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Ethos
Act 1
Explanation and Analysis—Maggie and Skipper:
Toward the end of Act 1, Maggie enacts a flashback to the night she cheated on Brick with Skipper:
MARGARET: The Dixie Stars lost because poor Skipper was drunk. We drank together that night all night in the bar of the Blackstone and when cold day was comin' up over the Lake an' we were comin' out drunk to take a dizzy look at it, I said, "SKIPPER! STOP LOVIN' MY HUSBAND OR TELL HIM HE'S GOT TO LET YOU ADMIT IT TO HIM!"--one way or another!
This flashback is important because it provides context for a tension within Brick and Maggie's marriage, as well as more information about the queer dynamics between Brick and Skipper. Of course, the audience only gets one side of the story here, but Maggie's flashback helps elucidate her reasoning for what she has done and its ultimate connection back to Brick and her desperation for his love.
Particularly in a play that takes place over one night, flashbacks like these are an effective device for fleshing out the world of these characters without seeming too clunky or forced. Additionally, they function to emphasize the weight of the past on the present as they interrupt the play's flow or rhythm.
Related Themes:
