blood brothers essay

Blood Brothers

By willy russell.

• Blood Brothers Summary

The musical opens in Liverpool, England during the 1980s. A woman named Mrs. Johnstone stands over the dead bodies of her two sons, Mickey and Eddie . She begins to sing “Tell Me It’s Not True." The narrator says that the story behind this tragic scene began thirty years ago. The play then flashes back to the 1950s.

Mrs. Johnstone is a single mother living in significant debt. She is unable to pay the milkman when he arrives at her door. She takes a job with the Lyons family, working as their maid. She subsequently discovers that she is pregnant with twins, much to her great dismay. She is uncertain about how she will pay for two more children. At the same time, she learns that Mrs. Lyons wants to have a child of her own but is physically unable to get pregnant. Her husband has dissuaded her from adoption, as he does not want a child that is not biologically his. When Mrs. Lyons finds out about Mrs. Johnstone's pregnancy, she asks her for one of the twins, singing "My Child." She says no one will ever have to know what they did.

Initially hesitant, Mrs. Johnstone accepts Mrs. Lyons' offer, hoping that it will give one of her children a better, more financially secure future. Mrs. Johnstone swears on a Bible. After the twins, named Mickey and Eddie, are born, she gives Eddie up to Mrs. Lyons and tells her other children that one of the twins died. She immediately regrets her decision, as she still feels attached to Eddie and takes every opportunity she can to see him at the Lyons' house while she is working. Mrs. Lyons is upset by her behavior and fires her, paying her off with a large severance. She tells her to stay away from the house and make certain that the boys never meet, as she suspects something terrible will happen if they do.

Years later, Mickey and Eddie meet while playing on the street. They take an immediate liking to one another. After learning that they mysteriously share a birthday, they make a pact to be "blood brothers," cutting their hands to seal the agreement. Mickey later shows up at the Lyons' house, hoping to see Eddie. Mrs. Lyons realizes who he is and tells him to leave. Eddie and Mrs. Lyons argue about it. Eddie curses at her and she slaps him. Later, Eddie sneaks out to hang out with Mickey and his friend Linda . They get in trouble with a police officer for throwing rocks. Mrs. Johnstone tells Eddie he is forbidden from seeing Mickey, but gives him a locket with a picture of herself and Mickey (though it is implied it is a picture of her and Eddie) when the Lyons family moves away from Liverpool. Mickey wanders around the neighborhood, aimlessly searching for his friend, who he misses very much. The act ends with the Johnstones also moving to the countryside.

The Johnstone family also moves to the countryside to try and have a better life. Mickey and Linda continue to spend time together and develop a quiet romance. Neither of them addresses their feelings directly. Eddie and Mickey run into each other one day and happily reunite. They begin spending time together and discuss their newfound curiosity about sex and girls. Mickey invites Eddie to see a pornographic film and, despite his initially scandalized reaction, Eddie agrees.

Mrs. Lyons finds out about this and decides that Mrs. Johnstone has moved back to steal her son back. She confronts Mrs. Johnstone who honestly says she had no idea. After a heated exchange, Mrs. Johnstone turns her back and Mrs. Lyons takes up a kitchen knife and attempts to stab her. Mrs. Johnstone narrowly avoids the attack and fights her off, forcing her out of the house. Mrs. Lyons continues to deteriorate mentally, as described in the song, "Mad Woman on the Hill."

The play skips forward in time once more. The boys are eighteen years old. Mickey has not worked up the courage to be honest with Linda about how he feels. Eddie also has feelings for Linda but doesn't want to hurt Mickey, so he tells Mickey what to say to Linda. Eddie goes off to college while Mickey and Linda begin a romantic relationship. Linda gets pregnant and the two decide to get married. Mickey gets a job at a local factory and moves his family in with his mother. Mickey loses his job during a recession. Eddie returns home from college and is excited to see Mickey, but the two quickly realize they are at very different points in their lives. They fight briefly and decide to go their separate ways.

Increasingly desperate, Mickey is convinced by his older brother Sammy to take part in a robbery for extra money. The robbery goes sideways and Sammy murders someone. Mickey is charged as an accessory to the murder and sentenced to seven years in prison. He becomes incredibly depressed during this time. He is given a prescription for antidepressants and is eventually let out on good behavior.

Mickey struggles to reenter regular society after his release. He becomes addicted to his medication and never wants to see people. Linda tries to help him, to no avail. Eddie, now a local politician, steps in after Linda reaches out, helping Mickey find a job and a place for his whole family. Linda starts spending more and more time with Eddie.

A vengeful Mrs. Lyons sees them together once and points it out to Mickey, saying that they are engaged in an affair, despite her lack of solid evidence, hoping he will snap. Mickey grabs his gun and rushes to the courthouse where Eddie works. When Mickey arrives, Eddie swears he has no designs on Linda. Mrs. Johnstone appears and tells the two men about their secret brotherhood. Bereft and distraught, Mickey flings his hands up, accidentally firing the gun, killing Eddie. The police open fire on Mickey, killing him. Mrs. Johnstone returns to her position from the beginning of the play. The narrator wonders aloud, in a reprise of the final song, "Tell Me It's Not True," whether it was the superstition that killed the two boys or their class divide.

Blood Brothers Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Blood Brothers is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers study guide contains a biography of Willy Russell, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Blood Brothers
• Character List

Blood Brothers

Willy russell, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

On some level, the lives of Mickey and Edward seem almost like a science experiment: what will happen when two genetically similar boys are raised in vastly different circumstances? Is a person’s character determined more by their genetics, or by their upbringing? Throughout the play, Willy Russell illuminates the contrasts that stem from Mickey and Edward’s separate childhoods, and compares them with the similarities that the two share. Mickey, for instance, is rough, rebellious, and jaded from a young age. In contrast, Edward is intelligent but innocent, which is made clear by his generosity towards other children and his tendency to get himself in trouble by accident. The differences between the two boys are rooted in the fact that Mickey grew up in a rough and tumble neighborhood, while Edward came of age in the lap of luxury.

At the same time, however, the boys feel a kinship with each other, calling themselves “blood brothers” years before they know they are in fact related. Although they have many superficial differences, at core they are both loving, decent, and honest individuals, much like their mother, Mrs. Johnstone . Their similarities are further emphasized by the fact that they fall in love with the same woman, Linda , and she feels strongly about both of them. Tragically, it is ultimately this similarity that ultimately leads to their joint downfall. Russell never comes down on one side or the other in the “nature vs. nurture” argument, but instead shows how both genetics and upbringing affect one’s personality and fate.

Nature vs. Nurture ThemeTracker

Nature vs. Nurture Quotes in Blood Brothers

So did y’hear the story of the Johnstone twins? As like each other as two new pins, Of one womb born, on the self same day, How one was kept and one given away? An’ did you never hear how the Johnstones died, Never knowing that they shared one name, Till the day they died…?

MRS. LYONS: You do know what they say about twins, secretly parted, don’t you? MRS. JOHNSTONE: What? What? MRS. LYONS: They say…they say that if either twin learns that he once was a pair, that they shall both immediately die. It means, Mrs. Johnstone, that these brothers shall grow up, unaware of the other’s existence. They shall be raised apart and never, ever told what was once the truth. You won’t tell anyone about this, Mrs. Johnstone, because if you do, you will kill them.

MICKEY: What’s your birthday? EDWARD: July the eighteenth. MICKEY: So is mine. EDWARD: Is it really? MICKEY: Ey, we were born on the same day…that means we can be blood brothers. Do you wanna be my blood brother, Eddie? EDWARD: Yes, please.

You see, you see why I don’t want you mixing with boys like that! You learn filth from them and behave like this like a, like a horrible little boy, like them. But you are not like them. You are my son, mine, and you won’t..you won’t ever…Oh my son…my beautiful, beautiful son.

MRS. LYONS:…If we stay here I feel that something terrible will happen, something bad. MR. LYONS: Look, Jen. What is this thing you keep talking about getting away from? Mm? MRS. LYONS: It’s just…it’s these people…these people that Edward has started mixing with. Can’t you see how he’s drawn to them? They’re…they’re drawing him away from me.

MRS. LYONS: Where did you get that…locket from, Edward? Why do you wear it? EDWARD: I can’t tell you that, Ma. I’ve explained, it’s a secret. I can’t tell you. MRS. LYONS: But…but I’m your mother. EDWARD: I know, but I still can’t tell you. It’s not important, I’m going up to my room. It’s just a secret, everybody has secrets, don’t you have secrets?

EDWARD: I wish I was a bit like Wish that I could score a hit like And be just a little bit like That guy MICKEY: I wish that I could be like Just a little less like me Like the sort of guy I see, like That guy That guy.

MRS. LYONS: Afraid he might eventually have forgotten you? Oh no. There’s no chance of that. He’ll always remember you. After we’d moved he talked less and less of you and your family. I started…just for a while I came to believe that he was actually mine. MRS. JOHNSTONE: He is yours. MRS. LYONS: No. I took him. But I never made him mine. Does he know? Have you told… MRS. JOHNSTONE: Of course not! MRS. LYONS: Even when—when he was a tiny baby I’d see him looking straight at me and I’d think, he knows…he knows. You have ruined me. But you won’t ruin Edward!

EDWARD: If I was him, if I was him That’s what I’d do. But I’m not saying a word I’m not saying I care Though I would like you to know That I’ not saying a word I’m not saying I care Though I would like you to know. But I’m not. LINDA: What? EDWARD: Mickey.

EDWARD: I thought, I thought we always stuck together. I thought we were…blood brothers. MICKEY: That was kids’ stuff, Eddie. Didn’t anyone tell y’? But I suppose you still are a kid, aren’t y’? EDWARD: I’m exactly the same age as you, Mickey. MICKEY: Yeh. But you’re still a kid. An’ I wish I could be as well Eddie, I wish I could still believe in all that blood brother stuff. But I can’t, because while no one was looking I grew up. An’ you didn’t, because you didn’t need to; an’ I don’t blame y’ for it Eddie. In your shoes I’d be the same, I’d still be able to be a kid. But I’m not in your shoes, I’m in these, lookin’ at you. An’ you make me sick, right? That was all just kids’ stuff, Eddie, an’ I don’t want to be reminded of it. Right? So just, just take yourself away. Go an’ see your friends an’ celebrate with them.

I didn’t sort anythin’ out Linda. Not a job, not a house, nothin’. It used to be just sweets an’ ciggies he gave me, because I had none of me own. Now it’s a job and a house. I’m not stupid, Linda. You sorted it out. You an’ Councilor Eddie Lyons.

MRS. JOHNSTONE: Mickey. Don’t shoot Eddie. He’s your brother. You had a twin brother. I couldn’t afford to keep both of you. His mother couldn’t have kids. I agreed to give one of you away! MICKEY: You. You! Why didn’t you give me away? I could have been…I could have been him!

And do we blame superstition for what came to pass? Or could it be what we, the English, have come to know as class?

Sample exam question – WJEC Essay questions

An example of the type of question you might be asked in the exam and how best to approach it.

Part of English Literature Blood Brothers

Essay questions

You will be given a choice of two essay questions about Blood Brothers in the exam; you need to choose one to answer. They will usually be about specific characters or themes in the text. The examiners are looking for you to demonstrate good knowledge of the whole play. You must have a clear idea about:

• language, form and structure
• dramatisation

You should be able to use some key quotations from the text, which you have remembered (you will not be allowed a book in the exam). You should structure your answer logically, with a brief introduction and conclusion.

Example question (Higher/Fundation tier)

Why does Willy Russell show the audience the death of Mickey and Edward at the very start of the play?

Planning your answer

• Introduction: The opening is linked to different themes, mainly superstition and social class.
• Main Point 1: In the prologue, the Narrator invites the audience to judge Mrs Johnstone – a mother, so cruel but then she immediately describes how hard her life is so we feel sympathy for her.
• Main Point 2: This links to social class because it makes the audience focus on what leads to the differences between the twins as they grow and a crucial factor in this is their different classes.
• Main Point 3: However, the opening also reminds us that the boys’ death is inevitable, linking the opening to the theme of superstition and fate.
• Main Point 4: The dead bodies on stage also remind the audience of the destructive presence of violence in the characters’ lives.
• Conclusion: While the opening initially seems to give a sense of the inevitability of Mickey and Edward’s deaths, revealing the ending to us means that the audience focuses on what leads to the tragic end and examines the factors involved, such as social class and violence.

Sample answer – Foundation tier (main point 1)

The Narrator comes onstage and narrates the prologue at the beginning of the play. The bodies of the twins are onstage at the same time as this. In the prologue, the Narrator talks about the twins dying and describes how it happened: they didn’t know that they were twins until the day that they died and then their mother was upset about their death. He then says that the audience should judge the twins’ mother for the role she played in the death of Mickey and Edward, blaming her for what has happened to them.

• This is too descriptive. You are being asked to analyse the play not describe what happens so make sure that you don’t just tell the story in your answer, as has been done here.
• There is no quotation used here to support the point. When possible, use short quotations from the play as evidence to support your ideas.
• This response is not answering the question. There is no discussion of why the final events of the play are shown at the beginning.

Sample answer – Foundation tier (main point 1) – improved

While the dead bodies of Mickey and Edward are shown on stage, the Narrator narrates the prologue. In this, he says that the audience should judge the twins’ mother, Mrs Johnstone, for her part in the tragic ending. He describes her as a mother so cruel. This makes the audience judge her badly straight away and think she is to blame, so the opening gives us a negative impression of her. However, when she comes on stage after the prologue, she describes her difficult life, making the audience feel sorry for her. In this way, the opening of the play seems to be showing that it is wrong to make quick judgements.

• This is a secure Foundation tier response.
• There is a clear focus on the question.
• There is sound evidence of knowledge of the play.
• A quotation is used appropriately to support the point.

Sample answer – Higher tier (main point 4)

Russell shows that violence is important in the play by showing the death of the twins at the beginning. The Narrator says during the prologue that Mrs Johnstone cries my own dear sons lie slain, describing the deaths of Mickey and Edward. Violence is a big part of the play and it features at several different points, so having it at the start shows that it is an important theme.

• This is lacking detail. There needs to be increased discussion of how the theme of violence links to the question.
• While a quotation is used, showing knowledge of the text, this needs to be analysed specifically. The comment on the quotation only describes what it is about.
• Focus on the question is lost in the second part of this paragraph.

Sample answer – Higher tier (main point 4) – improved

Through revealing the death of the twins early on in the play, Russell establishes the significance of violence in the characters’ lives immediately. The prologue describes their mother’s reaction as crying my own dear sons lie slain, the word ‘slain’ emphasising the violence and futility of their deaths. The finality of Mickey and Edward’s deaths also demonstrates the futility of violence and how this will always ultimately lead to destruction. This is also emphasised through the staging of the play, as the overture is repeated at the beginning and end of the play, representing the inescapability of the repercussions of violence.

• This is a confident higher tier response.
• There is assured discussion of several different parts of the play, showing a secure grasp of the play as a whole.
• Details are commented on, with analysis shown, so there is evidence of the ability to move between the general and specific when commenting on the text.
• There are perceptive points made about different features of the play.

More guides on this topic

• Plot summary
• Plot summary quiz
• Themes – WJEC
• Themes quiz
• Characters – WJEC
• Form, structure and language – WJEC
• Form, structure and language quiz
• Dramatisation – WJEC

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‘Blood Brothers’ by John Wickham Analysis

A Reading of the Short Story

This story is about two brothers Paul and Benjy. Both brothers can be considered to be ‘Blood Brothers’ because they are thirteen year old twins. Despite the fact that Paul and Benjy are twins; they both display different personality traits. Paul is an introvert who loves nature and he loves to contemplate about life. Whereas, Benjy is Paul’s polar opposite. This further reinforces that although both boys are genetically related that is where the commonality ends.  Benjy is an extrovert who is very carefree and fun loving. However, Paul thinks his brother believes he is superior and as a result he grows to hate him. Paul is conflicted about his feelings because deep down he wants Benjy to be his friend and confidant. The story ends with Paul attacking Benjy. Benjy is surprised and confused because he did not know or understand why Paul reacted in this way.

• Paul is an introvert.
• He is artistic and he paints pictures
• He loves nature.
• He is also very reflective. He contemplates nature as well as his feeling towards his brother.
• He dislikes Benjy’s ability to accomplish simple tasks quickly.
• He resents Benjy because he reminds him of his own short comings.
• He envies Benjy and his envy turns to hate.
• He thought Benjy feels he is superior to him.
• He is an extrovert and carefree
• He is confident.
• He is a typical boy, very active, adventurous and always exploring.
• He is ignorant to his brother’s disdain for him.
• He felt he is superior to Paul.
• He mocks Paul.
• He is an old shoe maker in the village. Both boys go to visit him.

Narrative Point of View:

• Third Person Narrative

Setting:  The story takes place in an unnamed village. 

Conflict:   Paul envies Benjy carefree personality as a result of this he grew to hate Benjy.  This hate resulted n him attacking his brother.

• Love and family relationships
• Childhood Experiences
• Appearance vs Reality

27 thoughts on “‘Blood Brothers’ by John Wickham Analysis”

this help me a lot

It really did

This helped me a lot

Thank you for your feedback.

Thanks for your feedback Gisseli!!!!

this is not helpful at all . where is the summary the techniques background information and the mood .these would be helpful too u knw

this is not helpful. where is the story? where is the Summary?

Hi William,

You can find the story in the World of Prose. We do not include these stories on our sit for copyright reasons.

Watch the video and you’ll know all of the story by listening to the person who is reading it and the summary is the overview of the story. I hope that this was helpful to you,(William).

What is the rising action and climax

I want a whole summary about what actually happen in the story

give the full summary of blood brothers with paul and benjy

Y’all should do a skit and the script ….it will help others a lot

What is d conflict of this story?

The conflict is paul attacked benjy because his envy grew until it turned to hatred towards benjy, but then when paul realized that benjy felt fear just like him. He decided not to make a finishing blow. So in the end, Paul did not kill benjy but he almost did.

This really helpful thanks a lot

you guys could state what is benjy fear

In the end of the short story, Paul attacked Bengy in the Shoemaker’s Shop with an awl, a screwdriver like tool. After Bengy begged Paul to play outside with him while Paul sat inside the shop. Bengy came closer to Paul and touched his shoulder. This almost triggered Paul and he turned around with the awl and held it above Bengy but soon noticed that Bengy was scared. This left Paul content as he walked home because he realized “happy in the discovery that his brother also knew fear.”

Thanks alot for the help may god bless u

The name that you’re using states the truth.

This website was really helpful because it made me understand the story ‘Blood Brothers’ by John Wickham better. So thank you for creating this website.

How did either brother deal with the conflict ?

rising action

Can you describe the setting a bit more?

What are the literary devices

The fact that Paul envied benjy carefree personality as a result Paul grew to hate benjy

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Blood Brothers by Willy Russell: Sample Essay Responses

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Blood Brothers

Blood brothers essay.

 Blood Brothers Essay

Does Willy Russell want the audience to blame Mrs Johnstone in the scene where she agrees to give one of her children away? What dramatic and language techniques does Willy Russell use to influence the audiences emotions?

Blood brothers is a musical set in the 1970’s. Mrs Johnstone has 7 children and is expecting twins but she can not afford to look after them both and she is pressured into giving one away to Mrs Lyons. They swear on the bible but at first Mrs Johnstone is a bit hesitant because she doesn’t actually want to give one away. We are going to look at the evidence and see who is to blame for Mrs Johnstone giving away one of babies.

The first person I am going to blame for this is Mrs Johnstone because she shouldn’t have risked having more children if she knew that she would only just “manage with one more mouth to feed.” Also she should have known that twins was possible and if she didn’t risk it she wouldn’t of had to give any of her children away.

This is a preview of the whole essay

The second person I am going to blame is the gynaecologist (narrator) because I think he knew that it was going to be twins because he all of a sudden he gave up the milk round and became a doctor. Also I didn’t think he wasn’t a proper doctor because he uses slang like “lets have a listen to the baby’s ticker” where as a proper doctor probably would have said “lets listen to the baby’s heart beat shall we.”

Thirdly I am going to blame Mr Johnstone because if he didn’t leave Mrs Johnstone she probably would have been able to “scrape by” with one more mouth to feed. That way she wouldn’t of had to give one of her baby’s away to Mrs Lyons.

Fourthly I am going to blame the government because they never helped her by giving her benefits when she needed it. If the government gave her money she wouldn’t be saying “if I’m careful I can just scrape by.”

 Finally I am going to blame Mrs Lyons because when she found out about there being twins she could have given Mrs Johnstone a raise or found her a better job with better pay instead of persuading her to get rid of one by saying “give one to me.”

In conclusion I think that Mrs Lyons and the government are mostly to blame because they could have helped her out with money until she got a proper job with a decent wage.

Document Details

• Word Count 447
• Page Count 2
• Subject English

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