4.4.1

Fate & Superstition

Test yourself on Fate & Superstition

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Fate in Blood Brothers

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

Building tension

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

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?

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

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

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

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.
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 Fate & Superstition

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

  1. 1
    Whose belief in superstition keeps the twins' identity a secret?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What does Edward's fear of the magpies suggest?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Fate & Superstition

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

End of Topic Test - Parents, Growing Up, Friends

Nature vs. Nurture