Mrs Lyons - 20 marker

Question 1

Character Name

Who is the character in the context of the play

Answer 1

Mrs Lyons
Upper middle-class housewife in 1970’s Liverpool
“Mother” of Edward.

Question 2

3 Descriptive words for the character (interprertation)

Answer 2

lonely, loving - to Edward, helpless

Question 3

4 Descriptive words for the character if they change/develop throughout (interprertation)

Answer 3

paranoid, controlling, devious, bitter

Question 4

1st key moment/ scene to support your words for interpretation (and key lines)

Answer 4

Finds locket given to Edward

“Oh let me look, let me look”

Persistent
Wary of her sons relationship
Controlling of Edward
Loving towards her son - motherly

Question 5

3rd key moment/ scene to support your words for interpretation (and key lines)

Answer 5

“We bought such a large house for the - for the children - we thought children would come along.”

Mrs Lyons reveals to Mrs Johnstone that she is unhappy and isolated due to her husband being absent and them being unable to have children.

desperate/helpless -
Her dreams of having a child have been destroyed through her and her husband’s infertility - desperate to have children

Question 6

4th key moment/ scene to support your words for interpretation (and key lines)

Answer 6

Mrs Lyons’ paranoia goes so far that she eventually contributes to the tragic end of the play through telling Mickey about Edward and Linda.

“Mrs Lyons … turns Mickey round and points out Edward and Linda to him”

Mrs Lyons’ bitterness leads to her betraying her own son by exposing his secrets - no longer loving towards him which plays into the discussion nature vs nurture had she been Edwards real mother would she have exposed him?
overprotective

Question 7

2rd key moment/ scene to support your words for interpretation (and key lines)

Answer 7

“When… when were you photographed with this women?”

Mrs Lyons sees the photograph inside the locket

Paranoid
Bitter