Maggie Pollitt

Margaret Pollitt is the wife of Brick Pollitt and the daughter-in-law of Big Daddy. She is characterised by her sharp wit, beauty, and intense desire to secure her future and maintain her marriage despite Brick's emotional withdrawal and persistent alcoholism. Her nickname, Maggie the Cat, reflects her tenacity and her ability to survive in a hostile and indifferent environment.

Role in the Pollitt Family

Throughout the narrative, Maggie finds herself in conflict with the rest of the Pollitt family, particularly her sister-in-law Mae and brother-in-law Gooper. As the family gathers at the plantation to celebrate Big Daddy's birthday, Maggie fights to protect her status and her inheritance rights against those who seek to exploit Brick's decline. Her actions are driven by a complex mix of genuine love for her husband and a desperate need for financial and social security.

Her relationship with Brick remains the central tension of the story. Maggie constantly challenges Brick to confront the truth regarding his past, specifically his relationship with his late friend Skipper. By the conclusion of the play, Maggie takes decisive action to secure her position within the family, asserting her agency in a household defined by mendacity and repressed desires.