Context and Characters of Blood Brothers
Willy Russell's Blood Brothers is a poignant exploration of class division in 1960s-80s Britain. This page provides essential context and character information to enhance understanding of the play.
Author Background:
Willy Russell, born in 1947 near Liverpool, came from a working-class background. His personal experiences inform the authentic portrayal of class struggles in the play. Russell left school at 15, worked as a hairdresser, then returned to education and became a teacher, demonstrating the potential for social mobility that the play examines.
Highlight: Russell's working-class origins and later career as a teacher give him unique insight into the social dynamics portrayed in Blood Brothers.
Social Context:
The play is set against a backdrop of significant class disparity in Britain. The Johnstone and Lyons families serve as archetypes of working and middle-class life respectively. This period saw many working-class families struggling financially and facing limited job prospects.
Example: The educational divide is starkly illustrated when Mickey attends a local secondary school while Edward goes to a private boarding school, highlighting how class impacts opportunities from an early age.
Political Context:
Margaret Thatcher's tenure as Prime Minister is a crucial backdrop to the play. Her policies led to widespread job losses in working-class communities, with unemployment reaching unprecedented levels.
Quote: "She believed everyone can be successful if they work hard." This Thatcherite ideology is critically examined in the play through the contrasting fates of Mickey and Edward.
Cultural Reference:
Marilyn Monroe is referenced as a comparison to Mrs. Johnstone, adding depth to her character.
Vocabulary: Glamorous - attractively beautiful or stylish, often in a showy or exciting way.
Characters:
The play features a rich cast of characters, each representing different aspects of the class divide:
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Mickey Johnstone: The working-class twin, honest and good-hearted. His life takes a tragic turn as he faces unemployment, imprisonment, and drug addiction.
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Edward Lyons: The middle-class twin, equally good-natured but sheltered. His privileged upbringing affords him better opportunities.
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Mrs. Johnstone: The twins' biological mother, a working-class woman who reluctantly gives up one child. She serves as the moral center of the play.
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Mrs. Lyons: Edward's adoptive mother, whose initial act of taking Edward leads to paranoia and guilt.
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Linda: A childhood friend to both twins, her relationships with them drive much of the plot.
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Narrator: An omniscient figure who guides the audience through the story, emphasizing themes of fate and class.
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Sammy: Mickey's older brother, representing a negative influence and path to delinquency.
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Mr. Lyons: Mrs. Lyons' husband, whose frequent absences enable the adoption plot.
Definition: Class divide - The separation or perceived separation between different social classes, often based on economic status, education, and cultural factors.
The play is structured in two acts, with Act 1 covering the twins' birth and childhood up to age 7. It sets up the central conflict of the separated twins and their mothers' attempts to keep them apart, foreshadowing the tragedy to come.
Quote: "If either twin learns that he was once a pair, they shall both immediately die." This superstition drives much of the plot and heightens the sense of impending doom.
Blood Brothers masterfully uses these characters and contexts to explore themes of class division, fate, and the impact of upbringing on life outcomes, making it a compelling study for GCSE Drama and literature students.
