Blood Brothers Context, Exercises of Voice

Download Blood Brothers Context and more Exercises Voice in PDF only on Docsity!

Blood Brothers Context

1. Where is the setting of Blood Brothers? ..................................................................................................................................................... 2. What qualities are Liverpudlians known for? ..................................................................................................................................................... 3. Which character typifies these qualities? ..................................................................................................................................................... 4. What were the unemployment figures in Liverpool during the 1980’s? ..................................................................................................................................................... 5. At what time is Blood Brothers set? ..................................................................................................................................................... 6. Why might Mrs Johnstone’s neighbours disapprove of her? ..................................................................................................................................................... 7. Find 5 key facts about education during this time. ..................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................... 8. What was the name given to manual workers? .....................................................................................................................................................

Liverpool

Liverpool, because of its position on the River

Mersey, was a prosperous seaport in the 19

th

century.

It is a city of many contrasts.

In the 20

th

century, because of the silting of the

river, it was a place of financial depression,

which led to unemployment and strikes.

There was a big gap between the rich and the

poor.

Blood Brothers Context

The People of Liverpool

Liverpudlians are known for their warmth,

hospitality and wit.

Liverpool is also famous for its football teams

and impact on culture – the Mersey Beat

(poetry), the Beatles (music) and playwrights,

architects etc.

Mrs Johnstone’s wit and warmth typify these

qualities.

Unemployment

Unemployment reached 25% in the 1980s.

At the time the play is set, factories were closing

down. At the start of act 2, Sammy is already on

the dole, and the song ‘Take a Letter Miss Jones’

illustrates how this rising unemployment

adversely affects Mickey’s life and tempts him

into crime.

Being out of work creates low self–esteem;

particularly for traditional men who feel they

need to support their family.

Views at the time

Blood Brothers is set in Liverpool, between the 1950s and

the 1970s.

At the time, people strongly disapproved of sex before

marriage and this is why Mrs Johnstone ‘has to’ marry

quickly.

Divorce was uncommon and this is another reason the

neighbours might disapprove of her.

Although the 1945 Education act had made grammar

schools free, working class children had to pass the

11+ to gain entry to the grammar schools. The pass

mark was kept deliberately high. Few children were

allowed the privilege of a grammar school education,

and even if they gained a place, there was no

guarantee that they would leave with qualifications,

as the school leaving age was 15.

Grammar Schools

Pupils at grammar schools studied academic

subjects and took O levels. Some went on to take A

levels, while others were under pressure from

parents to leave school, get a job and bring money

into the household.

There were far fewer university places then, so

most would go into employment after school.

Secondary Modern Schools

Children who failed the 11+ would go to a

secondary modern school to be prepared for

life in the trades. Boys would study practical

skills like bricklaying, alongside academic work,

and girls would learn how to cook. Many of

these schools were under-funded.

‘New’ Towns

To improve standards of living, the government

moved people away from the terraced houses

into new council accommodation in the

countryside. ‘New’ towns were created like

Skelmersdale, and existing places were

developed, like Runcorn and Winsford. Some

high rise blocks were built also.

Bright New Day

Mrs Johnstone’s family is certainly helped by their move,

although not as much as she had hoped.

In many ways, it is already too late for the older children,

and the unemployment situation was often worse away

from the city.

Also, many missed the people and the amenities that they

had known before, and the support network that existed

all but vanished. Uprooting people can cause stress and

depression.

Willy Russell’s Aim

One of the playwright’s aims is to show us that

there are disadvantages to being poor and

working class.

The failure to succeed in life is not because of a

lack of ability, but a lack of opportunity. This can

clearly be seen in Edward and Mickey.

We must ask ourselves whether this is still true in

the 21

st

century.

Synopsis of the play

Write a synopsis of the play

Act one

Act two

10 key events of Blood Brothers

She is 25 years old at the start of the play and has already had seven children. This suggests that she has a naturally maternal character, embracing new life and being a caring person. Russell might also be hinting at religious rulings against contraception. Often she makes rash decisions on impulse rather than thinking carefully over the consequences of her actions. For example, she buys lots of items from a catalogue on credit despite knowing she probably won’t be able to pay for them later. She has a strong, generous character knowing almost instinctively what’s right and wrong, although her circumstances make it hard for her to be a straightforwardly ‘good’ person. She refuses Mrs Lyons’ attempts to bribe her showing that she values people above money, yet she does agree under extreme pressure to give Mrs Lyons one of her children. This is suggested to be largely unselfish because she is shown only to have concern for the child, foreseeing a more comfortable life for him. She is naturally a kind and loving mother and finds it hard to discipline her children and keep them under control. When Sammy burns the school down instead of scolding him she casually jokes that it was the school’s fault for letting ‘the silly gets play with magnesium’. She is uneducated and does not value intellectual or academic pursuits. This is probably why she is superstitious, something which causes her to believe the twins’ curse and be terrified into following Mrs Lyons’ desires. It also means she lacks concern for the education of her children, taking little interest when either Mickey or Sammy are suspended from school. She is lively and has a zest for life. This can be clearly seen in her love of dancing, but also in her general attitude, which could almost be said to be happy-go-lucky. She follows her instincts, believing them to be her best guide through life. She has a fatalistic attitude: ‘what will be will be’. She does not really concern herself with causes or explanations of the events in her life, instead accepting them as they happen. She rejoices in her relocation by the council for example, but does not wonder how this occurred – to her, it is merely the work of fate’s lucky hand. She is poor and trapped by poverty. This makes it very difficult for her to care for her children and is ultimately the reason that she gives Edward away to Mrs Lyons. Russell suggests that she is old before her time (remember that she is only in her mid-twenties at the start of the play) and has had to sacrifice any youthful enjoyment for the life she has. Mrs Johnstone

She is presented by Russell as a lonely housewife, with a cold character who finds it difficult to be affectionate towards others. This may be her natural personality, but circumstances certainly haven’t helped: she and her husband are unable to have children naturally and her husband spends long periods at work away from home. She is wealthy, but dependent upon her successful businessman husband’s income. She doesn’t work or do the housework. She hires Mrs Johnstone to do the cleaning for her, while she shops for expensive things. Russell creates this character as an inconsiderate, pampered but dependent individual. She is a self-centred character who uses others for her own gain. Once Mrs Johnstone has handed over Edward, she no longer needs her and cruelly discards her, manipulating her through preying on her uneducated and superstitious mind. She is an over-protective mother, who is always anxious about Edward, and tries to keep him in the house or garden away from Mickey because she doesn’t want him ‘mixing with boys like that’. She is shown to be overcome by anxieties and suspicions in later scenes, which Russell suggests are the results of excessive loneliness and a loveless life. She becomes unreasonable and is possibly mad when she attacks Mrs Johnstone. Mrs. Lyons

The Given Circumstances - Facts Voice Physicality and body language Costume and appearance Effect on the audience Relationships with other characters

Mrs. Lyons

The Given Circumstances - Facts Voice Physicality and body language Costume and appearance Effect on the audience Relationships with other characters

Mickey

The Given Circumstances - Facts Voice Physicality and body language Costume and appearance Effect on the audience Relationships with other characters

Edward

The Given Circumstances - Facts Voice Physicality and body language Costume and appearance Effect on the audience Relationships with other characters

Linda

The Given Circumstances - Facts Voice Physicality and body language Costume and appearance Effect on the audience Relationships with other characters

Mr. Lyons