Structure

Parallels Between Characters

The play is structured in a way which allows the audience to clearly see the parallels (similarities) and contrasts between characters.

Similarities between Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons

The main parallel between Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons, for example, is that they both play the role of mothers.

Contrasts between Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons

While Mrs. Johnstone has many children of her own, Mrs. Lyons is unable to become pregnant:
- “Mrs. Johnstone: Here’s you can’t have kids, an’ me, I can’t stop havin’ them.” (Act One).
Mrs. Johnstone lives in poverty, while Mrs. Lyons is rich and can depend on her husband for support.
Mrs. Johnstone feels as if she is “incapable of controllin’” (Act One) her kids, while Mrs. Lyons is excessively controlling and manipulative.

Similarities between Edward and Mickey at school

In simultaneous (back-to-back) scenes, both boys are suspended from school as teenagers for challenging the authority of their teachers.
Edward tells his teacher to “take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut” (Act Two), while Mickey tells his teacher that the lesson is “borin’” (Act Two).

Parallels between Edward and Mickey with Linda

Another parallel between Mickey and Edward is that they are both strongly attracted to Linda.
Mickey finds it “dead difficult” (Act Two) to tell Linda how he really feels, while Edward, for the sake of his friendship, sings that he is “not saying a word” (Act Two) about his true feelings for Linda.
Of course, the other parallel is the similarly tragic end that the boys meet, as they both lose their lives.

Contrasts between Mickey and Edward

Despite their bond as twin brothers, their different upbringings have taken them in different directions:
- Edward has a privileged and wealthy upbringing, while Mickey lives in relative poverty.
- Edward grows up to be well-educated and with a successful career as “Councillor Eddie Lyons” (Act Two), while Mickey receives a poor education and is unsuccessful in adult life, getting fired from a job that he hated and suffering a mental breakdown in prison.

'Rise and Fall' Structure of Blood Brothers

The plot of Blood Brothers follows a ‘rise and fall’ structure. Most of Act One and the first half of Act Two builds up hope that the brothers will be able to escape the fate that awaits them.

Destiny

We are told by the Narrator at the very beginning that the twins are destined to be killed:
- “Till the day they died, when a mother cried / My own dear sons lie slain”.

Building friendship

As Mickey and Edward build their friendship throughout their infant and teenage years, they are able to overcome Mrs. Lyons’ attempts to separate them and have many happy adventures with Linda.
This period of relative happiness as the teenagers are “young, free and innocent” (Act Two) could be said to continue up until Edward goes to university and Mickey and Linda get married.

Downwards spiral

What follows is a sudden change of mood and a sharp downward turn.
From the moment Mickey is fired from the factory, his life spirals out of control and the tragic fate which we were warned about at the beginning again seems inevitable:
- “Mickey: See, there’s very little to celebrate Eddie. Since you left I’ve been walking around all day, every day, looking for a job” (Act Two).

The ending

By the end of the play, the audience feels almost foolish for once believing there was a chance that ‘fate’ could be cheated.
The Narrator again reminds the audience that this tragic death had already been decided for the boys on the day they were born:
- "They were born, and they died, on the selfsame day.” (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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