Blood brothers friendship essay
Introduction - (correct Answer) - Russel puts Mickey + Edward friendship in centre of play however social
class and their different backgrounds eventually becomes the turning point in the play as it leads to both
their deaths.
P1 - Start of play M + E friendship - (correct Answer) - M + E become friends within minutes of first
meeting + decided to become blood brothers - neither realises they are twins.
Mickey stood up to Sammy when he calls Edward a 'poshy' + says Edward is his 'best friend' - shows he is
prepared to stand up to his intimidating big brother for this friendship.
P2 - Different upbringings - (correct Answer) - Russel shows difference between characters upbringings -
M swears freely which E thinks is 'smashing' - adjective 'smashing' together with Edwards plan to look it
up in the dictionary portrays the upper middle class, educated background which is very different to
Mickey's.
HOWEVER, their differences are irrelevant to the two best friends.
P3 - Next part in play - similarities between the two (suspended) MIRRORS THAT THEY ARE TWINS -
(correct Answer) - M + E continue to be best friends with many parallels in their lives.
Both suspended from school when they challenge authority of their teachers - shows the naturally
similar behaviour of the two TWINS + although they are different, they have similar attitudes and
personalities - reminds audience they are twins - THE FACT THAT UNCONSCIOUSLY DO SIMILAR THINGS
MIRRORS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE TWINS.
P4 - Both love Linda - (correct Answer) - M too shy to tell her + E hides his feeling because of his
FRIENDSHIP with M
IRONIC as after breakdown of their friendship it is Edwards affair with Linda which leads to both their
ultimate downfalls.
P5 Next part of play - adulthood - breaks their friendship - their friendship can't stand the pressures of
adulthood. - (correct Answer) - As they turn 18 Russel highlights how they are drifting apart due to their
different backgrounds. E goes to uni whilst M gets a job in a factory. E comes home and find out M and L
are married + pregnant.
They argue because E can't understand pressure M is under + how difficult life is.
M calls him a 'kid' suggesting that E has not grown up since he was younger (THERE WAS NO NEED FOR
HIM TO CHANGE AS HE GOT GIVEN A PERFECT LIFE) - he 'didn't need to' grow up.
P6 - Broken friendship between M + E - (correct Answer) - Little dialogue between M + E shows how far
they have drifted from each other + how damaged their friendship has become.
E becomes councillor but M loses his job + sent to prison + becomes hooked on antidepressants (THIS
WAS A PROBLEM IN THE EARLY 80S WHEN THE PLAY WAS WRITTEN)
However Russel also highlights the damage it does to friendship + family - leads to Mickeys final
confrontation with E when they discover their true relationship, and end up both being shot.
Introduction - (correct Answer) - Russel puts Mickey + Edward friendship in centre of play however social
class and their different backgrounds eventually becomes the turning point in the play as it leads to both
their deaths.
P1 - Start of play M + E friendship - (correct Answer) - M + E become friends within minutes of first
meeting + decided to become blood brothers - neither realises they are twins.
Mickey stood up to Sammy when he calls Edward a 'poshy' + says Edward is his 'best friend' - shows he is
prepared to stand up to his intimidating big brother for this friendship.
P2 - Different upbringings - (correct Answer) - Russel shows difference between characters upbringings -
M swears freely which E thinks is 'smashing' - adjective 'smashing' together with Edwards plan to look it
up in the dictionary portrays the upper middle class, educated background which is very different to
Mickey's.
HOWEVER, their differences are irrelevant to the two best friends.
P3 - Next part in play - similarities between the two (suspended) MIRRORS THAT THEY ARE TWINS -
(correct Answer) - M + E continue to be best friends with many parallels in their lives.
Both suspended from school when they challenge authority of their teachers - shows the naturally
similar behaviour of the two TWINS + although they are different, they have similar attitudes and
personalities - reminds audience they are twins - THE FACT THAT UNCONSCIOUSLY DO SIMILAR THINGS
MIRRORS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE TWINS.
P4 - Both love Linda - (correct Answer) - M too shy to tell her + E hides his feeling because of his
FRIENDSHIP with M
IRONIC as after breakdown of their friendship it is Edwards affair with Linda which leads to both their
ultimate downfalls.
P5 Next part of play - adulthood - breaks their friendship - their friendship can't stand the pressures of
adulthood. - (correct Answer) - As they turn 18 Russel highlights how they are drifting apart due to their
different backgrounds. E goes to uni whilst M gets a job in a factory. E comes home and find out M and L
are married + pregnant.
They argue because E can't understand pressure M is under + how difficult life is.
M calls him a 'kid' suggesting that E has not grown up since he was younger (THERE WAS NO NEED FOR
HIM TO CHANGE AS HE GOT GIVEN A PERFECT LIFE) - he 'didn't need to' grow up.
P6 - Broken friendship between M + E - (correct Answer) - Little dialogue between M + E shows how far
they have drifted from each other + how damaged their friendship has become.
E becomes councillor but M loses his job + sent to prison + becomes hooked on antidepressants (THIS
WAS A PROBLEM IN THE EARLY 80S WHEN THE PLAY WAS WRITTEN)
However Russel also highlights the damage it does to friendship + family - leads to Mickeys final
confrontation with E when they discover their true relationship, and end up both being shot.
