And whod tell the girl in the middle

1
And whod tell the girl in the middle The price
shed pay for just being there
2
Linda - monologue Lookin back, I was always
fond of Mickey we used to have great times
together, playing cowboys and Indians and goin
down the park with Sammys air gun. I remember,
we used to play shootin games a lot, but we used
to have this rhyme that if you crossed your
fingers and counted from one to ten youd get up
off the ground again I wish Mickey and Eddie
had crossed their fingers that night I miss them
so much now. Eddie used to join in too, I
remember. Once, we got into trouble cos Eddie
told the copper we was waitin for the ninety-two
bus! We always seemed to be together and Mickey
always seemed to get into trouble. Even when we
was little, Id always stand up for im when is
big brother Sammy used to pick on im. He was
afraid of dyin, was Mickey, an Id try an
cheer im up by tellin im that when e died,
ed meet is twinny. Its ironic that it was
Eddie all along an that e only found out about
im when e died.
3
When we moved, I realised Mickey was more than a
friend, but he wouldnt listen, even when I
shouted it out in assembly! All e did was get
dead embarrassed. Sammy still used to bully im.
I tried to stand up for im on the bus when
Sammy pulled a knife on the conductor and when e
got in trouble for not listenin in class - that
one got us both expelled, but I didnt care the
teacher was a big worm anyway. Ironically it was
Eddie, I think, who finally persuaded Mickey to
ask me out! I think I knew even then that Eddie
fancied me, but e didnt say anythin cos he
knew Mickey liked me. He used to sing this song
about what ed do if e was Mickey, dead
romantic it was. But Mickey was a different
kettle of fish - e might ave been a late
developer, but when e started, there was no
stoppin im!
4
I got real upset when I found out I was in the
club, but Mrs Johnstone was smashin. She said
we could live with her till we found our feet.
We wouldve done fine if Mickey hadnt lost is
job. Thats what caused all the trouble. We was
managin alright, but with Christmas comin up, I
think Mickey felt guilty and Sammy persuaded im
to do this job. Thats when is problems started
y see, e couldnt cope with jail the doctors
ad to give im pills and e couldnt manage
without em, even when e came ome. I still
loved im I needed im but not with those
inside im. I begged im to stop, but e
wouldnt. E said e still needed em, but e
didnt. One time, I tried to hide em from im,
but he looked so pathetic I gave in. But what
about me? I needed things!
5
Thats when I went to see Eddie. I needed
someone to talk to he was a friend he
understood. Hed helped us in the past he was on
the council an hed helped us get a house when
Mickey came out and sorted out a job for im. I
didnt mean anything to happen, an it didnt
really. But Mickey mustve found out Id been to
see im and got jealous, cos the next thing I
knew e was goin after im with a gun. I cant
understand why e shouldve been jealous it was
Mickey I loved, but I needed someone to talk to,
and e wasnt Mickey anymore! An now theyre
both dead, and I know its my fault!...
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What is the importance of Linda to the play as a
whole? First think what Linda does in the play
write down a list of things. Try to keep it
chronological (as it happens). Comforts Mickey
after game when others say hell go to Hell Plays
with M and E in park with Sammys air rifle (her
idea to throw stones) Tells M of her love for him
in assembly Supports him in class Offers herself
to M when on the way home after
exclusion Supports him when in jail Tries to find
a job and house when M comes out of jail Is
frustrated by his refusal to come off the
antidepressants Seeks E for help and solace Is
frustrated by her life of drudgery Is the cause
of Ms jealousy
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Question What is the importance of Linda to the
play as a whole? Plan an answer. What will you
write in your introduction? What are the three
main points you are going to make in your three
main paragraphs? What quotes will you use to
support them? What will you say in your
conclusion?
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In the play Linda has always been a source of
fun and comfort, but her desire to behave like
this for both Mickey and Eddie eventually leads
to their deaths. We see from the beginning that
she is eager to protect Mickey. When Mickey
faces being unfairly excluded from the game, she
is the only character who stands up for him,
reasoning with Sammy why Mickey should still be
included. When things start to get a bit more
serious, Linda shouts leave him alone! at
Sammy, showing her persistence and determination
in protecting Mickey. She threatens Sammy, using
her mothers stolen cigarettes as a reason to get
him into trouble. This situation surprises
Sammy, as he is usually the dominant child. But
the fact that Linda is willing to stand up for
him shows she has brave qualities. The way she
tries to protect Mickey is a pattern that will
occur in their lives.
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As well as a source of protection, Linda is a
strong character, mischievous and daring.When
suggesting throwing stones through peoples
windows, she shows she is leadership material as
even her male friends werent willing to suggest
such a daring task. She dominates them, and this
will lead to her being the one to dominate their
feelings near the end of the play. Linda shows no
qualms in being outspoken. When teenagers she
regularly and blatantly tells Mickey of her love
for him, which nearly always works to embarrass
him. After Mickey and Eddies reunion, it starts
to become more apparent to the audience that
Eddie has romantic feelings for Linda, symbolised
in dreamy glances at her and compliments. It has
always been obvious to the audience however, that
Mickey has strong feelings for her, summarised in
his embarrassment at his mothers teasing. When
Eddie sings to Linda before he leaves for
University, he is stating his feelings for her
that he cannot bring himself to verbalise. There
is a sense of relief that Eddie is going away, or
Linda wouldve faced the tough decision of
whether the choose Mickey or Edward as her
partner. It is clear by now that she feels
strongly for them both.
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After falling pregnant after already choosing
Mickey, Linda marries him. This means she
potentially has no choices to make between the
boys now, and to a certain extent she has taken
the easy way out. When Mickey is struggling for
work, Linda remains her usual strong self, but
her tough circumstances are making her weary.
She has actually turned by circumstances into a
younger version of Mrs Johnstone. She continues
to support Mickey as he battles through his drug
addiction, encouraging him in lines such as You
dont need those Mickey. She is consistently
Mickeys rock through his tough times, but the
pressure she is facing takes its toll. She is
drained and yearns for more. She knows the
comfort she can seek from Eddie, so eventually
gives into temptation and starts an affair. The
line wonders what the price would be for letting
the young girl out makes it clear that even
though Linda seeks excitement, she isnt willing
to face the consequences. When Mickey finds out
about the affair, his already jealous and bitter
feelings towards Eddie are pushed to the edge.
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All this collectively makes Linda a very
important character within the play. A pattern
throughout Mickeys life is that he has always
wanted what Eddie has. The only possession
which was truly earned and is his own was Linda.
This is because ultimately Mickeys whole
existence is built upon everything Eddie has ever
given him. So when Mickey realises he has now
even lost Linda to Eddie who already has
everything he craves, he is heartbroken. His
anger, jealousy, bitterness and sadness at losing
his beloved pushes him to ultimately end Eddies
and his own life. Therefore, the character of
Linda is the catalyst which determined the
outcome of the tragic story. Very well
sustained. Confident overview. Evaluation
throughout. Excellent supporting detail. A- (18)
12
Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons A large part of the
tension throughout the text hangs on the
superstition that Mrs Lyons uses to trap Mrs
Johnstone into silence that should Mickey and
Eddie discover their brotherhood, they will both
die. Throughout the play we see the huge contrast
between Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone. At the
beginning of the play, the Narrator describes Mrs
Johnstone as the mother, so cruel but is this
what we are led to think of Mrs Johnstone?
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For instance, how do we react to the scene where
Mrs Johnstone allows the boys to go to the cinema
to watch the Swedish Au Pairs film? We know
that Mrs Lyons would not be as liberal. We see
that Mrs Johnstone has a better understanding and
acceptance of the fact that young boys will be
sexually curious and she does not try to suppress
their curiosity. We see her as down-to-earth and
the more approachable mother she of course wins
instant credibility with her two sons. This
moment is also an example that indicates that
happiness during upbringing is not assured by
social status or wealth. Rather than viewing Mrs
Johnstone as a cruel character, we tend to
sympathise with her dilemma. We see her handle
her house full of children with endless patience
and tenderness. Despite being trapped by her
social position and her lack of funds, she is
down-to-earth and does not see money as the
answer to all of her problems. We see her refuse
money from the desperate Mrs Lyons
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MRS LYONS Thousands Im talking about thousands
if you want it, and think what you could do with
money like that. MRS JOHNSTONE Id spend it. Id
buy more junk and trash thats all. I dont want
your money. Ive made a life here. Its not much
of one maybe, but I made it.
In contrast, Mrs Lyons is very conscious of her
social position and the above scene indicates
that she sees money as a solution to the problems
of Mrs Johnstone. Mrs Lyons is also portrayed as
a cold woman who doesnt show much emotion. She
is very over-protective of Eddie and fears his
bond with the Johnstones. Later in the play this
fear becomes more evident and she appears as a
neurotic, obsessive character who appears to be
losing control this is evident when she
attempts to attack Mrs Johnstone with a kitchen
knife.
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Mickey and Eddie
For the reader/audience, the delight of watching
Mickey and Eddies friendship blossom is the
knowledge that they are brothers, the fact of
which they are unaware. This sense of dramatic
irony is a point of humour throughout the play,
but also a reminder of the superstitious curse
that Mrs Lyons has inflicted and the
foreknowledge of what is going to happen.
In the first half of the show, Mickey appears as
a childhood hero-figure for Eddie, who is in awe
of Mickeys unrestrained energy. We watch as
their natural bond unfolds, and as their
inhibitions fall away, we notice that they appear
more alike. In contrast, we see Eddie becoming
the role model towards the end of the show. We
appreciate him more for his foundations he
holds a good job and is considerate of Linda when
Mickey rebukes her. We see the brothers grow
apart again, as Eddie prospers and Mickey faces
imprisonment and falls into depression.
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The Role of the Narrator What purpose does the
narrator serve? On stage he appears dressed in a
black suit this gives him a neutral status, as
we cannot identify anything about his character.
It gives him a sense of anonymity throughout the
show, and the fact that the other characters do
not acknowledge him gives him a ghostlike
quality. His main role throughout the show is to
act as a constant reminder to us of the brothers
tragic fate exemplified in the musical number
Shoes Upon the Table, which is repeated
throughout both acts of the show. It is also
notable that as the show commences with the scene
of the finale, his attire is like that of
somebody who is attending a funeral and it
seems that he is dressed for such an occasion
throughout the entire play.