A comparison of the characters of Mickey and Eddie in 'Blood Brothers' and their differing paths in life
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Course
English
Institution
GCSE
In Willy Russell's "Blood Brothers," the characters of Mickey and Eddie are twin brothers who are separated at birth and grow up in vastly different circumstances. Despite their shared blood, the two brothers have vastly different paths in life and personalities. Mickey, who is raised in a working-...
In Willy Russell's "Blood Brothers," the characters of Mickey and Eddie are twin brothers
who are separated at birth and grow up in vastly different circumstances. Despite their
shared blood, the two brothers have vastly different paths in life and personalities. In this
essay, I will compare and contrast the characters of Mickey and Eddie and explore how their
differing paths in life are depicted in the play.
Mickey, who is raised in a working-class family, is portrayed as a restless and impulsive
character. He struggles with poverty and a lack of direction in life, and often acts out in
frustration. For example, when he is asked about his future plans, he responds, "I don't
know. I'm just a kid from the streets" This quote highlights Mickey's sense of hopelessness
and lack of ambition.
In contrast, Eddie, who is raised in a middle-class family, is portrayed as a studious and
ambitious character. He is determined to better himself and make something of his life. For
example, when Mrs. Lyons asks him what he wants to be when he grows up, he responds, "I
want to be a teacher." This quote highlights Eddie's sense of purpose and drive to succeed.
Despite their different paths in life, Mickey and Eddie share a deep bond as brothers. The
play uses the recurring imagery of blood to symbolize this bond and the idea that the
brothers are connected despite their different circumstances. For example, when Mickey
finds out that Eddie is his brother, he says, "It's in the blood, blood brothers, we are blood
brothers" This quote underlines the strong bond that the two brothers share and how their
bond is stronger than any other bond they might have in their lives. The use of "blood" in the
quote emphasizes the idea that their bond is unbreakable and eternal.
However, as the play progresses, their paths in life start to diverge more and more and the
bond between them becomes increasingly strained. Mickey begins to resent Eddie's success
and feels that he has been left behind. On the other hand, Eddie becomes increasingly
distant from Mickey and his working-class roots. This leads to a tragic ending as the play
portrays the consequences of the choices they made in their lives.
In conclusion, the characters of Mickey and Eddie in "Blood Brothers" are depicted as vastly
different individuals with differing paths in life. Despite their shared blood, the two brothers
have vastly different personalities and aspirations. The play uses the recurring imagery of
blood to symbolize the strong bond between the brothers and the idea that they are
connected despite their different circumstances. However, it also shows how their paths in
life diverge and how it leads to a tragic end. The play is a reminder that despite the bond of
blood, life's choices and circumstances can lead us down vastly different paths.
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