Setting
English Lit: AQA GCSE Blood Brothers, topic 1.1.1
Setting in Blood Brothers
Blood Brothers spans from the 1950s to the 1980s. Geographically, it centres on Liverpool and the surrounding countryside.
Clues to the time period
- The exact time period in which the play is set is never actually specified, however, we can guess from clues left by Russell:
- The references to “Marilyn Monroe” would suggest the twins were born in the 1950s.
- The economy is in bad shape at the end of the play. This is similar to what happened in the early 1980s, which is also when the play was written.
- We can assume that Mickey and Edward are born in the late 1950s, and die in the early 1980s.
Liverpool
- Act One is set in Liverpool, a large city in the north-west of England.
- Liverpool once had a thriving industry based mainly on the docks, but during the time in which the play is set, these traditional industries were in decline.
- This led to increased unemployment, such as that which is seen through Mickey who has been “walking around all day, every day, lookin’ for a job.” (Act Two).
Skelmersdale
- In Act Two, both families have moved out of the city to “the country” (Act One): a nearby town called Skelmersdale.
- Many Liverpudlians (people from Liverpool) made a similar move in the 1960s.
Test yourself on Setting
The references to which film star suggests that the twins were born in the 1950s?