Change in dealing with discrimination regarding homosexuality: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof & All Mothers are Working Mothers
Homosexuality refers to sexual attraction that one possesses for the person of his/her same sex. It is a tabooed term in most of the society and is often dealt behind the closed door. The reasons due to which homosexuality is considered a taboo vary from society to society. Sometimes it is the culture of a certain society that discourages homosexuality and sometimes it is the religion that forbids people from adopting same sex relationships. Either ways, this attitude of the society towards the homosexuals forces many people to suppress their homosexual identity and lead an unwanted life. Yet there are few people who rise above this suppression and become successful in observing their lives according to their freewill. A better picture of this situation can be drawn from the comparison of societies’ attitude towards the homosexuality and the counter response of protagonists regarding it in Tennessee Willaiams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) and Sangita Rayamajhi’s All Mothers are Working Mothers (2005). This paper thus aims to compare the societies’ responses towards the homosexual lifestyle of Brick and Shiela and show that although the settings of these two plays are different, the societies in which these plays are set displayed similar discriminative approach towards the protagonists’ homosexual identities. However, due to the increasing acceptability of homosexuality around the world overtime, the counter responses that these protagonists displayed were different.
Set in the context of 1950’s Mississippi, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof introduces the issue of homosexuality through the character of Brick. It represents a disturbed time in the history when being homosexual were considered as security risk in the USA (Shackelford). Homosexuality was further associated with subversive and un-American behavior (Shackelford). Moreover, during 1950 Senator McCarthy along with his assistants started prosecuting and persecuting men and women of questionable repute which eventually set the stage for witch hunt (Shackelford). Many homosexuals during that time became the subject of government’s persecution and lost their federal jobs (Shackelford). The government wanted to remove them from Florida since being gay was considered as perversion of highest magnitude (Shackelford). On top of it, they were compared with traitors and the public opinion regarding them was that they could perform any crime against their country or their religion (Shackelford). Until 1971, homosexuals were considered “mentally ill”, “abnormal” or “maladjusted” (Shackelford). These situations thus forced the homosexuals to be marginalized and hide their identities in the society. Since being gay had the negative connotation, accepting this identity or association with any search person was a taboo. Although fifty years had passed since Williams wrote Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the negative connotation that was attached to the homosexuals in Western world could not be totally terminated from the Eastern world. This situation of the homosexuals is clearly reflected through the context of the All Mothers are Working Mothers. Set in a middle class Nepali family of twenty first century, it represents the negative psyche of middle class people associated with homosexuality. In terms of observing their rights, the real life scenario of Nepali homosexuals is slightly better than that of the American homosexuals of 1950’s. This is because the Nepali high court had recently permitted to observe and protect the rights of the homosexuals (Kaphle & Habiba). This thus allowed the homosexuals to be in public and enjoy their lives like the other heterosexual beings. However, although their rights are asked to be protected by law, they are not easily accepted by traditional Nepali society. Similar to the conservative society of 1950’s USA, the traditional society of Nepal in the twenty first century shows biased attitude towards the homosexuals. This similar attitude of both of the societies towards the homosexuals becomes further evident from the comparison of the plays Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and All Mothers are Working Mothers. In their own time frames, homosexuality is highly discouraged in both of the societies of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and All Mothers are Working Mothers. None of the family members of the protagonists wanted them to be homosexuals. It was discouraged to this extent that Brick had to keep his feelings for Skipper a secret. The seriousness of this matter is further understood from Margaret’s dialogue where she mentioned,
“You two had something that had to be kept on ice” (Williams 889)
This quote of Margaret directly points towards the relationship of Brick and Skipper and the ambiguity of it. Moreover, whenever the issue of his relationship with Skipper came, Margaret mentioned it in a way that can be interpreted as dark and negative (Williams). From the sense and the implication of her dialogues, it can be understood that such kind of gay relationship between Brick and Skipper was being discouraged by their society. Similar to Brick’s situation Shiela also faced negative reaction from her mother regarding her sexuality. When Sheila’s declared to her mother that she was a gay, her mother exclaimed,
“Oh my god! Don’t say it! No! My daughter… Oh my God! ... No!” (Rayamajhi 30)
It is clearly evident from this quote that Sheila’s mother was disapproving and discouraging the gay identity of her daughter. Her unhappiness regarding the gay identity of her daughter represents the reality of the whole society which considers gay relationship as “abnormal”. Thus, they are seen to discourage it. By discouraging homosexuality they are actually promoting heterosexuality which is discriminatory towards the homosexuals. In this way the discouragement of the conventional society towards the homosexual relationship reflect their biased attitude towards the homosexuals.
The heterosexual society does not only discourage the homosexual relationships but also expects heteronormative attitude from the homosexuals. For instances, despite Margaret had her doubts on Brick’s sexuality, she kind of convinced him to get married to her (Williams). Also, Brick’s whole family knew that he shared a special bonding with Skipper. Yet because of the “abnormality” issue attached to it, they never suggested Brick to spend his life with Skipper (Williams). Rather, they are found forcing Brick to carry on “normal” heterosexual relationship with Margaret (Williams). Similar kind of situation is also seen in the case of Shiela. In one situation when Shiela mentioned her mother that a man named Deepak from her office had proposed her, she expected her to accept that (Rayamajhi 38). Although Shiela’s mother knew by that time that Shiela is gay, such expectation of hers reflects the heteronormative attitude of the society. This attitude of both Brick’s family and Shiela’s family is discriminatory because they undermines the heterosexual identities of Brick and Shiela and persuades them to opt for a life that they homosexuals do not want for themselves. Hence, it is seen that in case of Brick it had created depression and frustration. Unsatisfied with his heterosexual roles he is seen to remain drunk most of the time. Similarly, in case of Shiela, she is seen to be pressurized by the heterosexual expectations when her mother asked her to get married to a boy and settle down. To fight back this pressure she is initially seen to hide her identity from her parents. Only because homosexuality is not approved by all, the homosexuals cannot really take solid measure to fight back these frustrations and pressures. Rather, they are seen to adjust with it and let the society continue with their discriminatory approach.
The heterosexual society also takes away the decision making ability from the homosexuals. Since heterosexual people are the majority they forces the homosexual beings to adopt their lifestyle which in a way take away their decision making power. For example, since Brick was frustrated about Skippers death and had no interest in his family matters, Margaret was imposing her choices over him (Williams). It was for her security, she needed the assets of Big Daddy. Yet, she was forcing Brick to co-operate with her in gaining it (Williams). Although Brick did not want to have a child with her, Margaret was forcing him to go for it (Williams). At one point when Brick asked how she was going to compel him when he did not want to have a baby with her she replied,
“By locking his (Brick’s) liquor up and making him satisfy my desire before I unlock it” (Williams 915)
With this dialogue it is thus evident that even if the homosexuals want to exercise their decision making power, they are compelled by the heterosexuals to fulfill their desires. Similar kind of situation is seen in the scene where Shiela’s parents are seen to expect that she will get married to a man (Rayamajhi). Although Shiela had clearly stated her mother about her preference of homosexual partner, she could not convince her father. Hence, she is seen to request her mom to hide this little secret of hers from her father (Rayamajhi). This situation of Shiela implies that even though she was able to speak about her homosexuality, she could not make any decision regarding it. As the society in which she was staying was predominantly heterosexual, her decisions and choices were disregarded. Thus from both Brick and Shiela’s situations at their home it can be claimed that the heterosexual society were oppressing their decision making rights by forcing them to do whatever they think is appropriate for them. Often they were used to uphold the heterosexual image of their family and themselves which clearly denotes the partial attitude of the society. Another discriminatory approach that the heterosexual society imposes upon the homosexuals is constructing a heterosexual identity for the homosexuals. It is often seen that the heterosexuals reject the existence of homosexuals in their societies and in order to establish this notion they force the homosexuals to form a heterosexual identity for themselves. This becomes clearer by the marriage of Brick and Margaret. Even though Brick had feelings for Skipper, he chose to ignore it and adopt a heterosexual identity for himself by marrying Margaret (Williams). Though Brick’s whole family including Skipper knew about Brick’s preference, none of them tried to establish Brick and Skipper’s relationship since it will create negative image about their family in the society (Williams). This non co-operation from the family members thus forced Brick to adopt a heterosexual identity for himself. Moreover he was so into proving it right that he repeatedly denied his feelings for Skipper in front of his father and his wife (Williams). Like Brick, Shiela was also forced by the society to uphold a heterosexual image for herself. Her mother kept the truth about her identity a secret from her father and the rest of the society. Even though Shiela was dating a gay partner, she hesitated to come open in front of her father (Rayamajhi). If this situations of both Brick and Shiela are analyzed it is seen that the negative reaction of heterosexual society towards the homosexual relationships did not only compelled the families of the protagonists but also the protagonists themselves to take shelter of falsification. Since this attitude of falsifying the protagonists’ identities took away their rights to live freely like the other heterosexuals, it can be considered as a discriminatory behavior of the society. Although discriminated in similar manners, Brick and Shiela’s counter response towards this discrimination is contradictory. It is seen in the play that while the conservative American society was discouraging Brick to adopt homosexuality Brick deliberately accepted it. It can be claimed from Brick and Big Daddy’s conversation where Brick confess about his rejection to Skippers proposal. Although unmentioned in the play, it can be assumed that Skipper had asked for the approval of their relationship from Brick. However, being discouraged by the society and for the fear of its negative sanctions Brick chose to ignore his homosexual feelings for Skipper (Williams). Unlike Brick, Shiela did not reject her feelings for Deena. Though she was also initially discouraged by her mother, she chose to uphold her homosexual feelings by going on dates with Deena (Rayamajhi). This approach of Shiela thus marks, the difference between her approach and Brick’s approach in dealing with the discouragement of the pursuing a homosexual identity for themselves.
Moreover, when the society expected Brick to adopt heteronormative attitude and go for conventional way of living, Brick accepted it. In the whole play he is seen to be dissatisfied with his conjugal relationship with Margaret (Williams). Yet he never took the step to finish their relationship and find a new homosexual partner for himself. Thus, because of his this attitude it can be said the he had accepted societies demand and had adopted heteronormative attitude of continuing his relationship with his wife. On the contrary, Shiela did not give way to her society’s demand. Although her parents expected that she will marry a man, she chose to be partnered with a woman and continue her relationship with her (Rayamajhi). This also marks the difference in attitude regarding how Brick and Shiela dealt with societies’ discrimination. Again when it comes to the issue of oppressing their decision making rights, Brick is seen to accept the oppression. For instance, despite knowing Margaret’s intention he is not seen to protest. He just kept waiting for the click and did not bother about what will happen to him after it happens (Williams). This thus reflects his submission to Margaret as well as to the oppression of the heterosexual society. However, an opposite scenario can be seen in the case of Shiela. Although she did not have any decision making power within her family, she did not let her parents to impose their decisions on her. Neither did she marry a guy nor did she leave her family. Rather, she just remained stick to her homosexual identity and waited for the right moment to break through this oppression. Regarding the imposition of heterosexual identity on homosexual beings it is seen that Brick deliberately accepted heterosexual identity for himself. Although it can be argued that the situation and social context had forced him, it is seen in the play that he had never made a single attempt to reveal his homosexual identity to the world. Rather when Big Daddy asked about his identity through questioning about his and Skipper’s relationship he mentioned that,
“Skipper and me had a clean true thing between us! – had a clean friendship, practically all our lives…” (Williams 904)
This quote thus shows that by referring their relationship “clean” he is actually indicating that he did not hold any homosexual identity. Contradictorily, Shiela is seen to be really forward about her homosexual identity. She deliberately went to her mother and declared,
“Mom, I am gay” (Rayamajhi 30)
This self acclamation of her homosexual identity thus shows that she was not shy about her homosexual identity and would not hesitate to reveal it when necessary. This difference in Brick and Shiela in this way marks how differently they dealt with the discrimination that they faced.
The reason behind these differences in approaches is due to the social change that occurred within these fifty years of time. It is mentioned above that how hard it was for people to establish their homosexual identity in USA because of the negative connotations that the heterosexual society had attached to it. However, within these fifty years many movements like the Stonewall Riots had been done to establish gay and lesbian rights (Loftus). Moreover, increasing educational levels and changing cultural ideological beliefs also helped people to be more liberal about the homosexual identities (Loftus). These social changes that took place in West also affected the perception of the people from East. Hence after fifty years of the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a liberal and more outward homosexual protagonist is discovered in the All Mothers are Working Mothers.
From the above discussion it can be thus claimed that the discriminatory attitudes of the society towards Brick and Sheila remained quite similar throughout the decays. However, the way in which Brick and Shiela dealt with these discriminations marked the social changes that occurred between 1950 and 2005. Thus, from the research it is evident that due to the social changes the homosexual identities these days are stepping forward in establishing and exercising their rights. Though these steps are not yet explicit, they certainly raise hope for the better and equal future of the homosexuals.

WORKS CITED

Kaphle, Anup, and Habiba Nosheen. "Nepal: Society Lags Behind Progressive Laws on Homosexuality ." Pulitzer Center on crisis reporting [Kathmandu] 03 Jan 2011, n. pag. Web. 24 Feb. 2013.
Loftus, Jeni. "America's Liberalization in Attitudes toward Homosexuality, 1973 to 1998." American Sociological Review. 66.5 (2011): 762-782. Web. 5 May. 2013.
Rayamajhi, Sangita. All Mothers are Working Mothers. Kathmandu: Across Publications, 2005. 15-43. Print.
Shackelford, Dean. “The Truth That Must Be Told: Gay Subjectivity, Homophobia, and Social History in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Tennessee Williams Annual Review 1 (1998): 103–118.
Williams, Tennessee. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. New York: New Direction Publishing Corporation, 1955. 878-915. Print.