Mickey

Mickey is the brother who was kept. He grows up as Mickey Johnstone, without the privileges that Edward had - in particular, without Edward's MONEY.

Start this study by thinking about what kind of person you would EXPECT a young man growing up in those circumstances to be like.

To Think About:

1. Use the STORY to make a list of the main things Mickey DOES in the play.

2. "Mickey is to blame for the disaster". Do you agree?

3. Is Mickey a criminal?

4. What are the main ASPECTS of Mickey's character?

5. Think about how Mickey's CHARACTER affects the EVENTS of the play.

KEY QUOTES

From the 6 quotes following, select the 3 which tell you most about the character of Mickey, and analyse them to suggest WHAT they tell you.

1. My best friend always had sweets to share he

Knew every word in the dict-i-on-ar-y.

He was clean, neat and tidy from Monday till Friday

I wish that I could be like

Wear clean clothes, talk properly like,

Do sums and History like my friend.

2. EDWARD: Mickey, what's wrong?

MICKEY: You - you're a dick head! There are no parties arranged. there is no booze or music. Christmas? I'm sick to the teeth of Christmas an' it isn't even here yet. See, there's very little to celebrate, Eddie. Since you left I've been walking around all day, every day, lookin' for a job....

EDWARD: What about the job you had?

MICKEY: It disappeared. Y' know something, I bleedin' hated that job, standin' there all day never doin' nothin' but cardboard boxes together... But after three months of nothin', I'd crawl back to that job for half the pay and double the hours.

3. EDWARD: I'm exactly the same age as you, Mickey.

MICKEY: Yeh, but you're still a kid. An I wish I could be as well, Eddie, I wish I could still believe in all that blood brother's stuff. But I can't, because while no one was looking I grew up ... In your shoes I'd be the same, I'd still be able to be a kid. But I'm not in your shoes, I'm in these lookin' at you. An' you make me sick, right? So just take yourself away. Go an' see your friends an' celebrate with them. Go on ... beat it before I hit y'.

4. MICKEY: Get dressed up. I'm takin' y' out. We're goin' dancin', right? Then we're goin' for a slap-up meal an' tomorrow you can go into town an' get some new clothes.

LINDA: Oh yeh? Where's the money comin' from?

MICKEY: Look, stop arguin' will y'? I'm doin' some work an' then I'm takin' you out.

SAMMY: Mickey!

LINDA: Is that your Sammy?

MICKEY: Now shut up Linda. Right? Just make sure you're ready at eight...

LINDA: Mickey... Mickey... No!

5. LINDA: What are y' doin?

MICKEY: I'm takin' me tablet ... I need to take them ... The doctor - he said, about me nerves. An' how I get depressed an' I need to take these because they make me better...

LINDA: I get depressed, but I don't take those. You don't need those, Mickey.

MICKEY: Leave me alone, will y'? I can't cope with this. I'm not well. the doctor said, didn't he, I'm not well ... I can't do things ... leave me alone.

6. I didn't sort anything out, Linda. not a job, not a house, nothin'. It used to be just sweets an' ciggies he gave me, because I had none of me own. Now it's a job and a house. I'm not stupid, Linda. You sorted it out. You an' Councillor Eddie Lyons.

Now give me the tablets ... I need them.

	Mickey Mickey is the brother who was kept. He grows up as Mickey Johnstone, without the privileges that Edward had - in particular, without Edward's MONEY. Start this study by thinking about what kind of person you would EXPECT a young man growing up in those circumstances to be like. .	To Think About: 1. Use the STORY to make a list of the main things Mickey DOES in the play. 2. "Mickey is to blame for the disaster". Do you agree? 3. Is Mickey a criminal? 4. What are the main ASPECTS of Mickey's character? 5. Think about how Mickey's CHARACTER affects the EVENTS of the play.
	KEY QUOTES From the 6 quotes following, select the 3 which tell you most about the character of Mickey, and analyse them to suggest WHAT they tell you. 1. My best friend always had sweets to share he Knew every word in the dict-i-on-ar-y. He was clean, neat and tidy from Monday till Friday I wish that I could be like Wear clean clothes, talk properly like, Do sums and History like my friend. 2. EDWARD: Mickey, what's wrong? MICKEY: You - you're a dick head! There are no parties arranged. there is no booze or music. Christmas? I'm sick to the teeth of Christmas an' it isn't even here yet. See, there's very little to celebrate, Eddie. Since you left I've been walking around all day, every day, lookin' for a job.... EDWARD: What about the job you had? MICKEY: It disappeared. Y' know something, I bleedin' hated that job, standin' there all day never doin' nothin' but cardboard boxes together... But after three months of nothin', I'd crawl back to that job for half the pay and double the hours. 3. EDWARD: I'm exactly the same age as you, Mickey. MICKEY: Yeh, but you're still a kid. An I wish I could be as well, Eddie, I wish I could still believe in all that blood brother's stuff. But I can't, because while no one was looking I grew up ... In your shoes I'd be the same, I'd still be able to be a kid. But I'm not in your shoes, I'm in these lookin' at you. An' you make me sick, right? So just take yourself away. Go an' see your friends an' celebrate with them. Go on ... beat it before I hit y'. 4. MICKEY: Get dressed up. I'm takin' y' out. We're goin' dancin', right? Then we're goin' for a slap-up meal an' tomorrow you can go into town an' get some new clothes. LINDA: Oh yeh? Where's the money comin' from? MICKEY: Look, stop arguin' will y'? I'm doin' some work an' then I'm takin' you out. SAMMY: Mickey! LINDA: Is that your Sammy? MICKEY: Now shut up Linda. Right? Just make sure you're ready at eight... LINDA: Mickey... Mickey... No! 5. LINDA: What are y' doin? MICKEY: I'm takin' me tablet ... I need to take them ... The doctor - he said, about me nerves. An' how I get depressed an' I need to take these because they make me better... LINDA: I get depressed, but I don't take those. You don't need those, Mickey. MICKEY: Leave me alone, will y'? I can't cope with this. I'm not well. the doctor said, didn't he, I'm not well ... I can't do things ... leave me alone. 6. I didn't sort anything out, Linda. not a job, not a house, nothin'. It used to be just sweets an' ciggies he gave me, because I had none of me own. Now it's a job and a house. I'm not stupid, Linda. You sorted it out. You an' Councillor Eddie Lyons. Now give me the tablets ... I need them.