Key quotes Flashcards
[PROLOGUE/EPILOGUE]
‘‘so did y’ hear the story of the Johnstone twins’’
'’As like each other as two new pins’’
This prologue shows that the two brothers begin life identically, however the fate that follows each boy are diffrent, Nature v nurture
[PROLOGUE/EPILOGUE]
‘‘Or could it be what we, the English, have come to know as class?’’
Links to theme of superstition, compares to class. alongside the devil references, implying that being born into a low class is as unfortunate as having bad luck from superstitious causes.
[STAGE DIRECTIONS]
‘‘Mrs j is carrying ‘‘a brush, dusters and a mop bucket’’
'’Mrs lyons enters carrying a parcel’’
Expresses the differences in class between the two, Mrs Lyons doesn’t work and is buying new shoes, whilst Mrs Johnstone is working hard and can barely live
[STAGE DIRECTIONS]
'’Mrs Lyons hits edward hard and instinctively’’
Mrs johnstone
‘‘She takes him. cradles him. letting him cry.’’
Shows contrast between Mrs Johnstone giving all the love she can despite having a hard, tragic life,,, And Mrs lyons having it easy yet being cruel.
SONG[MY CHILD]
‘‘A bike with both wheels on’’
a silver tray to take meals on’’
Shows the difference between having everything for nothing and nothing for everything, mrs j has to work so hard and her dreams are a bike with both wheels, mrs lyons is only saying what she already has at her disposal.
SONG[EASY TERMS
‘Only mine until time comes round’’ ‘‘nothings yours’’
She feels that nothing belongs to her, she has nothing to her name and similar to the tax men that came to take her possessions away, Mrs Lyons took her baby away ‘‘you shouldn’t bloody sign if ya cant pay’’
SONG[KIDS GAME]
‘‘cross your fingers’’
‘‘count from one to ten, you can get back up off the ground again’’ ‘‘just a game’’
Harsh display of parallel and contrasting scenes, mickey and Sammy play a game of shooting Indians, later the two get arrested for a gun crime as a direct result of their poverty.
EDWARD AND MICKEY
Ed to Mrs Lyons;
‘‘youre a Fuckoff!’’
Ed to Mrs Johnstone ‘‘youre looking very well mrs Johnstone’’
This might be a slight hint towards the fact that Mrs j is Edwards real mother, as he treats her with more love and respect and care.
Shows how Mrs J is a loveable.
EDWARDS RETURN FROM UNIVERSITY
‘‘You don’t understand anything do ye? I don’t wear a hat that i could tilt at the world.’’ ‘
‘That was kids stuff’’
‘‘While no-one was looking, i grew up’’
Demonstrates the opportunities upper class people have for not working hard as well as the contrast of the limitations of the working class. Eddie gets to go to university while Mickey has to get a shit job for even shittier pay.
