4.3.1
Friendship & Brotherhood
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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).
What Mickey and Edward share
- As children, Edward and Mickey share many different experiences meaning that, in spite of Edward’s wealth and Mickey’s poverty, the two boys have many things in common, giving them a solid foundation for friendship.
- In adulthood, however, their experiences could not be more different. Mickey’s unemployment causes him to become “old before his time” (Act Two), while Edward is enjoying his carefree time at university.
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
2Plot
2.1Act 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
2.2Act 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
3Characters
3.3Linda
3.4Mrs Johnstone
3.6Mr Lyons
3.7Sammy
3.8The Narrator
3.10End of Topic Sessions
4Themes
4.1Parents & Children
4.2Growing Up
4.3Friendship & Brotherhood
4.4Fate & Superstition
4.5Nature vs. Nurture
5Literary Techniques
5.1Structure
5.2Tragedy
5.3Dramatic Irony
5.4Imagery
5.5Character & Voice
5.6Music & Lyrics
Jump to other topics
1Context & Author
2Plot
2.1Act 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
2.2Act 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
3Characters
3.3Linda
3.4Mrs Johnstone
3.6Mr Lyons
3.7Sammy
3.8The Narrator
3.10End of Topic Sessions
4Themes
4.1Parents & Children
4.2Growing Up
4.3Friendship & Brotherhood
4.4Fate & Superstition
4.5Nature vs. Nurture
5Literary Techniques
5.1Structure
5.2Tragedy
5.3Dramatic Irony
5.4Imagery
5.5Character & Voice
5.6Music & Lyrics
Practice questions on Friendship & Brotherhood
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1What does Russell use to overcome social divides?Multiple choice
- 2What Mickey and Edward share:True / false
- 3
- 4
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