This document discusses the nature versus nurture debate and how it relates to Russell's depiction of the brothers in My Child and My Friend. It notes that Eddie was nurtured into a well-spoken, middle-class boy while his twin Mickey remained a working-class ruffian. However, when Eddie returns to the Johnstone household we see a change that suggests he is going back to his roots. It also suggests that fate and heredity are working together to bring the brothers back together.

2. NATURE VERSES NURTURE
•The relative significance of a person’s inborn individuality, which is
considered as "nature" versus individual experiences, which is
"nurture", in shaping or causing differences in physical and
behavioural character.
•NATURE – How you are born
•NURTURE – How you are brought up or nurtured

3. • How much does the debate of nature vs nurture feature in Russell's depiction of the Brothers? Do
we think that an individual’s identity is formed by the process in which they are nurtured, or
raised, or does Russell suggest that heredity (nature) influences an individual’s identity and
ingrains a sense of belonging that runs back to your roots?
• We see that Eddie has been nurtured into a well-spoken, middle-class boy, whereas his twin
remains a working-class ruffian. However, when Eddie returns to the Johnstone household we see
a change that suggests he is going back to his roots.
• It is also possible to suggest that fate and heredity are working together to bring the brothers
back together.

4. THAT GUY
•This is performed to the same tune as My Child and My Friend, how is this
significant?
•Why has ‘My’ changed to ‘That’?
•Who holds the power in the relationship here? Has this shifted from their
last meeting?
Annotate the song focusing on language and structure - Consider the
points above when annotating

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1st 1/2 Act 1 2nd 1/2 Act 1 Ist 1/2 Act 2 2nd 1/2 Act 2
Hero/leader/rolemodelstatus.
Part of the play
Graph tracking which character has the highest status in the relationship.
Mickey
Edward

6. SUMMER SEQUENCE
•Annotate the song.
Language – word types and devices – In particular you should look for words
connected to innocence and how they contrast with death.
Form (sentence types and moods, rhyme scheme)
Listen carefully – What tune is played on the fairground? Why is this
significant?
How does the narrator reintroduce the idea of debts to be paid?
10 minutes

7. SUMMER SEQUENCE - REVIEW
•The next four years are played though rapidly, carefree and
innocent the three are able to stay friends without any
complication. Why does Russell have things change at the
point when they turn 18?