☝️ Key Points
- Macavity is a fictional cat from the musical 'Cats', portrayed as a master thief and perpetrator of various crimes
- He is always absent when a crime is uncovered, which puzzles the authorities, especially Scotland Yard and the Flying Squad
- Macavity always has an alibi ready and is never found at the crime scene, illustrating his ability to always stay one step ahead of the authorities
- All cats whose evil deeds are known are considered mere henchmen of Macavity, referred to as the 'Napoleon of crime'
- The recurring motif of the song emphasizes that, no matter what happens or who discovers a crime, 'Macavity's not there!'
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Macavity' from the musical 'Cats' is about a cat named Macavity, who is portrayed as a master criminal. Macavity is an enigma and is referred to as 'The Hidden Paw'. He is known for breaking all human laws and even the law of gravity. He always seems to be absent when a crime is uncovered, making him a constant source of confusion for Scotland Yard and the Flying Squad.
Macavity is described as a thin, tall, red cat with eyes deeply set in their sockets and fur dusty from neglect. He moves his head from side to side like a snake, and although he often appears half asleep, he is always wide awake.
Despite his respectable outward appearance, it is known that Macavity cheats at cards. There is no trace of him in Scotland Yard's files. When food is stolen, jewel cases looted, milk missing, or a Pekinese choked, or when greenhouse glass is broken and the lattice irreparably damaged, 'Macavity's not there!'
Despite his numerous crimes, Macavity always has an alibi and one or two extras in reserve. Regardless of when the crime was committed, Macavity is never found at the scene.
It is also hinted that all cats whose evil deeds are widely known, like Mungojerrie and Griddlebone, are merely agents for Macavity, who has control over the operations and is referred to as the 'Napoleon of crime'.
The recurring motif of the song is that no matter what happens or who discovers a crime, 'Macavity's not there!', emphasizing his ability to always stay one step ahead of the authorities.