Blood Brothers by Willie Russell - Lecture Notes

Introduction to Blood Brothers

• Genre: Modern tragedy.
• Main Protagonists: Mickey and Edward (twins).
• Themes: Class division, fate, and consequences of actions.

Key Characters

• Mrs. Johnstone: Struggling single mother, protagonist.
• Mrs. Lyons: Wealthy employer of Mrs. Johnstone, antagonist.
• Mickey: Working-class twin.
• Edward (Eddie): Wealthier twin adopted by Mrs. Lyons.
• Linda: Friend to both twins, becomes romantically involved with Mickey.
• Sammy: Mickey’s older brother, minor criminal.

Plot Summary

Beginning

• Mrs. Johnstone, a struggling single mother, discovers she is pregnant with twins.
• Mrs. Lyons, unable to have children, persuades Mrs. Johnstone to give up one twin.
  • Agreement: Mrs. Lyons raises Edward; Mrs. Johnstone keeps Mickey.
• Mrs. Lyons deceives her husband into believing Edward is their biological child.

Childhood

• Mickey and Edward meet at age 7, unaware of their relation, and become close friends.
• Friend Group: Includes Linda.
• Class Divide: Evident as police treat Mickey harshly, Edward leniently.

Separation

• Mrs. Lyons, fearing the boys' closeness, moves her family away.
• Later, both families coincidentally relocate near each other.

Teenage Years

• Mickey, Edward, and Linda reunite as teenagers.
• Education: Edward excels and goes to university; Mickey struggles academically.
• Unrequited Love: Edward harbors feelings for Linda.

Adulthood

• Linda becomes pregnant by Mickey; they marry.
• Employment: Mickey gets a factory job but is laid off.
• Crime: Mickey, desperate, commits a crime with Sammy and is jailed.
  • Impact: Mickey's imprisonment and subsequent depression.

Climax and Tragedy

• Mickey becomes addicted to pills post-prison.
• Affair: Linda and Edward engage in a romantic affair.
• Confrontation: Mickey, learning of the affair, confronts Edward with a gun.
  • Mrs. Johnstone reveals the twins' relationship.
  • Tragic ending as Mickey accidentally kills Edward, and police shoot Mickey.

Themes and Analysis

• Class Division: The stark differences in Mickey’s and Edward’s lives are emphasized.
• Fate and Tragedy: The inevitable downfall due to class and social circumstances.
• Family and Secrets: The impact of hidden truths on personal lives.

Conclusion

• Moral Reflection: The play invites reflection on the impact of social class on individual destiny.