Blood Brothers: Edward Lyons Character Analysis (AQA GCSE English Literature): Revision Note

Edward grows up in a middle-class family and enjoys a life of privilege and opportunity. He is a generous and supportive friend, but cannot fully understand the societal pressures faced by the working classes.

Edward Lyons character summary

Why is Edward Lyons important?

• Middle-class privilege: Edward enjoys economic advantages that contrast with Mickey’s struggles. He goes from private education to university to secure employment, and his financial stability highlights the advantages of his upbringing.

• Nurture over nature: His personality and opportunities are shaped by his sheltered middle-class upbringing. His friendship with Mickey underscores their innate similarities and suggests that had Mickey been given to Mrs Lyons, he would have grown up similarly to Edward.

• A tragic figure: Edward never fully understands the class struggles that affect Mickey and Linda, and his kindness and idealism unintentionally fuel Mickey’s jealousy, leading to the brothers’ tragic deaths. 

Edward Lyons language analysis

Edward’s language reflects his middle-class background and naivety, contrasting sharply with Mickey’s working-class speech patterns:

• Formality: Edward’s formal spoken style and vocabulary reflect his education, such as when he calls Mickey’s swearing “smashing” or asks “Don’t you know what a dictionary is?” in Act 1. This contrasts with Mickey’s informal, colloquial speech

• Naivety and idealism: Edward’s optimistic tone and lack of understanding of Mickey’s struggles are evident in lines such as: “I’ve got money, plenty of it.” He is generous and kind, but these traits underscore his ignorance of Mickey’s life, and clash with Mickey’s pride.

• Impulsive: Edward often acts or speaks without thinking, such as when, in Act 1, he claims to be “Adolf Hitler”, or when he gets Mickey a new job and a house in Act 2 without considering Mickey’s pride. Edward’s affair with Linda shows his ignorance of the consequences of his actions, and leads to the play’s tragic climax.

Edward Lyons key quotes

Edward Lyons character development

Edward Lyons character interpretation

Class divisions

The breakdown of Edward’s and Mickey’s friendship is closely linked to the societal pressures caused by class division. The play’s structure contrasts Mickey’s hardships with Edward’s privileged life, demonstrating how social class affects their relationships and their futures. Mickey’s frustration and resentment towards Edward, who is ignorant of the struggles of working-class life, is a key factor in the disintegration of their friendship. The tension between them reflects Russell’s critique of the rigid class system, showing how it can destroy even the deepest bonds of friendship.

The brothers’ feelings for Linda also complicate their friendship, illustrating how personal desires and romantic relationships can complicate even the strongest friendships. When Edward confesses his feelings to Linda ("I suppose I always... loved you, in a way") the ellipsis reflects his hesitation and demonstrates how Edward is torn between his love for Linda and his loyalty to Mickey. Russell’s stage directions often place Mickey at a physical distance from the other two, conveying his growing isolation — and foreshadowing the events that lead to the tragic denouement.