Blood Brothers Flashcards
Why is “Tell me it’s not true say it’s just a story” such an important quote?
This quote, along with the two dead bodies on stage at the start of the play, immediately engages the audience and we have a lot of extreme emotions here and want to know what’s happened.
What does the quote “By the time I was twenty-five, I looked like forty-two” show?
Willy Russel wants to make us aware of the hard life Mrs Johnstone has had, by implying that the working class troubles she has had to face have impacted upon her looks.
“Myself, I believe that an adopted child can become ones own” What does this make us feel?
This makes the audience feel sympathy for Mrs Lyons as her husband is clearly against adoption and she is clearly desperate for a child to love.
How does this quote reflect the whole play? “There’s shoes upon the table an’ a joker in the pack. The salts been spilled and the looking glass cracked”
The narrator says this to enforce the idea of superstition, also the looking glass cracking supposedly seems to bring 7 years bad luck and the twins seem to meet every 7 years.
“He’d sleep every night in a bed of his own”
Mrs Lyons is trying to persuade Mrs Johnstone to give her one of her children and attempting to guilt trip her to get what she wants. This shows to the audience that she is relentless and is willing to use any means to get herself a child.
“But a debt is a debt and must be paid”
This foreshadows the tragic ending of the two deaths and is used to distance ourselves from the play.
What is the use of the narrator in the play for?
To distance yourself from the characters and to remind us that things are definitely going to go wrong in this play.
What does “The devils got your number” mean?
This means that the devil knows what the women have done and the association with the devil implies that what the women did was evil.
What technique is used when Mickey says “Will you be my blood brother Eddie?”
Irony as we, the audience, are aware that they are actually fraternal brothers.
What does “You’re…you”re a fuckoff!” show us about Eddie?
That whilst he admires the rebellious streak that Mickey has, he clearly still lacks an understanding for what it means.
“You don’t wanna end up in court again do y’a?” What theme does this show?
This theme presents that differences in class, as when the police man returns Mickey home he threatens Ms Johnstone, whereas we know when returning Eddie home he says to simply “Dock his pocket money”.
“No-one gets off without the price being paid”
Again refers to no deal coming without a consequence, foreshadowing the boys’ deaths.
Why does Mrs Lyons act the way she does towards Mrs Johnstone as the play progresses?
“You ruined me”
It shows her increasing paranoia as she believes that Mrs Johnstone has the power to destroy her family. She is worried that Eddie discovers the truth about who his real mother is.
What does the quote “…only a sign of the times” reference?
The quote refers to the economic crisis that was happening at the time, and also further reflects the dampened and depressing mood for somebody who is in the working class.
“Well how come you got everything I got nothin’?” What does this quote represent?
This quote represents the class difference and how “unfair” life was between classes and people were not allowed the same opportunities.
