Nature Vs Nurture Flashcards
What does Russell present nurture as affecting in blood brothers?
Eduaction, family life, opportunities, quality of life
How does Russell present nurture as superior to nature?
Mrs Lyons believes “an adopted child can become one’s own” meaning even though Edward is from working class, he is brought up as middle class and lives a middle class life
How does nurture affect education?
Mickey doesn’t know what a dictionary is - “it’s a thingy innit?”
Edward goes to a boarding school and becomes “Councillor Edward Lyons” whereas Mickey goes to a state school and goes to work in a “soddin factory”
How is nurture presented as important through Edward’s character?
Edward doesn’t speak colloquially and is innocent to swears “pissed off, you say smashing things don’t you?”, “my mummy doesn’t allow me to play down here”.
Russell could use Edward’s sheltered childhood in order to show how the middle class is able to alienate the working class as they are oblivious to their struggles, “you’re not the same as him” (Ms L), “draw the dole, live like a bohemian, tilt my hat to the world” (E), “i don’t wear a hat i could tilt at the world” (M) - Emphasises poverty.
How is nurture presented as important through Mickey?
Speaks colloquially, “You don’t understand anythin’, do ye?”
Mickey sees nurture as important “I could have been him!”
Mickey is “fucked off from everywhere” as a result of his inferior education, “yeh an’ it’ll really help me get a job if I know what some soddin’ pygmies in Africa have for their dinner”.
Russell uses Mickey to reveal the struggles of the working class as society is built so the working class have a deliberately worse education than the middle class so they stay poorer.
How is nature presented as important?
Ms J “they’re a pair, they go together”
Ms L “he is drawn to them” (E)
M “we were born on the same day, that means we can be blood brothers”
How does Russell present nature vs nurture?
Presents nurture as more important and heavily influenced by class through the comparison of Mickey and Edwards’ lives. Even though they are twins, Mickey becomes a criminal and ended up addicted to antidepressants while Edward becomes “Councillor Edward Lyons” and lives a carefree life.
