Where could I find suitable literary criticism on Tennessee William's 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof' regarding disability and disadvantage?
is this a significant enough theme for there to be any useful resources on the internet?
Depends. William's Cat On a Hot Tin Roof dealt more with mental dysfunction than disability. Some these days call that "disability". Many of Willams were dysfunctional socially, and privately.
If you mean physical disability in the sense of Brick being "disabled". In my view, Williams used the crutch more for emotional reasons than to support his ankle. Williams let Big Daddy and Brick expose their crutches...and for Brick, it was alcohol, not the support crutch.
If I were going to view physical disabilty in Williams...the Glass Menegarie would be the one I chose. There, much has been written about Laura and attitudes toward her.
To answer you question, I don't think physical disability is a significant theme in Cat, lack of communication, and social dysfunction are the movers there.
Others may find some disability theme and comment on it.
This site will give you insight into what Williams considers a disability and how this disability puts Brick at a disadvantage. Look particularly at the section on Themes and on the character descriptions. Also, to understand this better, read a bio of Williams. I agree with Bob that the ankle is a symbol of the real disability.
http://www.sparknotes.com/drama/cat/
If you have further questions on this, please repost.
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. You have already received excellent help, but since you asked specifically for criticism, here are some links:
1. http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6136
2. http://goinside.com/00/5/cat.html
3. http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-cathottinroof/
To find suitable literary criticism on Tennessee Williams' 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof' regarding disability and disadvantage, you can follow these steps:
1. Start by searching for scholarly articles and book chapters on the topic. You can use academic databases like JSTOR, Project MUSE, and Google Scholar. Enter keywords like "disability," "disadvantage," and "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" to narrow down your search.
2. Look for academic journals that specialize in literature and drama, such as The Tennessee Williams Annual Review or The Southern Quarterly. These journals often publish insightful articles and analyses.
3. Visit reputable literary criticism websites like SparkNotes, LitCharts, or BookRags. These websites often provide summaries, analysis, and themes for various literary works, including 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.' They may have sections focusing on disability and disadvantage.
4. Check online bookstores like Amazon or Barnes & Noble for books specifically dedicated to analyzing Tennessee Williams' works or 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.' Look for titles that mention disability or disadvantage in the context of the play.
5. Additionally, you can consult the library catalog of your local university or college. Many academic libraries carry books and journals related to literary criticism, and they may have specific resources discussing disability and disadvantage in 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.'
Regarding whether disability and disadvantage are significant enough themes to find useful resources on the internet, it ultimately depends on the depth of research and analysis done on these themes for this particular play. While it might not be as dominant a theme as others, such as communication or social dysfunction, it is possible to find resources that explore disability and disadvantage in 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.'