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What's the significance of the line "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"? What does it MEAN?

"Cagey" asked in Questionland University about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Stroup_small
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    SCStroup

    Ever since ancient times, we have recognized that felines do not like tin, whether in the shape of roofs or other items of furniture.

    No, no. The line is famous, of course, because it is the title of a Williams' play (and a very good one), in which one of the characters is "Maggie the Cat." But the line means "skittish" or "jumpy," which is how you might imagine a cat being should one suddenly find one on a hot metal roof.

    The phrase "nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs" works similarly (That's always annoyed me. If there is no one there but a cat—and indeed no one but a cat is indicated!—there is little worry. The cat is probably asleep. Or maybe it's a Manx. There are myriad possibilities here), but may also indicate paranoia.

    Basically, it's a simple "As _______ as a ________," with the first blank = some adjective and the second = some descriptive situation in which an individual or thing, set in a specific situation, is intended to illustrate that adjective. What we have in "cat on a hot tin roof" is merely the descriptive situation, with "as jumpy as a" elided.

    SCStroup answered in Questionland University about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Sacri_ordines_by_charism_small
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    Rev.Enant

    A: Specifically in regards to Tennessee Williams' play, I've appreciated when directors (and cast) ignore the temptation to literally assign Margaret as the aforementioned 'cat', and instead use the title to describe the absolute jumpingbean hailstorm of LIES inherent in 'polite' Southern society (regarding cancer, fertility, bisexuality, greed, birth control, the after-effect racism still in play from slavery (and the shameless greed in pursuing that ill-got treasure from the dying cotton industry), etc etc), as well as the doubt/mistrust and downright trouble that this breeds.

    I've also heard it described as not terribly unlike The Tempest in it's commentary about dreams diverted, death and what different people's views may be of "rightful inheritance".
    (also tied to that would be the idea of being stranded: the MS delta has 'islands', and Brick is nothing if not stranded without his crutch, and islands and far away lands (Peter and Jack's decor) are mentioned, the bed in the bedroom is essentially an island...).

    Written in 1955, when lies of a 'denial' nature were catching on all over the nation, Williams' play was an especially-contrasting punch-in-the-gut view of american society. Especially postwar, when everyone wanted to believe "all is well, nothing to see here". Tennessee was a master of stirring the shit.

    The very last thing the 'cat' can refer to is perhaps better described as a "fish -violently- out of its water" - the South itself.
    You see, Big Daddy's vast wealth is highly unlikely - it's the biggest fantasy in the whole play. The North was growing fat on southern misfortune and their continuation of social inequity and legal mistakes. The contrast illustrated may be between the agri-centered primal old south (the cat) out of its element and in pain in a inhospitable, industrial-based and therefore hostile (hot tin roof) nation and world, with no forseeable way back to 'comfort'. (But the cat got its damn fool self up there to begin with, you know).

    You may also want to see: http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/phrases.htm#Like_a_cat_on_hot_bricks

    Rev.Enant answered in Questionland University about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Jawa_small
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    I've always taken it to mean that the characters are dancing just as fast as they can.

    blargh answered in Questionland University about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Keaton401_small
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    You could just read the play and find out, of course.

    Roscoe answered in Questionland University about 1 year ago | Report
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