3.5.2

Mrs Lyons 2

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Mrs. Lyons: Vulnerable

Although she can be manipulative, we must remember that Mrs. Lyons is vulnerable and lonely.

Insecure about not having children

Insecure about not having children

  • Mrs. Lyons sometimes appears to be a vulnerable character, especially when she talks about how she is unable to have children, which is the one thing she wants more than anything in the world:
    • “We bought such a large house for the - for the children - we thought children would come along.” (Act One).
Lonely

Lonely

  • The fact that Mrs. Lyons spends a lot of time alone on account of her husband often being away with work might also elicit some sympathy for her:
    • “It’s a pretty house, isn’t it? It’s a pity it’s so big. I’m finding it rather large at present.” (Act One).
Do we sympathise with Mrs. Lyons?

Do we sympathise with Mrs. Lyons?

  • However, this sympathy is short-lived as Mrs. Lyons goes on to act in a spiteful way during the final act, revealing Edward and Linda’s affair to Mickey, clearly confirming herself to be the villain of the play.

Mrs. Lyons: Paranoid

As the villain of the play, Mrs. Lyons displays signs of paranoia and instability.

Feeling guilty

Feeling guilty

  • Mrs. Lyons clearly feels guilty about what she has done, and this guilt develops into a paranoia that eats away at her.
  • Firstly, soon after the birth of Mickey and Edward, Mrs. Lyons sacks Mrs. Johnstone on the pretence that her “work has deteriorated.” (Act One).
Moving to the countryside

Moving to the countryside

  • Still not satisfied that there is sufficient distance between Edward and his biological family, Mrs. Lyons insists that her family move away to the countryside:
    • “I hate it. Richard, I don’t want to stay here any more. I want to move.” (Act One).
Paranoia

Paranoia

  • While Mrs. Lyons initially presents herself as level-headed and well-educated, associating superstitions with “silly mothers” (Act One), Mrs. Lyons gradually begins to develop superstitious beliefs in a further sign that paranoia is eating away at her conscience:
    • “She is stopped by the sight of the shoes on the table. She rushes at the table and sweeps the shoes off.” (Act One).
Accusing Mrs. Johnstone

Accusing Mrs. Johnstone

  • Perhaps one of the most shocking moments of the play comes when Mrs. Lyons confronts Mrs. Johnstone, accusing her of following them to the countryside. In a sign that all rational thought has been lost, Mrs. Lyons attacks Mrs. Johnstone with a “lethal looking kitchen knife” (Act Two).
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 Mrs Lyons 2

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

  1. 1
    What role does Mrs. Lyons assume when she reveals Edward and Linda's affair to Mickey?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What does Mrs. Lyons' guilt develop into?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    The escalation of Mrs. Lyons' paranoia:True / false
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Mrs Lyons

End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers