Analysis of Act 2 – language, themes and context Objectives: To recall details about the context of 1950s American capitalism and consumerism. To understand and analyse how this is demonstrated in the play. To evaluate Williams’ messages. Starter: Create a quick bullet point list of everything that you know about America and capitalism. What function does consumerism have in society? Consumerism = The preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods.

Consumerism in Act 2 Presides over religion ‘Who gave that window, Preach?’ Page 31 Women are seen as property ‘you were chasin’ poontang’ page 38 Life is filled with things ‘a vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the things that nature replaces it with’ page 42

Consumerism spectrum Create a spectrum of the following characters, considering how much they value consumerism, ie. Most consumerist to least consumerist. Mae, Gooper, Brick, Big Daddy, Maggie, Big Momma, Reverend Tooker. Then find the evidence to support your decisions.

What does Big Daddy represent? ‘The human animal is a beast that dies and if he’s got money he buys and buys and buys and I think the reason he buys everything he can is that in the back of his mind he has the crazy hope that one of his purchases will be life everlasting! – Which it never can be…’ Discussion question: Why does Big Daddy prefer Brick to Gooper?

The Lost Son/The Prodigal Son What happens in the story? What are the messages of the story – religious and moral? Why is this relevant to ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ – consider a range of interpretations?

Analysis of Act 2 – language, themes and context Objectives: To recall details about the context of 1950s American capitalism and consumerism. To understand and analyse how this is demonstrated in the play. To evaluate Williams’ messages. Starter: Create a quick bullet point list of everything that you know about America and capitalism. What function does consumerism have in society? Consumerism = The preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods. Has your view to this question changed now?

Plenary What are Williams’ aims in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’? What effect does the play have on your ideas about consumerism? Do you think Williams’ views and messages are more or less relevant today?