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- Blood Brothers: the characters
Blood Brothers: the characters
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The twins share the same genes but end up with very different lives. The characters around them show how class shapes chances.
Mickey and Edward
Mickey: lively, cheeky and envious of Edward as a child. As an adult, unemployment and prison crush his spirit.
Edward: polite, generous and naive. His privileged education leads to university and a secure job.
Edward: polite, generous and naive. His privileged education leads to university and a secure job.
The mothers
Mrs Johnstone: warm, loving and superstitious, worn down by poverty. She regrets giving Edward away.
Mrs Lyons: wealthy and lonely. She becomes paranoid and controlling, fearing she will lose Edward.
Mrs Lyons: wealthy and lonely. She becomes paranoid and controlling, fearing she will lose Edward.
Linda, Sammy and the Narrator
Linda: loyal and brave, loves Mickey but turns to Edward when Mickey becomes withdrawn.
Sammy: Mickey's older brother, drawn into crime.
The Narrator: a sinister, chorus-like figure who reminds us the 'devil' is coming.
Sammy: Mickey's older brother, drawn into crime.
The Narrator: a sinister, chorus-like figure who reminds us the 'devil' is coming.
How does Mrs Lyons change across the play?
- At first she is lonely and desperate for a child.
- She becomes possessive and fearful of losing Edward.
- By the end she is paranoid and tells Mickey about Linda and Edward.
Answer: She changes from a sympathetic, lonely woman into a paranoid, manipulative one.
Mickey: lively child crushed by poverty. Edward: privileged, kind, naive. Mrs Johnstone: loving, superstitious, poor. Mrs Lyons: lonely then paranoid. Linda: loyal. Sammy: crime. Narrator: fate.
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