Mickey

Question 1

How is Mickey presented at the start?

Answer 1

• He is created by Russell to be a friendly, excitable boy in Act One
• Neither he nor Eddie have a concept of class and how they are different in that respect

Question 2

What is his relationship with Sammy like?

Answer 2

• He looks up to his older brother Sammy
• Often feels like a cast-off in comparison to him
• Feels the need to impress Sammy and finds it hard to say no to him. Later in the play this will influence him into helping in Sammy’s crime.

Question 3

How does Mickey show his emotions?

Answer 3

• He actually finds it very hard to express how he is feeling. Perhaps because he is less articulate?
• He is very shy about his emotions and takes years to ask Linda out even on a date. He finds it hard to tell Linda that he loves her.
• He tries to prove himself to her through working hard but becomes even more withdrawn after becoming unemployed.
• He focuses on angrier and more negative emotions, becoming depressed
• When he feels very angry, he can become violent

Question 4

What is his earlier relationship with Eddie like?

Answer 4

• He likes Edward’s generosity
• Enjoys being able to show him new things
• Edward gives Mickey a chance to shine and be a leader and escape the oppression he feels from his brother, school and general poverty
• Class wasn’t important to them as children as they had less available to them anyway and they weren’t mature enough to see how different their backgrounds were

Question 5

How does this relationship change later on?

Answer 5

• Class begins to differentiate them, which allows them to do different things
• They grow apart from each other
• Their attitudes and mindsets change
• Now they are mature, and have taken different paths, they can not be as good friends as before, as class has shaped them into different people