Why did Alan Bleasdale write

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In the 1980’s a man called Alan Bleasdale Produced a magnificent series “Boys from the Blackstuff”. “Boys from the Blackstuff” was set in Liverpool and all the characters were from Liverpool too. The Characters are unemployed builders who have to work illegally to get paid because they all are on the doll (benefits). The main characters are Chrissie, Loggo, George, Snowy, Dixie and Yousser. “Boys from the Blackstuff” is one of the most widely acclaimed, highly praised television dramas series of all time. The main focus was on how bad unemployment in Liverpool really was at that time. The series changed people’s views on Margaret Thatcher and unemployment in the 1980’s. In this essay I am going to discover why Alan Bleasdale wrote this series in this way.   

In the first series “Jobs for the boys” you will see most of the characters in the Department of Employment building waiting to collect their money. You will get an insight into all of the character’s personalities in this first episode, for example Loggo says “What I’m sayin’ is, get a move on, will y’, cos I’m supposed t’be at the Haydock races for half-past two” this might suggest that he really doesn’t care about getting a job because he is just going to gamble all of he’s benefits away on the horses. You also get a good impression on Dixie as he says ” no one on the dole counts, friend” this also gives an impression that he doesn’t like his life and feels unhappy or ashamed to be on the doll. There is also Yosser who you will get the best impression of as he says “Afraid? Y’ll be terrified in a minute. [Leans in] Now sort me soddin’ giro cheque out before I knock y’ into the disability department.” This gives you the correct view that he is a very violent man. Also Chrissie is in the first scene where he says sarcastically” Oh yeah, I just come here f’ the company and the pleasant surroundings.” This tends to give the impression the he wants a decent job and to get off of the doll. Finally you have George who doesn’t come in until the end of the series, he says ”I don’t like to let the boys down, you know. I mean there’ll be ten ton of black stuff on the deck now, waiting’ for me” [we see the Clerk, then George. He is wearing pyjama bottoms and slippers.]. This gives you the impression that he is a hard worker, but also that he’s a bit mad because he is wearing his pyjama bottoms and slippers to go out and collect his money.

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In this first episode all of the boys are working illegally on site. Snowy, who happens to die tragically in this particular episode, due to someone else’s bad workmanship. Snowy tries to escape from the sniffers from the dole office (Moss and Lawton) by climbing down a rope that is attached to a banister, the banister breaks and Snowy falls to his tragic death. This is ironic because Snowy believes in finishing a job properly as he once said “y’know, doin’ somethin’ y’good at- there’s nothin’ like it”.

The characters in the first episode react sad most ...

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