The Price of Disgust or Desire $5.00

Bid Daddy refers to the term mendacity, “as one of them five-dollar words that cheap politicians throw back and forth to one another.” It is also a five-dollar word that many of this semester’s characters have broken the bank with. First, Maurice and Clive, then the two Earnests, who could forget the girl plugged in, and now Brick and Maggie. The expense of five dollars? Is it an expense that you have found yourself indebted to? How many of us, like these characters, spent $5 to get what we wanted or to temporarily rid ourselves from disgust? Maggie spent her loot for the hopes of a child, an heir to the cotton fields of Big Daddy. Brick spent his on disgust- disgust for what his heart may desire and not being bold enough to experience. The girl plugged in, was more than happy to pay up for a new physicality- even if it was one of temporary virtuality. Maurice and Clive, reluctant in their spending, still paid up. So, who else? Me? You? How many of us? How many will there be? In reality, haven’t we all expensed five-dollars, here and there, to evade or achieve? For as Brick states: “Mendacity is a system that we live in.” It is a system that may or may not bring us to a duality, such described by Maggie in the last scene. For Maggie states to Brick: “Oh, you weak, beautiful people who give up with such grace. What you need is someone to take hold of you-gently, with love, and hand your life back to you, like something gold you let go of-and I can!” If you had the opportunity, would you take the gold; would you take your spent five-dollar bill back?