Eddie

Question 1

How is Eddie presented?

Answer 1

• Edward is presented as a friendly, generous character
• He searches out Mickey to play with and perhaps naively offers him sweets in an attempt to impress him
• He joins in with Mickey and Linda’s games
• Unselfishly tries to get Mickey to express his love for Linda.

Question 2

Why does Eddie like to play with Mickey?

Answer 2

• Raised in a middle-class home and educated at a private school
• He feels restricted and this is one of the reasons he likes the company of Mickey
• He revels in Mickey’s liveliness, bad language and risky games

Question 3

How is he shown to be impulsive?

Answer 3

• He is shown to be an impulsive character and one who doesn’t think too deeply about the consequences of his actions
• This can be seen in the way he rashly mocks the policeman in the first act and has an affair with Linda in the second

Question 4

How does Eddie show his emotions?

Answer 4

• He seems to lack compassion and does not sympathise with Mickey’s plight
• He tells Mickey to use his dole money to live like a ‘Bohemian’.
• He gives the impression he thinks Mickey and he can resolve things very easily
• This is all probably due to the fact he has nothing to worry about and thinks something as simple as money can resolve things

Question 5

How is it shown that deep down he may think he is superior to Mickey?

Answer 5

• He tries to offer Mickey money
• He patronises him about losing his job
• He tries to act like nothing is different between the himself and Mickey
• He feels like he can have an affair with Linda behind Mickey’s back
• He mentions friends unknown to Mickey and mentions how good a time he has at university