However, just like in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, once the “Godfather” figure of a Mafia dies, one of his sons succeeds him as the head of the family. This correlates to how once Big Daddy is dead, his plantation will be handed down to one of his kids. In the mafia, because of the honor of handing down and inheriting the family, the patriarchal family structure forcibly imposes a tremendous expectation of men to step up and be the providers, the hard workers, and the empire builders. Gooper exhibits this as his wife describes him as “always had to carry a bigger load of responsibilities than Brick ever had t’ carry… Why, Gooper has given himself body and soul to keeping this place up for the past five years since Big Daddy's health started failing.
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But if I don't get one, if there are any peculiar shenanigans going on around here behind my back, well...I know how to protect my own interests”(156). Gooper says he will relentlessly fight to become his father’s successor. This clawing between family members and feeling of necessity for one to out- man the other, a common fight between Mafia members, exaggerates the overwhelming greed in this play. The greed for money and the greed for power is displayed by all of the characters. Along with Big Daddy himself constantly reminding everyone of his successes, most of the Pollitt family is scrambling for a piece of Big Daddy’s fortune, and like Gooper says will do anything to get it. Brothers protecting themselves, one turning on the other, and becoming a carbon copy of the ideal man, all in order to achieve ultimate power within the patriarchy, (all common behaviors in mafia culture). These behaviors obviously highlight the greed of the characters through the extent they are willing to go to gain something. However, this is not the same in Bricks case, as he does not seem to show greed or motivation over …show more content…
Even Big Daddy himself says “But why in hell, on the other hand, Brick--should I subsidize a goddam fool on the bottle?--Liked or not liked, well, maybe even--loved!--Why should I do that?--Subsidize worthless behaviour? Rot? Corruption?”(112). And when Big Daddy asks if Brick even cares about the matter he responds “no sir I do not”(113). In the Mafia, patriarch and the honor of inheritance are extremely important and are usually the forefront of a mobster's life. A high ranking Mafia man lives to deal with business regarding the mafia, and only wishes to one day move up in the hierarchy. It is even more than expected, almost necessary, for a young man born in these conditions to be the definition of masculinity in order to assert his place in society. This is why, putting Brick, the exact opposite of this definition, in the setting of the mafia, highlights this break of gender norms so well. Where the play is originally set, even though masculinity important, it is not the end all be all; however, in the Mafia it is. Therefore, placing Brick in this context severely increases the focus on how Brick does not fit in his familial role. Any Mafia man wouldn't dare participate in “worthless behavior” “rot” or “corruption”. A Mafia
But if I don't get one, if there are any peculiar shenanigans going on around here behind my back, well...I know how to protect my own interests”(156). Gooper says he will relentlessly fight to become his father’s successor. This clawing between family members and feeling of necessity for one to out- man the other, a common fight between Mafia members, exaggerates the overwhelming greed in this play. The greed for money and the greed for power is displayed by all of the characters. Along with Big Daddy himself constantly reminding everyone of his successes, most of the Pollitt family is scrambling for a piece of Big Daddy’s fortune, and like Gooper says will do anything to get it. Brothers protecting themselves, one turning on the other, and becoming a carbon copy of the ideal man, all in order to achieve ultimate power within the patriarchy, (all common behaviors in mafia culture). These behaviors obviously highlight the greed of the characters through the extent they are willing to go to gain something. However, this is not the same in Bricks case, as he does not seem to show greed or motivation over …show more content…
Even Big Daddy himself says “But why in hell, on the other hand, Brick--should I subsidize a goddam fool on the bottle?--Liked or not liked, well, maybe even--loved!--Why should I do that?--Subsidize worthless behaviour? Rot? Corruption?”(112). And when Big Daddy asks if Brick even cares about the matter he responds “no sir I do not”(113). In the Mafia, patriarch and the honor of inheritance are extremely important and are usually the forefront of a mobster's life. A high ranking Mafia man lives to deal with business regarding the mafia, and only wishes to one day move up in the hierarchy. It is even more than expected, almost necessary, for a young man born in these conditions to be the definition of masculinity in order to assert his place in society. This is why, putting Brick, the exact opposite of this definition, in the setting of the mafia, highlights this break of gender norms so well. Where the play is originally set, even though masculinity important, it is not the end all be all; however, in the Mafia it is. Therefore, placing Brick in this context severely increases the focus on how Brick does not fit in his familial role. Any Mafia man wouldn't dare participate in “worthless behavior” “rot” or “corruption”. A Mafia