Blood Brothers is a musical play by Willy Russell in 1981. Set in Liverpool during a time of economic hardship, it focuses on fraternal twins Mickey and Eddie who were separated at birth. Eddie is raised in privilege by a wealthy family, while Mickey grows up in a poor family. The different environments allow Russel to explore themes including nature versus nuture, social inequality and superstition.
This blog post explores the main themes throughout the play. It is a guide for students in their GCSE English Literature revision. If you need further support, TeachTutti has GCSE English Literature tutors who can help you to revise and learn this literature.
Social class and inequality
Willy Russell uses the contrasting experiences of Mickey and Eddie to highlight the inequalities of different social classes in 1980s Britain. The impact of social class significantly affects the lives and opportunities of the main characters.
Mrs Johnstone has a working-class background. This financial position forces her to give up one of her identical twins. Mrs Lyon is wealthy and middle-class. She adopts Edwards and gives him a privileged upbringing. The disparity between the Johnstone and Lyons families is highlighted by the song "My Child", where Mrs Lyons promises Edwards "all his own toys and a garden to play in".
The lives of the twins become increasingly different as they grow up. Mickey struggles in life, especially after losing his job. Edwards receives multiple opportunities and is unaware of the advantages that separate him from his brother. For example, Edward naively asks "Why is a job so important?", to which Mickey replies "You don’t understand anything, do ye?".
Russell critiques the idea that success is solely down to determination and ability, which was promoted by figures like the conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher when the play was written. He suggests that societal structures often decide a person's future. Mickey reflects on this when he expresses frustration at his unfulfilled potential due to circumstances beyond his control:
"I could have been him!"
Superstition and fate
The audience is aware of the twins' fate at the beginning of the play. The declaration of the narrator foreshadows the conclusion and creates tension between fate and societal influence:
"And do we blame superstition for what came to pass? Or could it be what we, the English, have come to know as class?"
Mrs. Johnstone is a superstitious character. For example, she is horrified when she notices new shoes are placed on a table. Mrs. Lyons exploits this fear by creating a curse she claims will kill the twins if they discover their true relationship. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when Mickey accidentally shoots Eddie and in turn is killed by police after discovering the truth.
Fate is often stressed by the narrator, particularly in the song "Shoes Upon the Table". The refrain is a reminder that the twins can't escape their destiny, regardless of how happy their lives may currently be. This sense of foreboding lingers over the play:
"Y' know the devil’s got your number"
Russell presents a counter-argument to the impact of fate and superstition. The narrator asks at the end of the play if the tragedy is actually caused by social structures, including the class system. He is deliberately ambiguous, making the audience question if fate is simply a way to rationalise the consequences of inequality:
"Do we blame superstition for what came to pass? Or could it be what we, the English, have come to know as class?"
Nature versus nurture
Nature vs nuture is undoubtedly the dominant theme in Blood Brothers. Mickey and Edward are separated at birth and placed in contrasting social environments. Russell uses this to explore how environment and upbringing shape the twins.
In the prologue, the narrator stresses that the twins are identical in nature at birth, implying that any differences between them as they grow up are a result of their upbringing: "as like each other as two new pins".
Mickey and Edward develop different behaviours in their childhood. Mickey uses informal language and streetwise attitudes from growing up in a working-class house. Edward is mild-manner, polite, articulate and naive, reflecting his privileged middle-class upbringing. This is comically highlighted when Edward innocently asks Mickey "Don’t you know what a dictionary is?".
Their characteristics and situations diverge further as adults. Mickey struggles with unemployment and supporting a family, while Edward enjoys wealth and connections. Mickey becomes increasingly bitter over the opportunities he has been denied, lamenting that "I could have been him!".
Russell challenges the idea that a person is solely responsible for their success. He implies that external factors can have a significant effect, including class and environment. The central question of the play is how much of our destiny is truly within our control.
Violence
Violence is used to reflect how the characters struggle with powerlessness and the societal forces that lead them to destructive actions. It first appears in an innocent game of "Cowboys and Indians" when Mickey is playing with him friends as children. They pretend to shoot each other, foreshadowing the violence that will dominate their later lives. The playful line in the song "Kids' Game" hints at the normalisation of violence for the children, leading to serious consequences when they are older:
"The whole thing’s just a game."
Violence becomes more severe as the story develops and the characters become frustrated at having no control over their lives. For example, desperation and poverty cause Sammy to involve Mickey in a robbery, which leads to tragic events. There are also violent outbursts from privileged characters, such as Mrs Lyons who becomes increasingly paranoid and lashes out with a knife on one occasion.
The climax of the play culminates with the ultimate act of violence. Mickey is jealous and angry after discovering Edward's relationship with Linda. He confronts Eddie with a gun, which accidentally fires when Mrs Johnstone tries to mediate by revealing their true relationship. The stage direction describes how "the gun explodes and blows Edward apart", which causes the police to immediately shoot Mickey. It is a testament to the destructive power of violence.
Russell argues in Blood Brothers that violence is a symptom of societal issues, including poverty, inequality and the lack of opportunity. This social system leaves its most vulnerable members with few alternatives.
Final thoughts - Blood Brothers themes
Willy Russell creates a powerful commentary on society through the themes explored. Social class creates barriers that further inequality, while superstition and fate show how beliefs can influence a person's actions. The nature versus nurture debate looks at whether the lives of the twins are shaped by genetics or their different environments. Finally, violence is shown as a reaction to powerlessness and societal pressures that create a feeling of desperation.
For further reading, RevisionWorld has key quotes from Blood Brothers. SaveMyExams has a useful article on the context for Blood Brothers, including the politics of the time and the background of the author.
If you need help learning this play, TeachTutti has GCSE English Literature tutors for online and in-person tuition. They can offer personalised support, including preparing revision notes for your exams.
This post was updated on 30 Nov, -0001.
