From this moment we begin to see events disintegrate. The most pivotal moment being Mickey’s part in the shooting and subsequent imprisonment. Mickey becomes depressed and then reliant on medication. His childhood sweetheart – now his wife - Linda suffers whilst her husband is in prison and despondent.
Mickey is released from prison, but his dependence on medication continues. Linda receives support from Edward, who has grown into a very different man than Mickey. Edward has a good job, but has retained his generous nature. He still cares for Linda and it is their affair which initiates the tragic climax.
Upon finding out about his wife and Edward’s affair, Mickey takes a gun and confronts Edward. Mrs Johnstone tells Mickey the truth about him and Edward. Mickey is resentful that he was not the one given away to a wealthy family. In his anger he fires the gun, shooting Edward, and then is shot himself by the police.
Dramatic Irony
Dramatic Irony is created by the audience’s knowledge of the twins’ fate, whilst Eddie and Mickey are ignorant of the tragic end awaiting them. The audience’s knowledge and the brother’s lack of knowledge serves to accentuate their innocence as children. Their childhood games involving guns are more poignant, as we can see the future and their fate.
Characters
When examining characters it is important to look at what a character says and does, but it is also important to examine a character by looking at their relationship to others and how they react to the character, i.e. what do they say about a character and how do they behave towards that character. There are two main character relationships within the play, Mickey and Edward and Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone.
Mickey and Edward
Part of the enjoyment for the audience, watching Mickey and Edward’s friendship grow is the knowledge that they are brothers, something of which they are unaware. This sense of dramatic irony is a point of humour throughout the play, but also a reminder of the superstitious curse that Mrs Lyons has inflicted and the knowledge of what is going to happen.
In the first half of the play, Mickey appears as the Childhood leader and a hero figure to Edward. Edward is in awe of Mickey. The audience witness the natural bond grow between these two boys and the way their external characteristics fall away and they become more alike.
In contrast to the earlier half, we see Edward emerge as the role model towards the end of the show. Edward has a good job and is considerate of Linda. We see the brothers grow apart, as Edward prospers and Mickey faces imprisonment and falls into depression.
- Look carefully at the relationship between the two brothers and how it changes over time. Why do you think the brothers grow apart?
- Do you think that if Mickey and Edward had known earlier about being brothers that the tragic end may have been avoided?
Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons
Much of the tension in the play surrounds the superstition that Mrs Lyons uses to keep Mrs Johnstone silent; that should the twins discover that they were separated, they will both die.
Throughout the play we see the contrast between the two mothers. At the start of the play, we are introduced to Mrs Johnstone as “the mother, so cruel”. Despite this, and the fact that she gives away one of her babies, the audience feels sympathy for Mrs Johnstone. One the ways this is achieved is the natural tenderness shown by Mrs Johnstone, as well as her liberal and accepting attitude. For example, Mrs Johnstone allows the boys to go and see the ‘Swedish Au Pairs’ film, we know that Mrs Lyons would not be so liberal. We witness that Mrs Johnstone is more understanding and accepting of the fact that boys will be sexually curious. She is down to earth and approachable, more so than Mrs Lyons. Through Mrs Johnstone’s parenting we also see that happiness during childhood is not assured by wealth or status.
The audience sympathises with Mrs Johnstone’s dilemma. We see her handle her house full of children with endless patience and tenderness. Despite being trapped by her social position and her lack of funds, she is down-to-earth and does not see money as the answer to her problem. In fact we see her refuse money from the desperate Mrs Lyons who offers her,
“Thousands… I’m talking about thousands if you want it, and think what you could do with money like that.”
To which Mrs Johnstone replies,
“I’d spend it. I’d buy more junk and trash; that’s all. I don’t want your money. I’ve made a life here. It’s not much of one maybe, but I made it.”
In contrast, Mrs Lyons is very conscious of her social position and the above scene indicates how she sees money as a solution to the problems of Mrs Johnstone. Mrs Lyons is portrayed as a cold woman who doesn’t how much emotion. She is very over-protective of Eddie and fears his bond with the Johnstone family. Later in the play this fear becomes more evident as she appears as a neurotic, obsessive character who appears to be losing control – evident in the scene when she attempts to attack Mrs Johnstone with a kitchen knife.
- Which of the mothers do you feel most sympathy for? Why?
- Is love or money more important in raising a child?
The Role of the Narrator
The narrator in Blood Brothers can be compared to the Greek Chorus. The main features of a Greek Chorus are as follows. Consider the narrator in Blood Brothers and how it compares.
- Offers background and summary information – helps the audience follow the performance.
- Comments on the main themes of the play.
- Expresses what the main characters cannot say e.g. fears, secrets.
- Often communicated in song form.
- Originally had 12 members, but spoke and moved in unison and were considered one entity.
- Acted as a link between the actors and audience.
The narrator in Blood Brothers acts as a constant reminder to us of the brothers’ tragic fate – exemplified in the musical number ‘Shoes upon the table’ which is repeated throughout both acts of the show.
Themes in ‘Blood Brothers
Childhood and Adolescence
Through Mickey and Eddie, we witness two brothers very different upbringings. The contrast between the two brothers, who meet and become friends, brings humour to the first half of the permanence.
Eddie seems to have missed his childhood. When we first meet him as a child he is very adult in his mannerisms and is polite and contained. We are aware that Mrs Lyons is overprotective and has not allowed her young son to interact with other children in messy childhood games. Eddie is in awe of Mickey. It is from the untamed Mickey that Eddie learns.
Blood Brothers explores the idea of fate and destiny and this creates dramatic irony through the audiences knowledge of the twins’ tragic fate. This is especially apparent when we see Mickey and Edward playing childhood games involving guns.
- What does the play have to say about the debate about nature Vs Nurture? Is an individual’s identity formed by the way they are raised or is it hereditary?
- Does fate bring the brother’s together?
- Do you think that the brother’s bond is the reason for the friendship despite their differences?
Social Class
Willy Russell says of Blood Brothers, “…that [it] could be played like a tennis match with every scene showing first the working-class situation and then a parallel scene showing the middle-class side of it. The only time I allowed myself to do that was in the scene with the policeman. I thought for that tiny scene, if I only did it once, it would be very effective.
We see Social class as a conflict, mirroring the battle between the two mothers. We also see the friendship of Eddie and Mickey overcoming class boundaries.
The audience is reminded of Social class through the text and also on the stage. In production Mickey and Edward’s clothes help to highlight their class, with Edward presented in neat clothes and Mickey looking scruffier. Accent also accentuates this, with the Lyons being well spoken and the Johnstone family possessing a broad Liverpudlian accent, bringing with it suggestions of ‘commonness’ and a lack of education.
- In what ways does the text (words on the page) help to highlight the different social classes?
- If you were directing the play, how would you present the different social classes?
- Do you think Social class is to blame for the tragic ending?
Superstition, Fate and Destiny
At the end of the play the narrator gives us a choice: do we blame superstition or class? Throughout the play the narrator constantly draws our attention to superstition. Mrs Johnstone is superstitious and it is knowledge of this that enables Mrs Lyons to silence Mrs Johnstone. She tells Mrs Johnstone the superstition that should either brother discover that they were separated, they will both die. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
It is also possible to see that the hand of fate pushes the characters to their fatal end. Some directors interpret the narrator as a dark figure who seems to hover over the action, knowing what is going to happen and almost nudging the characters towards their fate.
Mrs Johnstone’s believe in superstition also serves to highlight her lack of education.
- Is Superstition to blame for the tragic end?
- Could the play have ended in any other way? Or do you think the ending was going to happen, it was their fate or destiny?
- Mickey says “I could have been him” – had Mickey have been given away instead of Edward, would Mickey have turned out as Edward had?
Dreams
Another theme in the play is the dreams the characters have. Each has their own dream that will bring happiness and fulfilment.
- Mrs Johnstone dreams of being sexier than Marilyn Monroe.
- Mrs Johnstone dreams of a better life for one of her children “If my child was raised in a palace like this one….”
- Mickey dreams of being like his older brother Sammy.
- Eddie dreams of being like Mickey. Being streetwise and confident.
- A teenage Mickey dreams of being a little more like Edward, confident and eloquent.
- Mr Lyons dreams of success in business. “…if we complete this merger, I will, I promise you, have more time.”
- Mrs Johnstone dreams of a fresh start the family’s move to a new house will bring.
- An adult Mickey, married, with a baby on the way and money troubles wishes he was a child again.
- Linda, with a child and a husband who is ‘dead’ on the inside, wishes she could be a young girl again. “...the woman stands in doubt and wonders what the price would be for letting the young girl out.”
- Mickey’s final words, “I could have been him!” shows Mickey’s dream. Is this a final betrayal of the working class or a reasonable desire to escape from its limitations?
Other themes in the play include:
- Surrogate Parenthood
- Parenting/Nurture
- Nature Vs Nurture
Quotable quotations
“There’s shoes upon the table an’ a joker in the pack,
The salt’s been spilled and a looking glass cracked,
There’s one lone magpie overhead.” (Narrator)
“But a debt is a debt, and must be paid.” (Narrator)
“Living on the never, never, the devil’s at the door, broken bottles are in the sand and there is always a price to pay.” (Narrator)
“…kids can’t live on love alone.” (Mrs Johnstone)
“Pissed off. You say smashing things don’t you? Do you know any more words like that?” (Edward to Mickey)
“…you see why I don’t want you mixing with boys like that! You learn filth from them and behave like this like a, like a horrible little boy, like them.” (Mrs Lyons)
“I didn’t sort anythin’ out Linda. Not a job, not a house, nothin’. It used to be just sweets an’ ciggies he gave me, because I had none of me own. Now it’s a job and a house. I’m not stupid, Linda. You sorted it out. You an’ Councillor Eddie Lyons.”
“Why didn’t you give me away! … I could have been… I could have been him!” (Mickey to Mrs Johnstone)
Exam Questions
You will have to answer TWO questions on ‘Of Mice and Men’. The first question will refer to an extract that will be printed in the exam booklet. You will have a choice for the second question. The second question will refer to the play as a whole.
Extract Questions
Look closely at how Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons speak and behave here. What does it reveal about their relationship?
With close reference to the extract, show how Russell creates mood and atmosphere here.
Look closely at how Russell presents [insert character’s name] here. How does this influence the reader’s attitude towards [insert character’s name]?
Read the extract. How does Russell suggest [insert character’s name] feelings in this extract?
With close reference to the extract, show how the way it is written affects the reader’s attitude to [insert character’s name].
Whole Play Questions
To what extent can you blame Mrs Johnstone for the tragic events of the play?
How des Russell present the theme of [insert theme here e.g. superstition] in ‘Blood Brothers?
Write about the relationship between Mickey and Edward and how it is presented in the play.
How is the character of [insert character’s name] important to the play as a whole?
Imagine you are [Insert character’s name]. Some time after the events of the play, you look back on your actions and how they led to the death of Edward and Mickey. Write down your thoughts and feelings. Remember how [character name’s] would speak when you write your answer.
Give advice to the actor playing Mrs Johnstone on how she should speak and behave at different points in the play.
Think about:
- Mrs Johnstone’s meeting with Mrs Lyons.
- Mrs Johnstone’s relationship with Mickey.
- Mrs Johnstone’s relationship with Edward.
- Mrs Johnstone’s relationship with other characters.
To what extent do you think that the ending of ‘Blood Brothers is appropriate?