Mrs Johnstone's Complex Emotions
Mrs Johnstone experiences constant guilt about her decision - "You're always gonna know what was done... You sold your son." This internal torment follows her throughout the play, showing the psychological cost of her choice. She's worn out by life's struggles, admitting "By the time I was twenty-five, I looked like forty-two."
Despite everything, she maintains surprising optimism, singing "Oh bright new day, we're moving away" when they relocate to Skelmersdale. This hope keeps her going even when circumstances seem hopeless. She's also realistic about her situation, knowing she'd just "buy more junk" if she had money.
The community's treatment of Mrs Johnstone reveals class prejudice. She faces discrimination and is judged harshly by others who don't understand her circumstances. The narrator calls her cruel, saying there's "a stone in place of her heart," yet audiences see her genuine love for her children.
Analysis Tip: Mrs Johnstone's contradictions - loving yet desperate, hopeful yet realistic - make her a complex, sympathetic character rather than a simple victim.