Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams. Short summary

5 seconds

The Big Pa planter’s 65th birthday is being attended by his sons: Hooper and his family and childless Brick and his wife Meg, nicknamed «Cat.» The children know their father has cancer. Meg tries to get her hands on part of the inheritance.

1 minute

Relatives arrive at the estate of planter Harvey Pollitt («Big Daddy») for the family’s father’s 65th birthday. The real reason is diagnosed cancer. Only the sick man and his wife Ida Pollit («Big Ma») don’t know about it.

Hooper’s eldest son has an advantage over the younger Brick — numerous heirs, 2 daughters and 2 sons, plus the wife is pregnant with her fifth child. Hooper and his wife, May, who is positive in every way, expect the estate to go to them.

Brick, the youngest son, a drunken man with a bad case of nerves, is his father’s favorite. That is why he favors Maggie, nicknamed «Cat,» as well. But the old man sees a growing estrangement between the young couple. He tries to talk to his son.

A grizzled Maggie also encourages her husband to increase his share of her father’s will. But Brick is rude to «Big Daddy.» The reason for this behavior is the recent suicide of a close friend of Skipper’s. Brick suspects that Meg slept with his friend and had something to do with the suicide.