1.1.2

Political Background

Test yourself on Political Background

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Political Background to Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers is written in the wake of Margaret Thatcher's economic reforms. Russell uses his play to criticise Thatcher by demonstrating that privilege is central to economic success.

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher

  • Blood Brothers was completed in 1981, which is two years into Margaret Thatcher’s time as prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Thatcher and the economy

Thatcher and the economy

  • Margaret Thatcher transformed the economy of Britain in a way which greatly reduced the number of traditional manufacturing (factory) jobs.
  • This particularly affected cities like Liverpool, where thousands of jobs disappeared and unemployment levels increased drastically.
Social issues caused by Thatcher's reforms

Social issues caused by Thatcher's reforms

  • Russell clearly addresses social issues related to unemployment - poverty, crime and drug abuse - in the play, most notably through the character of Mickey who “can’t cope” (Act Two) with the hardship he faces.
Challenging Thatcher's views on success

Challenging Thatcher's views on success

  • One of Margaret Thatcher’s core beliefs was that the key to success was hard work:
    • She claimed that anyone in Britain who worked hard could be successful.
    • Russell challenges this belief in Blood Brothers because hard work is not the reason Mickey and Edward’s lives are so different: the reason their lives are so different is the fact that, coming from a wealthy and well-connected background, Edward has far more opportunities to be successful than Mickey.
Thatcher and trade unions

Thatcher and trade unions

  • Margaret Thatcher also felt that trade unions, which are organisations designed to protect the rights of workers, had become too powerful.
  • She made changes to the law which took away some of the powers of trade unions, and this meant that workers, particularly factory workers like Mickey, were more vulnerable to redundancy.
Jump to other topics
1

Context & Author

1.1

Context

1.1.1Setting1.1.2Political Background1.1.3Education & Work1.1.4Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture1.1.5Family
1.2

Author

1.2.1Willy Russell1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Author
2

Plot

2.1

Act One

2.1.1Overview: Introduction to Mrs Johnstone & Lyons2.1.2Analysis: Introduction to Mrs. Johnston and Lyons2.1.3Overview: The Birth of Mickey & Edward2.1.4Analysis: The Birth of Mickey & Edward2.1.5Overview: Mickey Playing at Home2.1.6Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds2.1.7Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds2.1.8Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 22.1.9Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 22.1.10End of Topic Test - Act One2.1.11End of Topic Test - Act One 2
2.2

Act Two

2.2.1Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers2.2.2Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers2.2.3Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 22.2.4Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 22.2.5Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 32.2.6Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 32.2.7Overview: Mickey & Edward as Adults2.2.8Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Adults2.2.9End of Topic Test - Act Two2.2.10End of Topic Test - Act Two 2
3

Characters

3.1

Mickey

3.1.1Mickey3.1.2Mickey as a Damaged Adult
3.2

Edward

3.2.1Edward3.2.2Edward 23.2.3End of Topic Test - Mickey & Edward
3.3

Linda

3.3.1Linda3.3.2Linda 2
3.4

Mrs Johnstone

3.4.1Mrs Johnstone3.4.2Mrs Johnstone 2
3.5

Mrs Lyons

3.5.1Mrs Lyons3.5.2Mrs Lyons 23.5.3End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers
3.6

Mr Lyons

3.6.1Mr Lyons
3.7

Sammy

3.7.1Sammy
3.8

The Narrator

3.8.1The Narrator
3.9

Minor

3.9.1Minor Characters3.9.2End of Topic Test - Other Characters
3.10

End of Topic Sessions

3.10.1Grade 9 - Key Characters
4

Themes

4.1

Parents & Children

4.1.1Parents & Children
4.2

Growing Up

4.2.1Growing Up
4.3

Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.1Friendship & Brotherhood4.3.2End of Topic Test - Parents, Growing Up, Friends
4.4

Fate & Superstition

4.4.1Fate & Superstition
4.5

Nature vs. Nurture

4.5.1Nature vs. Nurture
4.6

Social Class

4.6.1Social Class4.6.2End of Topic Test - Fate, Upbringing & Class
5

Literary Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.1.1Structure
5.2

Tragedy

5.2.1Tragedy
5.3

Dramatic Irony

5.3.1Dramatic Irony
5.4

Imagery

5.4.1Imagery
5.5

Character & Voice

5.5.1Character
5.6

Music & Lyrics

5.6.1Music & Lyrics
5.7

Accent & Dialect

5.7.1Accent & Dialect5.7.2End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques5.7.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 2

Practice questions on Political Background

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Who was the Prime Minister when _Blood Brothers_ was completed?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What did Margaret Thatcher believe was the key to success?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Margaret Thatcher and trade unions:True / false
Answer all questions on Political Background

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Setting

Education & Work