Examine Frank's growing sense of unease as Rita becomes more educated.

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Deborah Mussell

Educating Rita

Essay Task: Examine Frank’s growing sense of unease as Rita becomes more educated.

‘Educating Rita’ is an extraordinary novel written by Willy Russell. This humorous play also has strong serious messages including class, influence and change. Its themes include personal relationships and culture clash!

It was written in 1980, it was this time period that that the UK became a more divided society. The difference between the rich and the poor was very obvious also it was the time when men and women were not yet equal. Women could work, but discrimination in the workplace made it tough; women were not paid as well as men and would have to work extremely hard to be recognised. Women were given the option to study and work and it was on the increase that they did just that, but their expectations were still to raise a family more so than today. If you became married your devotion would be expected to be with your family not your studying or work.

Rita a 26-year-old married, working class hairdresser. Rita is bright, bold and bubbly, but  feels like life is passing her by. Her husband Denny wants to start a family, ‘come off the pill, let’s have a baby’, Denny would say. But she desires to live her own life first. ‘I wanna discover meself first’ Rita wants a different way of living, a higher class. Everyone in her working class community expects her to have a baby. Rita knows that if she has a baby it will be too late to change her life, her future will be set; raise a family. Rita becomes determined to acquire middle class culture and sees becoming educated the route to achieving her goal. Therefore she courageously decides, going against her community and husbands will, to study.

Frank is a cynical middle -upper class university lecturer in English literature in his early fifties. Frank is an alcoholic with one failed marriage. At present he is in a rather difficult relationship with Julia. He has achieved some mild success as a poet but has been disinclined to write for quite some time. He has also admitted to being an appalling teacher. He is completely bored in life. Furthermore we know that Frank has almost given up on himself because each aspect of his life is failing; work, relationship, uninspired to write any poetry, therefore fills his time consuming large amounts of alcohol.

        In Rita’s first interview with Frank the audience can see her personality is fully shown. She bursts in, swears and instantly draws all attention to herself. She was nervous, which made her appear loud mannered. You would expect she to act cautiously and perhaps shy and very formally but yet she acts cheekily and casual. She asks to smoke and before Frank has a chance to reply gets her cigarettes out, this shows how little she understands of formal interview situations. She converses of many topics immediately after her arrival, not only because they interest her, but also because she doesn't want to work. She knows she has to, and that is why she has come, but avoids it as much as she can.

Frank becomes Rita’s tutor after firm persuasion and some reticence of taking up the job, embarks on the quest of educating Rita. Rita challenges the attitudes of the traditional university, teaching Frank to question his own understanding of his work and himself. On the bumpy road to ‘knowing everything’ Rita gradually becomes absorbed with culture and literature. In the mists of completely changing her life she loses her husband, job, her uniqueness and eventually loses even herself, once again becoming Susan.

Rita character starts by being a cocky, earthy young woman that knows nothing of literature. Frank starts to teach Rita and it is in those early scenes that he is in control, ‘Now the piece you wrote for me on – what was it called…?’ says Frank referring to an essay Rita wrote. He is the one with the object of her desire, knowledge. So she places him in high respects, even though Frank is a messy disheartened, alcoholic it does not bother her in the slightest since he is her educated tutor and holds the key to her knowing ‘everything’! This is how their bond starts, each inspired by the other, for Frank its Rita’s chirpy spirit and delightful character unlike what he is used to. For Rita it is Frank’s laid back attitude and that Frank owns something that she feel she needs to be complete, an education.

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There are only two characters, which the audience witness, in this play plus the only setting is in frank’s book lined study. Although many important happenings take place offstage, we find out what went on by Frank and Rita’s growingly intimidate conversations. We also find out about the other significant characters in the same way (Denny, Julia, Trish.) The two main characters that we have here may seem absolute opposites on the outward appearance, but take a second look and perhaps you would notice that they have similarities. They’re both exasperated with their lives. They are desperate for change, for ...

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