Comparisons of Edwards and Mickey

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Avleen Kaur Arora     10KA     English

Comparisons of Edward and Mickey.

This play involves to main characters, Edward Lyons and Mickey Johnstone. Russell portrays both the twins as very different, yet comparable twins despite the circumstances and surroundings they have grown up in. In Blood brothers, the stage directions the writer of this play uses show both characters emotion and physical movement which make a great impact on the personalities of the characters. He also uses different techniques to raise tension and help readers imagine the situation of the play. We can see an immediate contrast between two characters and the bond between Mickey and Eddie, and the notable differences between their separate upbringings.  

We see Mickey and Eddie spoil in childhood games of gunfights, which we find more emotional as we already anticipate their death scene. This also brings a bitter taste of sarcasm to Mickey’s involvement in a shooting later in the play. This in turn leads to his imprisonment, depression and the desperation in which he pulls a gun on his best friend and brother.

For the readers/audience of Blood brothers, we see Mickey and Eddie’s friendship blossom knowing that they are brothers and the fact that they are unaware. The sense of dramatic sarcasm is a point of humour throughout the play. However, this is also a reminder of the Mrs Lyons superstitious curse, and the knowledge of knowing what is going to happen.

In the beginning of the play, Mickey appears as a childhood hero figure for Eddie, who is in fear for Eddie as Mrs Lyons is an overprotective mother and would hate her child to act like a low class child. As the play continues, we watch their natural bond unfold, and as their relationship develops, we notice that they appear more alike. In contrast to this we see Eddie becoming the role model towards the end of the play as he holds a good job and is considerate of Linda when Mickey distances from her. We then see the brothers grow apart again as Eddie leads a good life and Mickey falls intro stress and depression.

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Mickey: Low class, soft-hearted, good natured and easily influenced.

The life of Mickey's character starts getting very hard, with him being married at 18 or 19, his wife expecting a child, and to make things worse, he realises that he knowingly or unknowingly is dependent on his best friend Eddie, for almost everything in his life, This, tied up with a few more unfortunate incidents, eventually pushes him into depression. From this absolutely bubbly kid with no care in the world, to a completely broken person.

Eddie: The other Johnstone twin, who is given away by his mother, and who grows up ...

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