Fate & Superstition

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Fate in Blood Brothers

Fate is often at the forefront of the audience's mind through the Narrator's reminders.

Building tension

The Narrator’s frequent appearances build tension and create an ominous atmosphere as he reminds the audience that the twins are moving ever closer to their tragic end:
- “The devil’s got your number… / he’s callin’ your number up today / Today / TODAY!” (Act Two).

Fate vs. free will

Russell has created the plot in a way which suggests that fate is leading the characters towards their doom.
This leads the audience to believe that the characters have no control over their inevitable destinies.

Fate or class?

At the end of Act Two, Russell introduces the idea that perhaps it was the class system (not fate) which drove the play:
- “And do we blame superstition for what came to pass? / Or could it be what we, the English, have come to know as class?" (Act Two).
To the audience, it suddenly feels as if the deaths of Mickey and Edward were not actually unavoidable and inevitable. If only there was not such unfair inequality in society, perhaps Mickey’s life would have taken a very different direction.

Superstition in Blood Brothers

Superstition is what keeps Edward and Mickey from learning the truth about one another.

Mrs. Lyon manipulating superstition

Russell uses Mrs. Johnston’s belief in superstition to ensure the twins’ identity remains a secret.
Mrs. Lyons warns Mrs. Johnstone of “what they say about twins, secretly parted” (Act One), scaring her into not revealing the truth.

Eeriness

When the Lyons’ first move to the countryside, Edward sees a magpie and remembers that Mickey taught him to “never look at one magpie” as it symbolises “sorrow” (Act One).
This incident shows the audience the strength of the bond between Mickey and Edward, and also shows us that, despite not knowing who his biological family really is, Edward shares the Johnstone tendency to believe in superstition.

Mrs. Lyon's superstitions

Russell uses superstition to show the audience how Mrs. Lyons’ mental state becomes ever more fragile as feelings of guilt and paranoia take hold of her.
At the start of the play, she finds Mrs. Johnstone’s reaction to her putting shoes on the table (supposedly an indicator of bad luck) amusing, but by the end of Act One, Mrs. Lyons herself “sweeps” a pair of shoes from the table, showing that she herself has started to become superstitious.

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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