Linda

Linda: Kindness and Confidence

Russell presents Linda as a kind and compassionate character. She often supports Mickey. She is also portrayed as more confident than Mickey.

Kindness in childhood

Linda is mostly presented as a kind and compassionate character.
Even as a seven year old, she stands up for Mickey when Sammy and the other children are taunting and teasing him. This shows she has a strong sense of loyalty to her friends:
- “Leave him alone!” (Act One).
As teenagers, Linda again shows her loyalty as a friend when she defends Mickey in an argument with their teacher, resulting in both Mickey and Linda getting suspended:
- “Oh, leave him alone you. Y’ big worm!” (Act Two).

Kindness in adulthood

Later on in life, Linda continues to be supportive of Mickey when he is imprisoned and develops a drug addiction, proving that she is willing to stand by him and keep working hard to give them a settled family life.

Funny

In her youth, Linda is loud and funny.
While Mickey is unable to pluck up the courage to tell Linda how he really feels about her, she confidently and openly professes her love for him:
- “I don’t care who knows. I just love you. I love you!” (Act Two).

Confidence

There are also several occasions where Linda shows she is not afraid of getting into trouble, often leading Mickey and Edward in their games as children.
At one point she shows her confidence by tricking a policeman so that the trio can escape:
- “Oh my god, look…” (Act Two).

Linda: Working Class Background

Like Mickey, Linda comes from a working class background. This limits her opportunities.

Connection with Mickey

Linda comes from a similar working class background to Mickey and they have been friends since before Mickey meets Edward.

Dialect

Russell uses dialect and abbreviation to show how Linda talks, and her patterns of speech are very similar to Mickey’s.
This reveals that she is from the same background as he is:
- “An’ listen, Mickey, if y’ dead, there’s no school, is there?” (Act One).

Prospects in life

Ultimately, because of her class, Linda finds herself trapped in the same cycle of poverty that Mrs. Johnstone has been stuck in for her whole life.
Poorly educated and with few prospects, Linda seems doomed to end up unhappy.
The Narrator even appears at one point to remind the audience that Linda’s pregnancy and marriage are doomed to end badly:
- “Narrator: … the bogey man was seen around the town” (Act Two).

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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