Violence

• What is a key theme in Blood Brothers?

  Violence
• How does violence manifest in the lives of working-class characters in Blood Brothers?

  It is present from a young age
• What does Mickey play with as a child that indicates violence?

  A toy gun
• How does the violence in Blood Brothers escalate throughout the play?

  It culminates in the tragic deaths of Mickey and Edward
• Who is a key character linked to violence in Blood Brothers?

  Sammy
• What does violence reflect in the characters of Blood Brothers?

  A lack of control
• How does Russell show the link between working-class children and violence?

  Through their games involving guns and death
• What do Mickey and his friends play that foreshadows later violence?

  Games linked to guns and death
• What does the evidence about crossing fingers and counting suggest?

  Violence is treated as a game
• How does the pretend violence in childhood relate to the characters' futures?

  It foreshadows real violence later in life
• What crime does Sammy involve Mickey in?

  An armed robbery
• What happens during the robbery that Sammy persuades Mickey to join?

  It goes wrong and someone is shot
• How does Mickey's lack of power influence his actions?

  It leads him to participate in violence
• What does Mrs. Lyons do when she feels threatened by Mrs. Johnstone?

  She lunges at her with a knife
• What does Mrs. Lyons' violence reflect about her character?

  Her feelings of powerlessness and instability
• How does Mickey's action of shooting Edward occur?

  It is an accident fueled by fury
• What does the repetition of the word "explodes" signify in the play?

  The devastating impact of violence
• How does Mickey's use of a gun relate to his feelings of control?

  It shows his resort to violence due to lack of control
• What is the overall impact of violence on the characters in Blood Brothers?

  It takes over their lives and leads to tragedy