"And do we blame superstition for what came to pass?"
Willy Russell wrote the play in 1981, during a time of massive political unrest, riots, and soaring unemployment in Liverpool. The play is an attack on the idea that "everyone can succeed if they just work hard." Russell uses Mickey to prove that the British class system is rigged against the poor.
Click to see how the political landscape of Britain shifts during the boys' lives.
When Mickey and Eddie are children, Liverpool is a booming port city. Working-class men have steady, reliable jobs in manufacturing, factories, and on the docks. There is a strong sense of community and hope for the future.
The Johnstone family gets relocated to Skelmersdale (the 'country'). This reflects the real-life 1960s government policy of moving people out of overcrowded city slums into new, clean council housing estates to give them a "fresh start."
Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister in 1979. Her government closes traditional factories to focus on privatization. Millions lose their jobs. "The 'sign of the times' is a redundancy letter." This is what destroys Mickey's life and pride.
The class divide solidifies. Edward's expensive private education guarantees him university and a high-paying councillor job, protecting him from the recession. Mickey’s underfunded school leaves him entirely exposed when the factory closes.
Willy Russell repeatedly references the American actress Marilyn Monroe throughout the play. Examiners love it when students analyze this. She acts as a tragic metaphor for both Mrs Johnstone and Mickey.
In the Prologue, Mrs Johnstone compares her youth and dancing to Marilyn Monroe. It represents hope, beauty, and the promise of a glamorous life that is quickly destroyed by poverty.
As the play progresses, Monroe becomes a symbol of depression and reliance on pills. When Mickey is in prison, he relies on anti-depressants, mirroring Monroe's tragic addiction.
Monroe died of a drug overdose, unable to escape the pressures of her life. This foreshadows the inevitable, tragic deaths of the twins at the end of the play.
The central debate of the play. Are we defined by our genetics (nature) or our environment and class (nurture)? The twins prove that class environment dictates fate.
The idea that working-class people are trapped. Just like her mother, Linda ends up pregnant, poor, and struggling. The cycle repeats itself.
Mrs Johnstone's belief in superstition ("shoes upon the table") shows her lack of education and control. Mrs Lyons uses this fear to manipulate and control her.