In the musical, Blood Brothers, Russell presents social class as an inescapable system that manufactures inequality. This is illustrated through Mickey and Edward, who represent class differences in the 1980s Britain under Thatcherism Russell challenges the myth of meritocracy, conveying an individuals intellectual ability doesn't shape their opportunity, class does. In the outset, Russell begins to showcase social class is merely used as a tool to dominate the working class. Mrs Johnstone is manipulated by Mrs Lyons due to her lack of education and belief in the supernatural, "they say If either twin learns that he was once a pair they shall both immediately die". The use of superstition to obtain power emphasises sociali class creates rigid barriers. The certainty of "shall both immediately die" foreshadows the eponymous tragedy later in the play. Furthermore, Russell portrays the working class as powerless figures, ultimately controlled by higher ranks. Russell directly juxtaposes Mickey and Edward to demonstrate the effects of social class and nurturing on an individuals identity. At their first meetup aged 7, Mickey asks " Gis a sweet" The imperative "Gis" emphasises need rather than politeness, reflecting the worming class seek opportunities and spend their life trying to obtain luxuries. Want a small luxury like a "sweet" implies their lack of basic necessities. In contrast, Edward's reply, "Take as many as you want" acts as a direct juxtaposition to Mickey's request. The impressive "take" implies abundance and carelessness, while "as many as you want" emphasises his magnanimous attitudes towards Mickey. This is further illustrated in Act 2, where Edward helps Mickey with a job. Russell evokes the working class are powerless unless with external aid. . Mickey uses colloquialism whilst Edward speaks in formal English, the contrasting dialect demonstrates their differences in nurturing and education, reinforcing environment shakes and individuals' lifestyle. Dickens conveys generosity is constructed by abundance rather than nature, whilst poverty produces need. Their adulthood vividly illustrates their differences in social class, shaping their opportunities, education and life chances. Mickey exclaims, "While no one was looking, I grew up". The sentence reveals thee worming class are forced to mature early, emphasising they are stripped of childhood and innocence as it is a vulnerable part of their lives. Russell criticises rigid class barriers and high unemployment under Thatcherism. "No one" creates a sense of empathy as the audience are exposed to the struggles of the worming class. Edward's innocence reply, "Why is a job so important?" Emphasizes his privilege allows him to discard societal concerns. The question evokes he is unexposed and hidden from the significance of a job due to his opportunities and abundance. Russell uses the imagery, "I'd crawl back to that job for half the pay and double the hours" to emphasise Mickey's deprivation of a stable life. The animalistic imagery " crawl" dehumanises Mickey, reducing him to a desperate predator. At the end of the tragedy, Russell questions "And do we blame superstition for what came to pass, or is it what we, the English, come to know as class?". The collective pronoun "We" immediately draws the audience, as Russell wants them to act as moral judges. The final question criticises class systems, portraying them as inescapable systems which shape identity, opportunity and life progression.