Blood Brothers Flashcards
Who wrote Blood Brothers?
Willy Russell
How many children does Mrs. Johnstone have, including the twins?
9
Why does the narrator tell the end of the story to the audience before it’s even begun?
So the audience know that the characters can never escape their fate
Why does Mrs Johnstone want to be Marilyn Monroe?
Because Marilyn Monroe is used to represent perfection and a glamorous lifestyle.
What does “going on the dole” mean?
Claiming benefits
When is the play thought to have been set?
1960’s-1980’s
Where do the characters move to, to start a new life away from Liverpool?
Skelmersdale
What were New Towns?
Small, existing towns, which were extended and redeveloped to provide more housing to near by cities
What is youth culture?
When teenagers became properly recognised as an age group; young people had their own culture, different from children and adults
When Blood Brothers was written, what was the structure of most families in Britain?
A “nuclear” structure; which included a mother, a father and children
Who was priminister when Russell was writing Blood Brothers?
Margaret Thatcher
Why were Britain’s traditional industries in decline in the 1970s?
Because they were inefficient and struggling to keep up with foreign competition
Why does the play re visit Edward and Mickey every 7 years?
Because science shows that we change the most every 7 years and Marilyn Monroe wrote a book called “every 7 years”
Why is Mrs Johnstone superstitious?
Because she has no job, husband or money all she can hope for is no more bad luck and is careful in everything she does
Why does the narrator always say “the devil’s got your number?”
To remind the audience that they will never escape fate
Why does Mrs Lyons invent a superstition to scare Mrs Johnstone - “if either twin learns that he was once a pair, they will both immediately die”
Because she is so desperate to have a child and keep Edward forever, she doesn’t want Mrs Johnstone to ever reveal the truth. Because she knows Mrs Johnstone is superstitious she uses this to her advantage so that Mrs Johnstone never reveals the truth as she believes both twins will die if she does
How is social class a theme throughout the play?
You see how both twins upbringings as children draws their future, Edward wore nice clothing, went to private school and now is a councillor. Mickey wore second hand clothing, went to a public school and ended up in prison.
How are the Johnstone and Lyons families different?
Mr Lyons is has a highly successful career and Mrs Lyons just stays at home all day and spends his money. Mrs Johnstone has to be the breadwinner and a mum. Mrs Johnstone is the Lyons cleaner
Why does Mr Lyons lack sympathy when he sacks Mickey?
Because his job is stable and if he lost it could easily get another, he doesn’t realise how Mickey feels. Mr Lyons just says it’s a “sign of the times” when he fires his secretary
How are names significant in the play?
Mickey is known as his nickname all his life, Mickey, not his real name Michael. Edward, however is know as Edward and is only called Eddie by Mickey.
Why is Sammy a big influence on Mickey?
Because he’s Mickey’s older brother and he’s always wanted to be like him.
What is the irony when Mrs Lyons sees Edwards locket?
She thinks Edward has a photo of his own face in his locket, but when he tells her it’s Mickey it shows they must look like brothers
Why are there only two acts in the play?
Because everything in the play comes in pairs, Edward and Mickey and Act 1 and Act 2
Why does Linda have an affair with Edward?
Because when Mickey comes out of prison he is depressed and on pills, Linda doesn’t like how he’s changed and wishes he could go back to how he was before prison
