Studying Characters and Relationships within the Text
As you will already be aware, observing and discussing individual characters and
Their relationship with other characters is vital when gaining a thorough knowledge of a text. Seeing the characters brought into realisation on the stage is an excellent way of gaining familiarity with these characters – and unlike many other film or stage productions, Blood Brothers has not been altered by the adaptation process, as it was written as a musical by Russell. There are two main character relationships within the text where we can note a contrast between two characters. We of course see the immediate bond between Mickey and Eddie, and the notable differences between their separate upbringings. We also witness the turbulent relationship of Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons, and here we can compare and contrast two very different characters.
Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons
A large part of the tension throughout the text hangs on the superstition that Mrs Lyons uses to trap Mrs Johnstone into silence; that should Mickey and Eddie discover their brotherhood, they will both die. Throughout the play we see the huge contrast between Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone. At the beginning of the play, the Narrator describes Mrs Johnstone as ‘the mother, so cruel’ – but is this what we are led to think of Mrs Johnstone? For instance, how do we react to the scene where Mrs Johnstone allows the boys to go to the cinema to watch the ‘Swedish Au Pairs’ film? We know that Mrs Lyons would not be as liberal. We see that Mrs Johnstone has a better understanding and acceptance of the fact that young boys will be sexually curious and she does not try to suppress their curiosity. We see her as down-to-earth and the more approachable mother – she of course wins instant credibility with her two sons. This moment is also an example that indicates that happiness during upbringing is not assured by social status or wealth. Rather than viewing Mrs Johnstone...