Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds

• The symbol of the toy gun at this point in the play foreshadows the violence that is to feature later in the play.
• Although innocent at this point, the violence will become more serious as the play moves on until it reaches its fatal conclusion.

• The two brothers meeting each other at this point, despite not knowing how they are really connected, links to the theme of fate: they have been brought together like this, seemingly by chance.

• Mickey teaching Edward swear words highlights the theme of nature vs. nurture.
• We begin to see how different Mickey and Edward are as a result of their different upbringings: Mickey is streetwise and tough, while Edward is generous and naive.
• In spite of their profound social differences, the two boys seem to immediately get along with one another, suggesting a deeper, more spiritual connection between the separated brothers.

• We see how there seems to be an unbreakable bond between the two boys, despite them having only just met one another.
• The cutting of the hands could also be said to foreshadow the violence which is to follow.

• Sammy represents trouble and disorder, and the toy gun again foreshadows violence.
• The way Sammy behaves also serves as a reminder of the very different contexts of the Lyons family (Edward) and the Johnstone family (Mickey).

-This is a moment of dramatic irony, meaning that the audience understand things that the characters do not, because Mickey and Edward are unaware of the significance of their friendship.

• Mrs. Johnstone’s warning about the “bogey man” is a further reference to her superstitious beliefs, reminding the audience of Mrs. Lyons’ claim that twins who are separated will both die if they ever find out the truth about their relationship.

• Mr. Lyons gives Edward a toy gun. This symbol, again, creates a disturbing image of childish innocence combined with the threat of violence, adding to the foreboding atmosphere of the play.
• The themes of class and money appear here as Russell hints that even wealthy families like the Lyons’ have domestic disputes.

• Through Mrs. Lyons' argument with Edward we see her feelings of envy towards Mrs. Johnstone emerge again.
• Edward seems to have adopted some of the mannerisms and language of his brother. Mrs. Lyons’ violent reaction further reinforces her unstable nature.

• The theme of violence, which has so far been mainly limited to innocent play with toys guns, seems to escalate here as the games get more out of hand.
• We also see here just how isolated Mickey is: left alone with Linda at the end of the scene, it appears as if he does not really fit in with the other children in the neighbourhood.

• Russell wants to show the audience the strong bond that exists between Mickey and Linda, and to establish the importance of this relationship.
• This is also the first time that the audience finds out that Mickey still misses his twin, who he believes to be dead, emphasising the deep connection that exists between blood relatives.

• The scene where Edward, Mickey and Linda play games shows the vast contrast between the upbringings of Mickey and Linda on one hand, and Edward on the other.
• While Edward is far more privileged than the other two, he is impressed by how streetwise they are.
• The reference to the character of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, could be a subtle attempt by Russell to show the audience how the innocence of childhood fades away all too quickly.

• The Narrator's reference to "the devil" reminds Mrs. Lyons and the audience of the superstition that Mrs. Lyons originally used to manipulate Mrs. Johnstone, but it now seems to be the case that she herself is beginning to believe her own lies.

• Mrs. Lyons seems to be losing control of her emotions at this point, and she reacts with horror to the shoes being placed on the table despite originally dismissing Mrs. Johnstone’s similar reaction earlier in the play as ridiculous.
• Superstition has overtaken Mrs. Lyons and the Narrator is now acting as the embodiment of the feelings of guilt and paranoia which are starting to consume her.