Edward say’s a side plate Mickey doesn’t know what a side plate is but Edward does because he’s posh he also say’s smashing things which shows he’s posh as well. Mickey says d’ they call y’ Eddie but because he is middle class and doesn’t have a nickname. Mickey pretends that he isn’t scared even though he is and say’s it hurts y know. When Mickey says “I will always defend my brother” shows that Mickey is leading him by telling him what to say and then later on in the play Edward leads Mickey. Sammy has a gun in his hand when he is asking Mickey for a sweet I think he uses guns when he wants something, which links to the bank robbery because he uses his gun to get money.
When Mickey says to Sammy he hasn’t got any sweet but Edward is honest and says Mickey has got one for Sammy which shows he is from a high class than Mickey and he isn’t a liar because he has never had to lie, because he has never been influenced by his surrounding. Mickey say’s to Sammy “you stole my best gun” which again leads to the bank robbery because he tries to steal money. In my opinion Edward being polite shows he is a higher class because he say’s pardon when talking to Sammy.
Sammy calls ‘Edward a friggin poshy’ using slang which conveys he’s a lower class and this also shows that he knows the difference between classes because he’s at the age where he can tell the difference. Sammy also says “I’m going to get a real air gun” which again links back to the armed robbery when he uses a real gun to rob the bank. In my opinion I don’t think Sammy wanting a real gun is linked to the robbery because he is just young and properly think that guns are cool.
Mickey says to Edward “y’ comin’ the funeral” Mickey is using slang which also suggests he’s a lower class using slang. When Sammy says to Mickey that his “worms was alive and wrigglin’ this mornin’ but by dinner time they was dead” relates to the end of the play when Mickey and Edward die. When Mickey says to Mrs Johnstone Mam Mam this is my brother Mrs Johnstone reacts stunned because she think that Mickey knows about them being brothers and think that they will die.
Mickey says he lives up by the park portrays that he’s a higher class and by saying up near the park. Mrs Johnstone in a hurry say’s to “Mickey get in the house” tells us that she doesn’t want them to find out about being brothers. Sammy say’s to Edward ah I’ll get you which shows he is an aggressive person. When Edward is addressing Mrs Johnstone he addresses her in a formal way by saying have I done something wrong Mrs Johnstone which again conveys that he is a higher class then Mickey. Another way it is suggested that Edward a higher class than Mickey is that Mrs Johnstone says “does your mother know that you’re down here”.
Edward say’s to Mrs Johnstone politely “perhaps Mickey can come to play at my house” which indicates he’s a higher class because Mickey isn’t polite. Mrs Johnstone uses a list of three when saying to Edward never to come to their house she say don’t you ever come round here again. Ever. Ever! She says this because she doesn’t want Mickey and Edward to find out that they are brothers. Mrs Johnstone goes on to say the bogey man will get you which is linked to the theme of the play superstition. their education is different Edward’s education is better than Mickey this is shown by Mickey not knowing what an dictionary is I know this because he say course I do it’s a, it’s a thingy innit which implies that he doesn’t know what it is.
What I learnt about life in Liverpool throughout the play is that it could be hard for some families and it could be easier for other families. This is shown by Mickey and Edward. Mickey lives a hard life with his family not having much money for Mrs Johnstone to look after her children. Mickey didn’t have a good childhood. Mickey takes advantage of Edward getting things what he wants such as when Edward has sweet in the stage direction says “he takes a handful of sweets”. Edward lived an easy life his family are wealthy and have a nice house in a good area. Edward gets everything he wants; He has a good education good life when growing up and has a great childhood.
The effect that Russell shows in presenting the brothers this way is showing how different the brothers are. How there is a big change in the brothers being different classes this is shown by there language I known this because Edward uses words like smashing, super fun and fantastic. Mickey uses slang he say mam and say y’ rather than you. Mickey uses swear words I known this because he says I’m not playin’ now ‘cos I’m pissed off which show he a lower class than Edward.
And the way they act also show the change in class Mickey is use to playin tricks on each other I known this because Mickey say ‘cos, if our Sammy gives y’ a sweet he’s usually weed on it first. In my opinion Russell was successful in showing the different class the way he presents the brother in the there first meeting shows the brothers two different in everyway possible he shows there classes though language, the way they act, there families and there way they are educated.
