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Blood Brothers Key Theme: Superstition and Fate (AQA GCSE English Literature): Revision Note

James Alsop

Written by: James Alsop

Reviewed by: Nick Redgrove

Updated on

Superstition and fate mind map  

The theme of superstition and fate in key parts of Blood Brothers:

Act

Quotation

Summary

1

“There’s shoes on the table an’ a joker in the pack / Someone broke the lookin’ glass… Now y’ know the devil’s got your number, y’ know he’s gonna find ya” — The Narrator

The Narrator lists superstitions to highlight the inevitability of fate and to create a sense of foreboding

1

“They say… they say that if either twin learns that he once was a pair, that they shall both immediately die” — Mrs Lyons

Mrs Lyons fabricates a superstition to control Mrs Johnstone, which ultimately becomes a reality

1

“You won’t tell anyone about this, Mrs Johnstone, because if you do, you will kill them” — Mrs Lyons

Mrs Lyons reinforces the superstition to make sure Mrs Johnstone stays silent

2

“And do we blame superstition for what came to pass? / Or could it be what we, the English, have come to know as class?” — The Narrator

The Narrator questions whether fate or social inequality is the true cause of the twins’ deaths

2

“Wherever I go you’ll be just behind me. I know that now… always and forever and ever like, like a shadow” — Mrs Lyons

Mrs Lyons realises she cannot escape her past actions, reinforcing the idea that fate is unavoidable

What are the elements of superstition and fate in Blood Brothers?

Superstition and fate is presented in Blood Brothers in the following ways:

  • Through the Narrator: The omniscient Narrator functions as a Greek chorus, repeatedly warning that fate is inevitable:

    • He frequently comments on the action by referring to symbolism associated with superstition
      His appearances suggest that fate is ever-present and inevitable

  • False superstition: Mrs Lyons invents a superstition about twins dying to scare Mrs Johnstone:

    • This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, raising questions about whether fate is real or imagined

  • Superstition and class: Mrs Johnstone holds strong superstitious beliefs that might be typically associated with working-class characters:

    • These beliefs influence her actions and decisions

  • A tool for manipulation: Mrs Lyons uses superstition to manipulate Mrs Johnstone, demonstrating how belief in fate can be exploited

The impact of superstition and fate on characters

The theme of superstition and fate plays a crucial role in Blood Brothers, influencing characters' actions and shaping their destinies. Willy Russell presents fate as an unavoidable force through the play’s cyclical structure, and also through the prophecy that the twins will die if they learn the truth of their relationship. The play repeatedly questions whether the tragic outcome is caused by superstition or by societal factors such as class inequality. The Narrator’s ominous warnings and Mrs Lyons’ manipulation of superstition allow Russell to explore how belief in fate can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies:

Characters

Impact

Mickey

  • Mickey is unaware of the superstition until the end, yet becomes its victim:

    • We never know for sure whether it is fate or his disadvantaged background that makes him vulnerable

  • His belief in free will is shattered when he learns the truth about Edward

Edward

  • Edward is initially oblivious to the role of fate, and benefits from his privileged upbringing:

    • Despite his attempts to maintain control over his life, he cannot escape the prophecy

    • His fate is sealed the moment the truth is revealed

Mrs Johnstone

  • Mrs Johnstone feels powerless against fate, believing she cannot change her destiny

  • Her belief in superstition leads her to give Edward away, setting the tragedy in motion:

    • She ultimately realises that fate may have been determined by class rather than superstition

Mrs Lyons

  • Mrs Lyons invents the superstition about separated twins dying if they ever discover the truth: 

    • She creates the prophecy to manipulate Mrs Johnstone but ultimately becomes consumed by it herself

The Narrator

  • The omniscient Narrator reinforces the theme of fate through repeated warnings and rhyming couplets that reference superstitious imagery, such as “shoes on the table”

  • He openly questions whether fate or social class is responsible for the tragedy

  • The Narrator functions as an omniscient presence throughout, reminding the audience of the inevitability of the twins’ deaths

Why does Willy Russell use the theme of superstition and fate in his play?

1.  To highlight social inequality

  • Russell uses superstition as a metaphor for the powerlessness of the working class:

    • In doing so, he critiques the Thatcherite ideology that success is based purely on effort

    • He suggests that societal factors mean that working-class families are fated to struggle, however hard they work

2. To criticise self-fulfilling prophecies

  • The play suggests that belief in fate may lead individuals to unconsciously shape their own destinies:

    • Even though Mrs Lyons invents this superstition, she ultimately comes to believe in it as strongly as anyone else

    • Mickey turns to crime because he believes that he has no way out of poverty

3. To reinforce the play’s tragic structure

  • The inevitability of the twins’ deaths mirrors the conventions of Greek tragedy, where fate is inescapable:

    • This is emphasised through a cyclical structure that reveals the tragic denouement at the beginning

Exam-style questions on the theme of superstition and fate

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of superstition and fate: 

  • How does Russell present the theme of superstition and fate in Blood Brothers?

  • How does Russell use the character of The Narrator to explore fate in Blood Brothers

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    Author
    Reviewer
    James Alsop

    Author: James Alsop

    Expertise: English Content Creator

    James is a researcher, writer and educator, who taught English to GCSE, A Level and IB students for ten years in schools around the UK, and loves nothing more than sharing his love of books and teaching! With a BA in English, an MA in Shakespeare Studies, and a PhD in early modern drama from the University of Exeter, he has a special interest in teaching Shakespeare.

    Nick Redgrove

    Author: Nick Redgrove

    Expertise: English Senior Content Creator

    Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.