Class difference in Blood Brothers

How does Willy Russell demonstrate class difference in Blood Brothers?

"Blood Brothers" was written by Willy Russell in 1985. A Liverpudlian

West Side Story: twin brothers are separated at birth because their

mother cannot afford to keep them both. She gives one of them away to

wealthy Mrs Lyons and they grow up as friends in ignorance of their

blood relationship until the inevitable quarrel caused through 'class'

differences leads to the tragic outcome. In this essay, I will examine

how Willy Russell demonstrates class differences in his play 'Blood

Brothers.' I will be looking at the differences between Mrs Lyons and

Mrs Johnson. The differences between Eddie and Mickey as young

children at the age of seven. The different police attitudes towards

Eddie and Mickey. Also Mickey as a worker and Eddie as a student at

university, and the impact, class difference has on the end of the

play.

Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnson have many social differences. Mrs Lyons has

a comfortable home, and lifestyle - the Lyons can offer Eddie a better

life that Mrs Johnson, "If my child was raised in a place like this

one, he wouldn't have to worry about where his next meal is coming

from." They have a settled, sheltered lifestyle and security for the

future. Mrs Lyons is over-protective and controlling, "I've told you

never to go where that boy-where boys like that live." Edward has

little freedom when young, and grows up with little knowledge of the

'real' world "because, because you're not the same as him. You're not,

do you understand?"

Mrs Johnson however doesn't have any of this security- she lets Mickey

spend much of his time out on the streets unsupervised. She doesn't

have a comfortable home and has a world of uncert...

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...e easy life, because one family had more money than the other. Eddie

got to be a councillor and Mickey a redundant worker.

In conclusion, Willy Russell demonstrates class difference through out

his play by using two equal boys and putting them in different house

holds. Their lives change dramatically because of their class, each of

them are treated differently just because of wealth and status. Mickey

and Edward's lives are partly ruled by fate, they have little power to

change their lives, and their characters are trapped by social

circumstances. The final comment is telling- "And do we blame

superstition for what came to pass? Or could it be what we, the

English, have come to know as class?" This forces the viewer think

about social class and the effect it has on our lives and whether we

should allow class differences to effect our treatment of others.