How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Page.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used the New Directions edition of the play, published in 1971.
Quote #1
MARGARET
Hell, do they ever know it? Nobody says, "You're dying." You have to fool them. They have to fool themselves.(I.25-26)
Maggie seems to be the master of manipulation. She seems to know what it takes to get through ordeals: this, according to her, is achieved by swimming in denial.
Quote #2
MARGARET
But tonight they're going to tell her the truth about it. When Big Daddy goes to bed, they're going to tell her that he is dying of cancer […] –it's malignant and it's terminal. (I.819-823)
It's interesting that they don't tell Big Daddy the truth right away. Everyone wants to put on a good show before he hears the news.