5.2.1

Tragedy

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Blood Brothers: a Classic Tragedy?

Blood Brothers is generally considered to be a tragedy, but it is important to note that a tragedy is more than just a story with a sad ending.

A tragic hero

A tragic hero

A tragedy must also contain a flawed hero: someone who is essentially a good person but, because of faults in their character, ultimately acts in a way which causes his or her own downfall.

Mickey and Edward fitting the profile of the tragic hero

Both Mickey and Edward could be said to fit the profile of the tragic hero.
- Mickey’s dependence on drugs after his imprisonment could be said to be one of his great flaws, while Edward’s affair with Linda is also a mistake which contributes to his downfall.

Who suffers more?

Who suffers more?

In the end, however, it is Mickey who suffers the most in the play.
While Edward is lucky to be adopted into a wealthy family, Mickey has to suffer the effects of poverty.

Blood Brothers: Not a Classic Tragedy?

However, there are some features of Blood Brothers which mean that it does not quite fit the genre of a typical tragedy.

Are Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons to blame?

Are Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons to blame?

For all of Mickey and Edward’s faults and flaws, it could be argued that the real reason for the tragic ending comes from Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. Lyons’ plan to separate the children at birth.
When Mickey finally finds out the truth, he is “almost uncontrollable with rage”, realising that he “could have been him” (Act Two).
It is at this point that Mickey shoots Edward.

Class vs. free will

Class vs. free will

An alternative interpretation could be that, as the Narrator suggests at the end of Act Two, the downfall of Mickey and Edward is not the fault of any individual character, but that it is “class” (Act Two) which leads to their deaths.

1

Context & Author

1.1

Context

1.1.1Setting 1.1.2Political Background 1.1.3Education & Work 1.1.4Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture 1.1.5Family

1.2

Author

1.2.1Willy Russell 1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Author

2

Plot

2.1

Act 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

2.2

Act 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

3

Characters

3.1

Mickey

3.1.1Mickey 3.1.2Mickey as a Damaged Adult

3.2

Edward

3.2.1Edward 3.2.2Edward 2 3.2.3End of Topic Test - Mickey & Edward

3.3

Linda

3.3.1Linda 3.3.2Linda 2

3.4

Mrs Johnstone

3.4.1Mrs Johnstone 3.4.2Mrs Johnstone 2

3.5

Mrs Lyons

3.5.1Mrs Lyons 3.5.2Mrs Lyons 2 3.5.3End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers

3.6

Mr Lyons

3.7

Sammy

3.8

The Narrator

3.8.1The Narrator

3.9

Minor

3.9.1Minor Characters 3.9.2End 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 & Brotherhood 4.3.2End 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 Class 4.6.2End of Topic Test - Fate, Upbringing & Class

5

Literary Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.2

Tragedy

5.3

Dramatic Irony

5.3.1Dramatic Irony

5.4

Imagery

5.5

Character & Voice

5.6

Music & Lyrics

5.6.1Music & Lyrics

5.7

Accent & Dialect

5.7.1Accent & Dialect 5.7.2End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 5.7.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 2

Jump to other topics

1

Context & Author

1.1

Context

1.1.1Setting 1.1.2Political Background 1.1.3Education & Work 1.1.4Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture 1.1.5Family

1.2

Author

1.2.1Willy Russell 1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Author

2

Plot

2.1

Act 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

2.2

Act 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

3

Characters

3.1

Mickey

3.1.1Mickey 3.1.2Mickey as a Damaged Adult

3.2

Edward

3.2.1Edward 3.2.2Edward 2 3.2.3End of Topic Test - Mickey & Edward

3.3

Linda

3.3.1Linda 3.3.2Linda 2

3.4

Mrs Johnstone

3.4.1Mrs Johnstone 3.4.2Mrs Johnstone 2

3.5

Mrs Lyons

3.5.1Mrs Lyons 3.5.2Mrs Lyons 2 3.5.3End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers

3.6

Mr Lyons

3.7

Sammy

3.8

The Narrator

3.8.1The Narrator

3.9

Minor

3.9.1Minor Characters 3.9.2End 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 & Brotherhood 4.3.2End 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 Class 4.6.2End of Topic Test - Fate, Upbringing & Class

5

Literary Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.2

Tragedy

5.3

Dramatic Irony

5.3.1Dramatic Irony

5.4

Imagery

5.5

Character & Voice

5.6

Music & Lyrics

5.6.1Music & Lyrics

5.7

Accent & Dialect

5.7.1Accent & Dialect 5.7.2End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 5.7.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 2

Practice questions on Tragedy

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

1
What type of hero does a tragedy contain?Multiple choice
2
What happens after Mickey finds out the truth?Multiple choice
3
At the end of Act Two, what does the Narrator blame for Mickey and Edward's death?Multiple choice

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Structure

Dramatic Irony