Friendship & Brotherhood

Mickey and Edward's friendship

Despite all of their differences, the friendship between Mickey and Edward is very strong throughout their entire childhood. During their teenage years, Mickey and Edward are inseparable, but things change suddenly as they enter adulthood.

Russell's use of friendship

Russell could be using the childhood friendship between Mickey and Edward to make the point that children are able to overcome social divides and see beyond matters of class and money.
Although Sammy immediately identifies Edward as a “friggin’ poshy” (Act One), this does not seem to have much of an effect on the close friendship that forms between Edward and Mickey.

Why Russell shows the collapse of friendship

With the crumbling of their friendship which occurs almost immediately after the boys reach adulthood, Russell could also be making the point that adults are not able to see beyond class barriers in the same way that children are:
- “Mickey: Eddie, just do me a favour and piss off, will ye?” (Act Two).

Interactions with Linda

While Mickey finds it hard to talk about his feelings for Linda, full of anxiety and worry that Linda will reject him because “I’ve got pimples an’ me feet are too big an’ me bum sticks out an’...” (Act Two), Edward sets aside his own strong feelings for Linda and helps Mickey by encouraging him to tell her how he really feels:
- “Edward: Will you talk to Linda?” (Act Two).

Meaning of Edward and Linda's affair

Edward's act of selflessness symbolises the strength of their bond as friends, and so the affair between Edward and Linda which happens later in the play, “just a light romance” (Act Two) as Mrs. Johnstone sings, actually represents an irreconcilable break in that bond.

Mickey and Edward as Friends

Of course, unknown to Mickey and Edward, they are not just friends: they are brothers. To Mickey and Edward, their friendship is failing, but what the audience is seeing is actually more like a family breakdown.

Dismissing friendship

Unaware that they are actually brothers, Mickey dismisses his friendship with Eddie as nothing more than “kids’ stuff” (Act Two), believing that he can simply push Edward away from him, unaware of how deep their connection really is.

Edward and Linda's affair

It could be said that Edward’s affair with Linda later on in Act Two is only able to take place because Mickey has pushed Edward away from him, effectively ending their friendship.
After all, Edward once sang about how he would never let his feelings for Linda get in the way of his friendship with Mickey:
- “Edward: But I’m not saying a word / I’m not saying I care.” (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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