04 Cultural Archetypes in William’s Cat on A Hot Tin Roof

Abstract

Tennessee Williams in his plays explores the place one has; not just in the social, but also in the familial circles. This study aims to analyze the character types that Williams has presented in his play ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ by utilizing the theoretical framework of Archetypal Analysis to ascertain if Williams’ characters have any universal applicability within and beyond the age and culture of 1950s Southern America. The research is an analytical study as it deals with the concepts, symbols, and interpretation of the selected text; as such, it is primarily subjective in nature, with psychoanalytical undertones and concludes that family dynamics in this play are of the sort that almost every audience member in virtually every time or space can easily relate to and conceive of; because every family has their own version of each of these characters and the conflicts that can arise within them.