English Literature Revision : Blood Brothers Act 1

Question 1

Narrator : “ So did y’ hear the story of the Johnstone twins ? “

Answer 1

This quote shows that the Narrator opens the play and that it is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the Johnstone twins will die at the end of the play .

Question 2

Narrator :” As like each other as two pins of one womb , on the self same day , how one was kept and one was given away ? “

Answer 2

This quote shows that Mrs Johnstone give to twins and when she returns from the hospital and the creditors take her possessions to pay for the bill . Mrs Lyons enters and forces Mrs Johnstone to give up the twins as promised .

Question 3

Narrator : “ An’ did you never hear the Johnstone twins die , never knowing that they shared one name “ .

Answer 3

This quote shows that this passage occurs immediately after Mrs Johnstone’s opening lines and as the narrator sings during the overture . The Narrator explains the backstory of the two boys and it is revealing how their intertwined ended in devastation . At the same time he highlights a central elements of their story and namely that they were unaware that they twins brothers until the day they die . This song is central to the musical , as it offers a broad overview of the events of the story while drawing attention to the fact that the two boys were separated at birth only to come together at the end of their lives in the most awful manner .

Question 4

Mrs Johnstone : “ An’ did y’ never hear the mother , so cruel , there’s a stone in place of heart “ .

Answer 4

This quote shows that the first thing we learn about Mrs Johnstone is that she gives one of her children . The Narrator describes her as “ cruel “ in the prologue which frames the audience’s view of her as they don’t know anything else about her at this point .

Question 5

Mrs Johnstone : “ They said the bride was lovelier than Marilyn Monroe “ .

Answer 5

This quote shows that Mrs Johnstone compares to herself to Marilyn Monroe throughout the play . Initially she idealises Marilyn Monroe herself to her as of her optimistic hope for a better life . As the play moves on each reference to Marilyn Monroe is more and more tragic until Mrs Johnstone uses Monroe’s addiction and death to compare to Mickey .

Question 6

Mrs Johnstone : “ But look , look I start a job next week . I’ll have money comin’ in an’ . I’ll be able to pay y’ . Y’ can’t stop the milk . I’m pregnant “ .

Answer 6

This quote shows it demonstrate the hardship of her life where she struggles to buy even necessities such as milk .

Question 7

Kid Three : “ Ey Mother , I’m starvin ‘ an ‘ there’s nothing in . There never bloody is “ .

Answer 7

This quote shows that it explains that because Mrs Johnstone is quite poor and her children have to have free dinners and her children doesn’t like that . Mrs Johnstone has conflict and tension because she can’t feed her children

Question 8

Mrs Johnstone : “ When I bring home like dough and we’ll live like kings “ .

Answer 8

This quote shows that Mrs Johnstone compares to herself to Marilyn Monroe throughout her opening song which suggest she aspires for a glamorous life . She doesn’t have realistic view of income she will gain from a domestic cleaning job and she believes she will earn enough to “ live kings “ with eight children to feed .

Question 9

Mrs Johnstone : “ But like they at the Welfare , kids can’t live alone “ .

Answer 9

This quote shows that when Mrs Johnstone learns that she is having twins and she worries that the Welfare might “ Kids can’t live alone “ . It also shows that that each beat of the dialogue reinforces the idea that the protagonist struggles and cannot afford to look after her children properly .

Question 10

Mrs Johnstone : “ If my child was raised in a palace like this one “ . He wouldn’t have to worry where his next meal comin’ from “ .

Answer 10

This quote shows that Mrs Johnstone considers giving her child to Mrs Lyons to be a positive thing . Middle class families were much more comfortable and their children were given better opportunities such as access to better education and employment . She acknowledges that her own children suffer living in poverty and don’t always know when they’re going to be fed . Mrs Johnstone clearly is in poverty because Mrs Lyons is treating a slightly large house as a palace . It also shows that Mrs Johnstone is jealous that Mrs Lyons gets to live here .

Question 11

Mrs Johnstone : “ Only for a time , I must not learn , To call you mine “ .

Answer 11

This quote shows that the repossessions of her belongings reminds Mrs Johnstone she sings about the fact that nothing ever belonged to her

Question 12

Mrs Lyons : “ You won’t tell anyone about this Mrs Johnstone , because if you do , you will kill them “ .

Answer 12

This quote shows that when Mrs Lyons fires Mrs Johnstone tries to take back her son and when Mrs Lyons refuses to give the twin back . When Mrs Johnstone threatens to go to the police . Mrs Lyons plays on Mrs Johnstone’s superstition in order to manipulate her into keeping about their deal . Willy Russell’s language here particularly “ you kill them “ it suggest that Mrs Lyons is playing on Mrs Johnstone’s fear and frightening her into silence . It also shows that Mrs Lyons invents a superstition and knowing that Mrs Johnstone and prevents her telling anyone about giving one of children to Mrs Lyons .

Question 13

Edward : You know the most smashing things . Will you be my best friend ? “

Answer 13

This quote shows that when they are children and Mickey and Edward’s relationship is uncomplicated and instant . They immediately become best friends and declare themselves blood brothers after they discovered they shared the same birthday . As they grow up their relationship becomes more complicated and they reflect on how naive they were at this point in their lives . This quote also shows that Edward is determined to have Mickey in his life .

Question 14

Mickey : “ See this means that we’re blood brothers , an’ that we always have to stand by each other “
.

Answer 14

This quote shows that Mickey and Edward’s relationship is immediate and intense . Mickey and Edward made a pact to become blood brothers and remain loyal to each other . This shows that it is a symbolic act in the play as it demonstrate the bond between Mickey and Edward but the reference to blood could also symbolize the fact ultimately destroy each other .

Question 15

Mrs Lyons : “ Edward , Edward , don’t . It’s doing is only for your own good because I love you , Edward “ .

Answer 15

This quote shows that Mrs Lyons is afraid that Edward will discover the truth and leave her if he find out that Mickey’s twin so Mrs Lyons forbids any more further contact between them . Mrs Lyons is also judgmental and looks down on the working classes so she doesn’t want Edward to associate with Mickey . Mrs Lyons worries that Mickey and his friends because she is worries about the influence that they might have on him .

Question 16

All Children : “ But you know if you cross your fingers and if you count from one to ten . You can get up off the ground again and It doesn’t matter . The whole thing’s just a game .


Answer 16

This quote shows that hen Mickey , Edward , Linda and Sammy are children and there are no real consequences for violence . They are able to bypass death in their came by crossing their fingers and counting to ten . This highlights their childish innocence and creates dramatic irony because the audience are aware that Mickey and Edward will die at the end of the play . At this point the violence is only pretend and after “ killed “ the children can join the game again . However, the games foreshadow the later violence at the end of the play , and remind the audience of how present this is in the characters’ lives .

Question 17

Mickey : “ Ah . . . take no notice . We’ve been caught loads of times by a policeman . . . . haven’t we Linda ?

Answer 17

This quote shows that