Also with Frank who is outside his own room, Russell shows him as a very drunk, vulgar individual, “Sod them, no fuck them fuck them eh Rita.” Firstly this shows the main role reversal of Rita and Frank. Rita has become a highly educated character while Frank has become a common abusive yob. So by this the audience would be disappointed in Frank who is a professor that is thought upon as polite, well mannered and gracious, this is a classic stereotype. Russell also suggests that because of this certain craves in life can change your attitude (e.g. alcohol) and make you commit things you may regret.
As well as this, with the quote “You didn’t tell me…” Russell presents Frank as an obsessed lover. Which is a completely different register instead of the expected teacher pupil register. Also as well as being obsessed, it shows the audience that he wants to be with her always and seems to never want her out of his sight. The audience would feel uncomfortable as a teacher is so concerned by a pupil’s social life. So by this I imagine that Russell is suggesting that fondness for someone can come in many forms that are not thought upon at first.
To add to this, Frank uses this following quote after has offered his lifetime work to Rita to criticise. With “Me…” Russell uses the shortest sentence in the play to create a huge effect on the audience. This is emotive language by Frank portrays his loneliness as a professor. This also creates imagery of a lonely depressed person who lives a lifeless life all by himself. The audience, as a result of this emotion would feel sorry for him as teaching career has lead him to a lonesome life. So by this Russell brings across a message that a high education and plenty of money may not lead you to happiness.
Lastly Russell uses the quote “You can hardly bear to spend a moment her, can you?” This said to show the audience that without Rita, Frank is nothing, so as a result he is using powerful persuasive and emotive language to make her stay with him without suggesting the idea too much. With this Russell suggests that if you spend your whole life caring and protecting something and it breaks, you end up with nothing left as you turned away from everything else to care for it. So this is just the same situation as Rita and Frank. The audience would feel sorry for Frank, as without Rita in his life he has nothing.
Russell ends the play with Rita’s dreams coming true. She is now considered educated. And for Frank, well sadly he remains a lonesome alcoholic although in Rita’s eyes he is thought upon as a special and unique teacher and life long friend. But we can say that both the characters of Rita and Frank, through their special and mostly amusing experience together have learnt many valuable skills and lessons that will remain within them forever.
