as Chabad, this question is discussed at length. According to Rabbi Schneorson, every person has two souls, the godly soul - rooted in the mind, and the animalistic soul rooted in the heart. The saga of life is the constant battle between these two souls, each soul trying to dominate not just its own base (mind or heart) but the entire body, bending it to its either divine or animal-like will.
Rabbi Schneorson is of the opinion that the rational mind is naturally capable of controlling one’s heart and emotions (Tanya, chapter 12.) To sum up his philosophy; if one uses his mind to navigate through life and does not succumb to unhealthy emotional temptations, he is capable to attain higher than angelic levels of spiritual greatness. If, however, one becomes dominated by his animalistic soul, he is essentially lower even than the lowest of animals. Having the capacity to regulate our speech and actions through our intellect is arguably one of the core aspects that differentiate us, humans, from animals.*
The aforementioned may be the meaning behind the concept of no-neck monsters. Maggie is troubled that these kids act more like animals than people. They are doing things without the sane filter of their minds. If there was a connection between their heads and bodies, then their behavior would be governed, at least to some extent, by a brain, thus mirroring the actions of a human and not a monster. Due to May’s inability to educate her children, they may have heads, but there’s no neck to ring, and this is something that even Big Daddy did not fail to notice and comment upon.
“Fo' God's sake, Gooper, why don't you put them pigs at a trough in th' kitchen?” To me, this quote is both hilarious and sad. The reference to pigs and a troth is almost too perfect, but I think that there is also the sadness and frustration of a grandfather about his grandkids that is embedded in this analogy as well. Regardless, it is quite evident that Big Daddy harbors a similar sentiment to Maggie and Brick’s with regard to Gooper and May’s children’s behavior and character at that time.
Throughout the entire play, there are many demonstrations of intellectual, emotional, and psychological issues. There is a deeply sad and depressed alcoholic son. An older brother who is heavily preoccupied with securing his dad’s estate, almost in a manner that doesn’t acknowledge that at the moment his father is terminally ill. A daughter-in-law that will attempt any and all kinds of flattery toward her father-in-law in the hopes of gaining power and wealth through him. All this with the most two-faced presentation - pretending that she loves him while she is just wishing he would die already…
It seems that the idea of mind and body and how they could and should interact with each other was not placed at the opening act by accident. For the start of such an intricate exploration of joy and sadness, life and death, generosity and greed amongst so much more, how better to begin than by using a play on words which, in a way, encapsulates all of human conflict and success. Perhaps the answer to many of the questions in this play was already inserted at its onset. Figure out how to build a healthy bridge between your mind and body and you may find yourself experiencing true love and feeling a bit less like a cat on a hot tin roof.
*No hate on animals intended ; )