Family

Family in 20th Century England

Between the 1950s and 1980s, a patriarchal, nuclear family was the norm. The characters in Blood Brothers are very aware of traditional family values and strive to achieve them.

The nuclear family

In the 1960s, a ‘nuclear’ family was still the norm.
This meant that a typical family would consist of a mother and father, who were married and living together, with their children.

The Johnstones

The Johnstone family is identified as ‘different’ from the norm, and explains some of the snobbery they face from people like Mrs. Lyons, who condescendingly refers to them as “these people” (Act One).

The Lyons'

Equally, Mrs. Lyons, who is clearly obsessed with maintaining an image of decency, would have felt shame at not being able to have children.
This desperation to present a decent, typical family could have been one of the reasons she so badly wanted to take one of Mrs. Johnstone’s babies:
- “Mrs Lyons: … We bought such a large house for the - for the children - we thought children would come along” (Act One).

Divorce

Divorce was possible and was becoming easier to obtain, but many people still looked down on single-parent families.
Again, this explains why Mrs. Johnstone had to struggle so much to raise her family in the face of snobbery from more ‘traditional’ people after her husband left her for “a girl they say who looks a bit like Marilyn Monroe.” (Act One).

Patriarchal families

Families tended to be patriarchal, meaning that the man was in charge.
- This could link to Sammy’s troubles as he grew up. It is possible that, in the absence of a father, he would have felt significant pressure to take on responsibility as a ‘breadwinner’.
- Perhaps some of his criminal activity and antisocial behaviour stems from his frustration at not being able to provide for his family.

1Context & Author

1.1Context

1.1.1Setting

1.1.2Political Background

1.1.3Education & Work

1.1.4Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture

1.1.5Family

1.2Author

1.2.1Willy Russell

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Author

2Plot

2.1Act One

2.1.1Overview: Introduction to Mrs Johnstone & Lyons

2.1.2Analysis: Introduction to Mrs. Johnston and Lyons

2.1.3Overview: The Birth of Mickey & Edward

2.1.4Analysis: The Birth of Mickey & Edward

2.1.5Overview: Mickey Playing at Home

2.1.6Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds

2.1.7Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds

2.1.8Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2

2.1.9Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Act One

2.1.11End of Topic Test - Act One 2

2.2Act Two

2.2.1Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers

2.2.2Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers

2.2.3Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2

2.2.4Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2

2.2.5Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3

2.2.6Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3

2.2.7Overview: Mickey & Edward as Adults

2.2.8Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Adults

2.2.9End of Topic Test - Act Two

2.2.10End of Topic Test - Act Two 2

3Characters

3.1Mickey

3.1.1Mickey

3.1.2Mickey as a Damaged Adult

3.2Edward

3.2.1Edward

3.2.2Edward 2

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Mickey & Edward

3.3Linda

3.3.1Linda

3.3.2Linda 2

3.4Mrs Johnstone

3.4.1Mrs Johnstone

3.4.2Mrs Johnstone 2

3.5Mrs Lyons

3.5.1Mrs Lyons

3.5.2Mrs Lyons 2

3.5.3End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers

3.6Mr Lyons

3.6.1Mr Lyons

3.7Sammy

3.7.1Sammy

3.8The Narrator

3.8.1The Narrator

3.9Minor

3.9.1Minor Characters

3.9.2End of Topic Test - Other Characters

3.10End of Topic Sessions

3.10.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Themes

4.1Parents & Children

4.1.1Parents & Children

4.2Growing Up

4.2.1Growing Up

4.3Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.1Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.2End of Topic Test - Parents, Growing Up, Friends

4.4Fate & Superstition

4.4.1Fate & Superstition

4.5Nature vs. Nurture

4.5.1Nature vs. Nurture

4.6Social Class

4.6.1Social Class

4.6.2End of Topic Test - Fate, Upbringing & Class

5Literary Techniques

5.1Structure

5.1.1Structure

5.2Tragedy

5.2.1Tragedy

5.3Dramatic Irony

5.3.1Dramatic Irony

5.4Imagery

5.4.1Imagery

5.5Character & Voice

5.5.1Character

5.6Music & Lyrics

5.6.1Music & Lyrics

5.7Accent & Dialect

5.7.1Accent & Dialect

5.7.2End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques

5.7.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 2

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