Class difference in Blood Brothers Essay -- English Literature

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... ...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.