Atif Fiaz

Blood Brothers Extract Question

Willy Russell's tale of two brothers considers class, fate and destiny, childhood and youth, surrogacy, superstition, humour and tragedy. These themes are fully explored throughout the play. One of the reasons that Willy Russell created this play to show us the difference in class difference that existed in Liverpool at the time 1980. He shows the difference by showing us the contrasting lives of both of the mothers and boys. Mrs Johnstone has a hard life having to work hard for a living and Mrs Lyons has an easy life and this also applies to the boys Mickey lives a hard life and Edward lives an easy life. Mrs Johnstone is still fully dedicated to Mickey's upbringing, as the quote "You're gonna be late y' know. Y' late already" shows her concern for Mickey not going school. Her mood feels distressed, and the many contractions in the quote highlight the working class, such as "gonna". She obviously wants the best for Mickey as he shouldn't feel inferior to Edward when coming to education. Mickey replies "I'm not", which could comprehend his interest in education. The subtitle at the top "we see Mrs Johnstone hustling Mickey to school", she is almost pushing Mickey by force to school against his will. Mickey and Linda tend to have a fun relationship, they are good friends and are too young to realise that they are off different genders to be friends, nevertheless they are in there youth and as they mature it could potentially lead into something. Mrs Johnstone makes a comment on Linda, "well you'll miss Linda, she'll be waitin' for y'. She is making a comment to tease Mickey like she knows what's going on, and revolving an atmosphere around the audience to foreshadow a relationship, eventually this does catch up with Edward and Mickey leading to their death. Russel makes the audience feel that something will happen between these two characters. The conductor/narrator makes a suspenseful comment towards Mrs Johnstone, "But you've got to have an endin' if a starts been made, No one gets off without the price bein' paid." Mrs Johnstone gets to grip with her sons and smiles, however the comment made could be foreshadowing her relationship with her sons more importantly Mickey. If Sammy is okay, then Mickey must be suffer the consequences and we see that happen by his death later on. The price bein' paid is Mickey's death, this could give mixed emotions towards Mrs Johnstone, if the decision she made at the start was correct?. In conclusion there are many moods created in this extract and gives a mixed amount of views for the audience to experience, Mrs Johnstone is contrasting against her initial decisions and how her life is going at this very moment, Mickey is developing a raw feeling for Linda maybe as he matures or the other way, Linda appears to be very compassionate and is seen to be protective to him in previous scenes.