"Mendacity is a system that we live in. Liquor is one way out and
             death's the other."[1] This quote by Tennessee Williams is expressed
             throughout one of his best-known works, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and the theme
             of mendacity permeates the entire play. Mendacity is a term that refers to
             lies, hypocrisy and deception that the Pollitt family uses to escape from
             falsehood. The overburdened circumstances of the family crisis reveal
             hidden truths that were being held by the characters in the play. Brick
             drinks in order to escape mendacity and lies, the Pollitt family, except
             Brick lies to Big Daddy about his terminal cancer and Big Daddy himself is
             Brick drinks in order to escape mendacity and lies. The alcohol helps
             him cope with issues he has bottled up inside and eases the pain he
             inflicts on himself by denying the nature of his relationship with Skipper
             and his culpability in Skippers self-destruction and death. Brick confesses
             to Maggie that alcohol is the only way he can obtain peace of mind and
             says, "The click in my head when I've had enough of this stuff to make me
             peaceful... (1.33)" Brick feels responsible for Skipper's suicide because
             he rejected him after he confessed his feelings for Brick. During his first
             real discussion with Big Daddy, Brick spits out his disgust with mendacity.
             He is repulsed with the fake life he has been living when his friendship
             with recently deceased Skipper was misinterpreted as "dirty". However, Big
             Daddy states that Brick's disgust with mendacity is really disgust with
             Uh-hu. Anyhow now!-we have tracked down the lie with which you're
             disgusted and which you are drinking to kill your disgust with,
             Brick. You been passing the buck. This disgust with mendacity is
             disgust with yourself. You!-dug the grave of your friend and kicked
             him in it!- before you'd face truth with him! (2.127)
             Big Daddy genuinely lov...