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How Does Willy Russell Show the Differences Between Mickey and Eddie in Blood Brothers?

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How Does Willy Russell Show the Differences Between Mickey and Eddie in Blood Brothers?
How does Willy Russell show the differences between Mickey and Eddie in Blood Brothers?

‘Blood Brothers' is the tragic story of twin brothers who were separated at birth, who both lead opposite lives and shows how class can affect upbringing.
Mickey lives in poverty with his biological mother Mrs Johnstone who is attempting but failing to control her infinite number of children. Eddie is given to Mrs Lyons, a wealthy woman who is in fact Mrs Johnstone's boss, as Mrs Johnstone realises that she will not be able to afford to keep both children.
Throughout the play we follow the fortunes and misfortunes of the two boys who's lives eventually intertwine and they become the best of friends much to their mothers' disapproval.
The boys make a pact to become blood brothers by Mickey cutting both of their palms and they shake hands. Mickey says that this means that they will always stand up and defend each other.
As the boys grow older and become men we see how much their attitudes change. When Mickey and Eddie are about 18 years old, the differences between them become obviously clear. Eddie is going to university at Oxford or Cambridge, which shows that he is intelligent, is optimistic for the future, and is hoping to get a decent job as a lawyer. However, Mickey has a job at a cardboard box factory performing mundane duties and he hates it. Both boys are madly in love with the character Lynda but neither has made a move. After being given a ‘nudge' by Eddie, Mickey finally gets the courage to ask Lynda out. This was the start of Mickey and Lynda's relationship.
Whilst Eddie was in University, Mickey gets Lynda pregnant and they get married. Eddie returns to find out that Mickey was no longer the carefree teenager he once knew but a man with responsibilities and does not want to speak to Eddie as he is still acting like a child. After this argument, the men do not speak to each other for a long time. During this period, Mickey is made redundant and is running low on

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