Maggie Analysis

Getting Started

• Maggie is a hysterical, dissatisfied and lonely character because her husband Brick who she adores and sexually desires doesn't return her affections.
• Maggie describes herself as a 'cat on a hot tin roof' because she feels nervous and bitter at the fact that her husband Brick refuses to make her his desire.
• She is lonely as her husband does 'can't stand her' and thus they are in an empty shell marriage.
• At the time, Maggie was considered beautiful in the fact that she is masochistically bound to Brick who doesn't want her.
• Due to Brick's indifference, Maggie has no children but desires them, and this is reflected in her spiteful behaviour towards Mae and Gooper's children who she coins 'no neck monsters'. This is a kind of 'second virginity' which Maggie makes reference to when she calls herself 'Saint Maggie'.

• Maggie's role is to be the loyal and loving wife to Brick/
• She is expected to conform to the social norms and values of the era- to have children to produce heirs- something she desperately asks from Brick and is expected from her from the likes of Big Daddy.
• The main protagonist who we see struggle to cope with her desires for an unconventional husband.