We are shown from the beginning that Rita is not actually called Rita; her name is Susan. But why would she change her name? She believes that naming herself after her favourite author she would be some way onto having an education. But when partway through the play she reverts to her ‘real’ name; this shows that she has changed and progressed, she now knows that it doesn’t matter what your name is or where you come from we all have the same importance, and opportunities.
Frank represents the educated middle classes to which Rita aspires. She feels that if she had all the qualities which she identifies in Frank it would make her a better person, but she doesn’t at first see the problems that cause Frank to turn to drink. She only sees the educated, well-spoken lecturer which he presents to the outside world. He is her idol in that respect, she wants to have what he has; education, profession and the ability to hold a conversation about a civilised subject without becoming confused or dumb-founded.
We are informed from the outset that Frank enjoys his drink; he is described as “a man who shifts a lot of booze”. We soon realise that he doesn’t take part in this pastime for pleasure; it is used as a blanket for his problems and grievances.
“I shall need to wash away the memory of some silly woman’s attempts to get into the mind of Henry James or whoever it is…” (Frank Act 1: Scene 1)
This need to blanket problems by using alcohol is shown within this play to be one that people from both working class and middle class use. This is shown by Frank’s need of drink, alongside the need of Rita’s family and “those from round our way” to cover up their problems from others by using this intoxication just to cope, to be able to say that they are surviving.
The first difference between Frank and Rita that we are made aware of from the beginning is there contrasting use of language. It is shown in the text that Rita has an accent; this is revealed by the dropping of letters. This colloquial style of speaking is common with the working classes. This is contrasted by Frank’s use of Standard English which he uses conversationally with Rita, but would not be out of place in a formal engagement.
Rita asks alot of questions, and frequently finishes a statement with a question. At the beginning of the play she is wary of the amount of questions she is asking and is worried as to whether he questions are relevant but throughout she gains confidence and even stand up in a lecture and answers the questions posed by the lecturer.
Rita frequently swears, she realises that this is a characteristic of her class and uses it to no avail to shock Frank in Act 1: Scene 1. She believes that educated people accept swearing more as a form of language than people of her working background. This is shown in Frank’s use of swearing, primarily when is frustrated or angry as an expression of how he is feeling.
At one point (Act 2: Scene 2) Rita walks into a tutorial talking as she would refer to it as ‘properly’, this does not impress Frank and he repeatedly asks and then pleads with Rita to be herself. This incident shows the influence of Trish on Rita. Rita feels she is becoming educated by talking differently but she doesn’t realise that she is changing who she is.
This play is set exclusively in Frank’s study, which he sees just as a room, he takes all the qualities it has for granted. We can determine that it is his refuge from his problems, the people around him and the outside world in general, his reluctance to fix the door shows this,
“It’s that stupid bleedin’ handle on the door. You wanna get it fixed!”
“Erm – yes, I suppose I always mean to…” (Rita/Frank Act 1: Scene 1)
Rita, however, is thoroughly marvelled by this room and its contents, this difference in attitudes towards the room is clearly shown when Rita points out the painting and comments that it is very erotic. Frank’s reply shows how accustomed he has become to his surroundings that he rarely notices them any more.
“Actually I don’t think I’ve looked at it for about ten years, but yes, I suppose it is.” (Frank Act 1: Scene 1)
Rita does at another point in the play describe why she likes the room so much, she believes that it’s classy, cluttered look perfectly reflects Frank’s personality. The study is full of hope for Rita and represents her aspirations. Further into the play, the room also becomes a safe-haven for Rita as it is where she can escape from the peer pressure which she experiences from her husband and those around her, those who knew her before she decided to embark upon this self-improvement. She feels that her visits to Frank and this room are the most important things in her life at present, and when she is asked by Denny to cease her visits she is upset and angry that he can’t understand how important her education is to her.
The use of this setting is very significant within the play, and shows how people from different classes and backgrounds often need somewhere to escape to. Despite their differences in stature, they both find shelter within the same room and in each others company.
In this play we are only introduced to two characters although we learn about others. This factor affects the play in a variety of manners; it causes us to be aware of the changes within the characters as they learn to understand each other. Frank is Rita’s idol although he despises himself and his own life; he wishes he could have the simplicity of living in, what is seen as, Rita’s world; a simple job, and ultimately a simple life. Whereas Rita longs for the intelligence and the qualities which education will bring her, all the qualities she sees in Frank.
We are only informed about six other characters within either Frank or Rita’s lives. These include their spouses (or ex as in Frank’s case), Frank’s present partner, Rita’s mother and in the second Act Trish and Tiger. This dramatic device is used very effectively by Russell; if there aren’t nay other characters on the stage the audience is less likely to sympathise with the mere mention of them, therefore the sympathy will immediately be transferred to Frank and Rita.
Of the people ‘mentioned’ in the play Denny is an important figure, as Rita’s husband. He feels that Rita should follow the path in life which has already been mapped out for her; get married, have children; grow old, and he can’t accept that Rita wants to change, that she wants something better in her life. He feels threatened by the fact that if she acquires the education which she pines for she will no longer want or need a husband. From Denny’s point of view it is as if Rita is having an affair with education, especially when he finds out that Rita is secretly using contraception while he is planning the future with a baby. The audience can sympathise with Rita about this because we have been privy to her reasons and feelings on this subject, thus highlighting the above point made about the dramatic device used by Russell.
This only gives Rita her time at work to complete her essays and research, as she is wary of working at home under his scrutiny. When Denny finds out about the deception behind the contraception he blames her attempt to gain an education and incinerates her books and essay as a symbol and a warning. He does this because he sees education as a threat to his wife and their marriage; he doesn’t want to lose Rita to education. The character of Denny can be compared and contrasted with Frank, Denny does not understand his wife and despises the education which she is trying to gain whilst Frank listens to Rita and understands her problems and encourages her to do her best in her attempt to learn.
Another of the characters that we learn about but never actually meet is Julia, Frank’s partner at the beginning of the play. We know very little about Julia; she is younger than Frank and a former student. We learn at the outset of the play that Frank is not content at home, he would rather stay in the sanctuary of his study or go down the pub; we are also informed that on occasion he does not return home for days. We learn that she leaves him and then returns, but ultimately when he leaves for Australia she isn’t going with him.
The relationship between these two seems to have been built on superficial foundations; she is younger than him, a pretty, intelligent woman who may have worshipped the older lecturer. It seems now that the novelty of this arrangement is wearing off as they have to come to terms with everyday life together and the problems that have to be faced. Like the relationship between Rita and Denny, this couple are not equals partners in any means, this may be a factor which is being shown as destructive towards a relationship.
As we compared Frank and Denny, we can compare and contrast Rita and Julia. Rita seems to understand Frank’s problems whereas Julia gets frustrated by the way he reacts to them, the drink, and does not put in the effort to find out what is bothering him.
We see the main change in Rita at the beginning of Scene 2, when she has returned from the Summer School. She has left her husband, moved into a new flat and has a new job in a Bistro. It is at this point that we are introduced to Trish, Rita’s flatmate. Trish is, as Rita describes her, “classy”, and Rita spends a lot of time with her and takes part in new-found pastimes with her like going to the theatre and reading and discussing literature.
It seems that Rita may have found a new idol in Trish, at least someone to look up to. But when at the end of the play, Trish attempts to commit suicide Rita finally realises that everyone has problems whatever their social standing, gender or education. You can’t ensure that you’re going to be happy even if you do try to improve yourself.
Willy Russell intended this play to inform people about how different social classes are treated and to show that education is not necessarily a route to happiness. This play, and Rita’s life reflects Russell’s life completely. It seems that it was written from personal experience. Willy Russell also came from a working class background and had a poor education which he later revisited after many dead-end jobs.
This play does bear some resemblance to Pygmalian by George Bernard Shaw but all of the milestones catalogued in Rita’s life are those encountered by Russell. He has made the play more interesting by casting the character of himself as a female, in an age when very few women went to university, and of those there was only a minority that came from working class backgrounds.
Ultimately, I believe that Willy Russell wrote this play to show his audiences that happiness does not come from knowledge or social status; and to break away from the mould may work for some people but it does not insure that you will be happy and contented in life. People from all walks of life, genders, standards of education and wealth although it hasn’t been directly mentioned, have equal opportunity and chance of being happy in whatever they wish to do.
