Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

by

Tennessee Williams

The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi Symbol Analysis

The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi Symbol Icon
In addition to the bed, Tennessee Williams specifically mentions a giant console in his set directions. The console contains a radio-phonograph, television, and liquor cabinet. As Williams notes, “this piece of furniture, this monument, is a very complete and compact little shrine to virtually all the comforts and illusions behind which we hide from such things as the characters in the play are faced with…” Brick, in particular, continually reminds us of the console as he pours himself drink after drink to repress his feelings surrounding his friend Skipper’s death. The console represents another sort of crutch for Brick—it symbolizes the wall that he throws up to avoid facing the ugliness of the situation around him.

The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi Quotes in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

The Cat on a Hot Tin Roof quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Lies Theme Icon
).
Act 2 Quotes

A drinking man's someone who wants to forget he isn't still young an' believing.

Related Characters: Brick (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3 Quotes

Brick, I used to think that you were stronger than me and I didn’t want to be overpowered by you. But now, since you’ve taken to liquor—you know what? –I guess it’s bad, but now I’m stronger than you and I can love you more truly!

Related Characters: Margaret (speaker), Brick
Related Symbols: The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi
Page Number: 172
Explanation and Analysis:

And so tonight we're going to make the lie true, and when that's done, I'll bring the liquor back here and we'll get drunk together, here, tonight, in this place that death has come into….

Related Characters: Margaret (speaker), Brick
Related Symbols: The Bed, The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi
Page Number: 173
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Cat on a Hot Tin Roof LitChart as a printable PDF.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof PDF

The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi Symbol Timeline in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

The timeline below shows where the symbol The Console/Liquor Cabinet/Hi-Fi appears in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1
Unrequited Love and Sexuality Theme Icon
Difficulty of Communication Theme Icon
As Big Mama leaves the room, she jerks her finger towards the liquor cabinet to ask whether Brick’s been drinking, and Margaret pretends not to understand. Big Mama rushes... (full context)
Act 2
Death Theme Icon
Difficulty of Communication Theme Icon
Wealth Theme Icon
...Doctor Baugh appear, talking about the children’s immunizations. Margaret tells Brick to turn on the Hi-Fi. When he ignores her, she turns it on herself, and Big Daddy shouts to shut... (full context)
Lies Theme Icon
Difficulty of Communication Theme Icon
...get rid of Margaret if he doesn’t like her. Brick, meanwhile, has gone to the liquor cabinet to freshen his drink, and Big Daddy tells him he has a real liquor problem.... (full context)
Act 3
Lies Theme Icon
Death Theme Icon
Difficulty of Communication Theme Icon
...Brick’s drinking, as Brick appears in the room behind her. Brick immediately heads for the liquor cabinet . (full context)
Lies Theme Icon
Unrequited Love and Sexuality Theme Icon
Death Theme Icon
Difficulty of Communication Theme Icon
...his “click.” As he stands on the gallery, Margaret grabs all the bottles in the liquor cabinet and runs out of the room with them. When she returns, she faces off with... (full context)