In 'Blood Brothers' we discussed how the narrator affects the play and how the narrator can change the plays direction, place and time. We used the narrator in a scene from the play to act out what we thought the narrator would do.
Blood Brothers, Paper 1b 'Blood Brothers' is about a poor lower class mother who sells one of her twin sons. She sells her child to a rich upper class family and you see the two brothers become blood brothers. Unaware that they are brothers they go through their lives with emphasis on being 7, a teenager, at university and then in their adult life. The superstition is, is that if they find out they both will die. Narration In 'Blood Brothers' we discussed how the narrator affects the play and how the narrator can change the plays direction, place and time. We used the narrator in a scene from the play to act out what we thought the narrator would do. Prejudice Whilst studying 'Blood Brothers' we discussed different forms of prejudice, racism, ageism, sexism, facial disfigurement and disability and class are the different forms of prejudice we discussed. We discussed why people take a dislike without even knowing the person their taking a dislike to. Exploring the character's attitudes and intentions We discussed what the motives of the characters were, why they carried out their actions etc. The discussion included why Mrs Johnstone sold one of her twins, how Mickey's life got in such a bad state and why Edward's and Mickey's life got separated. The monologue The monologue is a technique for a character within the play to perform a dialogue to tell the
How willy russel conveys chosen themes
20th Century Drama Coursework: How Does Willy Russell Use the Story of the Johnston Twins to Convey His Chosen Themes in Blood Brothers? 'Blood Brothers' is a play that was written by Willy Russell. First performed in Liverpool in 1982, it was later adapted to become a musical before becoming a worldwide hit. The plot concerns two brothers separated at birth due to their real mother's lack of money. They become close friends later in life, unknowing of their relation. The play ends with tragedy when both brothers are killed in a freak accident due to a breakdown of friendship over a love interest. There are multiple themes or alternative meanings running alongside the main plot of the play. Using such a multitude of themes is a brilliant method for getting in touch with more individual readers and building up a greater audience who appreciate the play at may different levels. The added meanings also add richness and feeling to the story of the Johnston twins without overcomplicating it. The two most important themes in Willy Russell's blood brothers I feel were the comparisons between the upper and lower British social classes, there were a lot of references to this and it has a lot of relevance to the play and secondly, the insight that is given into Mrs Johnstone's life and how she had often been confounded with superstition. Other prominent themes in blood brothers
How does Willy Russelll use the songs to enhance the audience(TM)s understanding of the play Blood Brothers(TM)?
How does Willy Russelll use the songs to enhance the audience's understanding of the play 'Blood Brothers'? Blood Brothers is a play written by Willy Rusell as a school play in 1981. It was then developed into a full play/musical and performed for the first time at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. The musical features many songs that help to introduce the characters and set the scenes. The songs are sometimes also used to progress through the musical. One of these many songs starts on the first scene right after the narrator exits. Mrs. Johnstone sings it. In this song Mrs. Johnstone describes her life before the story starts. The song is used to introduce one of the main characters Mrs. Johnstone. Throughout the song Mrs. Johnstone is compared to Marilyn Monroe, this is an extended metaphor for her life. She is considered to be like Marilyn Monroe because her life starts off well but after time it starts to deteriorate just like that of Marilyn Monroe's life. This song enhances the audience's understanding of the play by showing that Mrs. Johnstone's life has not treated her well, it helps the audience sympathise with Mrs. Johnstone. This helps the audience understand more what Mrs. Johnstone is going through during the rest of the play. Also throughout the song Mrs. Johnstone and her husband "go dancing". This is an extended metaphor for her hope. When she first meets
Travel Writing - Euro Disney in Paris, France.
GCSE - English - Coursework - John Stamps Travel Writing Euro Disney in Paris, France From the back seat of my car, I looked on as the Mickey Mouse signs flew past my window. Up Mickey's long drive we drove, many others joined us in our journey to Disney, like a group of small children flocking towards a melodic ice cream van. A large Mickey was visible in the distance perched upon a wide banner coated in sparkling magic. Under this elaborate banner we drove, feeling the magic that Walt Disney had created, thrust upon us. The anticipation was building as the wonderful world of films and fun grew nearer and nearer. On and on the highway continued, round to the left and round to the right, we followed in line, lemmings watching each other's heels. After a long but by no means boring journey, it looked as though we had finally arrived at Walt Disney land as the huge parking lot we entered. As the car door slammed behind me the five year old inside me was jumping out, bouncing around in happiness at the thought of meeting his favourite television character. This excitement had to be kept within as I, along with many other five year olds had to withstand even more torturous waiting and travelling before we reached our destination. Along the great, Disney sized escalator I walked, gazing at Disney film posters, splattered all over the walls showcasing the many years of
In the story of 'Blood Brothers', I am going to introduce the situation between two boys, which are twins, but are separated at birth and both of the boys grow up in different environments.
Introduction It is a widely held belief that we are born innocent and our environment largely governs our path through life. The environment may be described as physical location, cultural influence and the society around you. However, there are those who would argue that genetics plays an equally, if not more important role. Essay In the story of 'Blood Brothers', I am going to introduce the situation between two boys, which are twins, but are separated at birth and both of the boys grow up in different environments. Mickey lives with his biological mother, Mrs Johnstone, and his seven siblings. His father had walked out and left his wife and children, while his wife was pregnant with Edward and Mickey. We know this when Mrs Johnstone tells the reader at the beginning of the story, she says: "Me husband, he'd walked out on me A month or two ago For a girl they say who looks a bit like Marilyn Monroe." Mrs Johnstone's husband found her attractive, since she looked like Marilyn Monroe, knowing this when Mrs Johnstone says: "He told me I was sexier than Marilyn Monroe" Mickey came from a poor background, his mother was always in debt, and she needed money for the children's meals, toys and clothes. Mickey's idol is Sammy, his older brother. Sammy influences Mickey, for example when Mickey explains to the reader how he wants to be just like Sammy: "I wish I was out
Blood Brothers: the issues of a class system and the theory of nature versus nurture
Blood Brothers Willy Russell's play, 'Blood Brothers' is set in Liverpool in the early eighties and follows the life of two main characters, Eddie Lyons, and Mickey Johnston. Throughout the course of the play we are shown the issues of a class system and the theory of nature versus nurture. Russell encourages the audience to question everything they see, as the characters seem realistic, but we are reminded constantly that what we are watching is a construction. He achieves this by using many dramatic devices, which prove to be very effective throughout the course of the play. This includes the use of the traditional narrator, to also using other characters as tools in the play to help reveal further information to us, which we may not have otherwise seen. In 'Blood Brothers' the characters fall into two very stereotypical groups, the working class Johnston's, and their friends and family, and the middle class Lyons. The main characters, Eddie and Mickey are people that we can relate to, as we feel sorry for them, when they face the trials and tribulations of life. Russell uses this to involve the audience so they feel pity when Mickey loses his job, fear at the end of the play when the shooting scene takes place, and experience childhood joy when Eddie and Mickey share jokes. Humour, in its various forms, plays a large part in the play. By the end of the play, our
With particular references to two main characters, show how the way they change and develop during the course of the play demonstrates Russell's attitudes to power and opportunity in society - Blood Brothers.
Thomas Hudson With particular references to two main characters, show how the way they change and develop during the course of the play demonstrates Russell's attitudes to power and opportunity in society "Blood Brothers" is set in Liverpool in the early eighties. The play follows the life of two main characters: Eddie Lyons and Mickey Johnston. and has proved extremely popular with audiences of all ages. Willy Russell is very successful in sustaining the audiences attention and involving them with his characters due to the effectiveness of his writing. The plotlines are simple yet captivating, and the characterisation is vivid and imaginative. It is easy to empathise with the emotions experienced by his characters which makes us care about what happens to them. Russell is also highly successful in building dramatic tension and the conclusion of the play is both shocking and thought provoking. In Blood Brothers the characters fall into two stereotypical groups: the working class Johnstones and their associates, and the middle class Lyons. It seems ironic that although the Johnston family live on the breadline they start off cheerfully, compared with the Lyons who never seem content. This makes the audience aware of what is wrong with the lives of both families and creates dramatic tension. The main characters, Eddie and Mickey are people we can relate to: we feel pathos
In the short story “The Half Brothers” how does Elizabeth Gaskell manipulate the reader’s feelings?
In the short story "The Half Brothers" how does Elizabeth Gaskell manipulate the reader's feelings? The Half Brothers is a Victorian short story written by Elizabeth Gaskell. Elizabeth Gaskell has written many short stories but this is one of her best. In "The Half Brothers" Gaskell manages to evoke various feelings from her readers such as admiration, pity and disapproval for different characters. Apart from these reactions she evokes from the readers, she manages to build up and hold suspense for long periods of time during the short story. In her later work such as in The Half Brothers she shows sympathy for the problems of the poor Victorian factory workers and those suffering from poor housing. Gaskell's strong background of Christian religion has a direct influence on her writing. She is very definite about what is good and what is evil and has a strong moral sense. A contemporary writer of Gaskell's time, Charles Dickens, commented on her fondness for deathbed scenes and certainly these are a feature of "The Half Brothers" Gaskell makes us feel sympathy and admiration towards the two main characters. She evokes these feelings from us for Helen and Helen's son Gregory. She manages to make us feel sympathy for Helen because of her circumstances, poverty, isolation and being widowed so young. Gaskell shows us the extent of her problems and how they are all
Analyse in detail scene 6 from the play "Kicking Out".
Analyse in detail scene 6 from the play "Kicking Out" In my essay I will analyse in detail scene 6 from a play called "Kicking Out". This play was written by Clifford Oliver in 1994 and was first performed on the 6th of November 1994. The play was commissioned by the football in the community scheme at Leyton Orient. The play was written for young people to remove racism in football and in society in general. The Kicking out play is about five young adults building a team for a five a side football competition. The trouble is they need a team of mixed race. During the play Eddie the coach of the team, lies about playing for West Ham and through out the play he make racist comments. The team are not sure if they can have Eddie as the coach of the team. Scene six is set on the terrace, as in scene one. In this scene there are three characters Tanya, Kelvin on one side and Eddie on the other. They are watching a football match. Kelvin and Tanya are going out. Tanya is fifteen and white, she has an attitude problem with Eddie. Kelvin is fifteen too and is black; he has not mentioned any thing to his parents about his relationship with Tanya. Eddie is in his early forties. The writer shows the action takes place at a football match by his use of stage directions. This tells the stage director and actors what to do and where to stand. The first stage direction is found at
Blood brothers synopsis
"Blood Brothers" by Willy Russell . In no more than 250 words write a description of the plot of "Blood Brothers" Set in the early 1980's, Merseyside, 'Blood Brothers' is a naturalistic play telling the story of twin brothers Mickey and Eddie who are born into a large working class family. Their mother struggles to cope with her job and the difficulties of being a single mother of nine children. When her financial situation fails to improve, Mrs Johnston, the mother of the twins agrees to let her Employer adopt one of the children. Mrs Lyons is unable to have children herself but would love a family, she manages to persuade Mrs Johnston that she will benefit from giving one child away and reluctantly, Mrs Johnston gives up one of the twins when they are born. The two mothers vow not to let the boys meet and to keep the whole thing a secret. The boys grow up apart and are brought up completely differently. Mrs Johnston named the twin that stayed with her Mickey and Mrs Lyons named her child Edward. By chance, the boys meet and they play together. They become friends - 'blood brothers'. Mrs Johnston sees the two boys together, and, realising who Edward is, she frightfully warns Mickey not to go near the area the boys met in the hope that this will keep them apart. Later that day however, Mickey appears at Eddie's house, and when Mrs Lyons discovers who he is, she sends