How has Rita changed on the course of the play?

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How has Rita changed on the course of the play?

Educating Rita by Willy Russell reads almost as a modern day Pygmalion. Rita, the central character is presented as a coarse, ignorant working class woman. She is clearly a frustrated character; dissatisfied with most aspects of her life. Education becomes a means through which she escapes the boundaries of working class culture. The change which occurs in her life results in a literal transformation which affects her life irrecoverably. It brings opportunity and freedom yet Russell clearly implies it takes away the freshness and individuality which once marked Rita as an individual.

Rita's dramatic opening "door swings open" in Act 1 set the tone for the scene which unfolds. She intially appears confident and coarse, a comic figure who sees the humour in her own life: "I'm always cuttin' hearin' aid cords ". However as the conversation develops between she and Frank, Rita's insecurities and needs become more apparent: "I wana discover myself". By her own admission she disguises the unhappiness in her life with humour : "I take the piss because I'm not, y' know confident".  Rita at this stage of the play has a low self esteem but later along the play we see how she becomes much more self assured.

Rita feels her age, the expectation in that she should be having children and her marriage are obstacles which are closing in on her: "I should have a baby now; everyone expects it". She views education as the door which will open the gate way to opportunity : "Better way of livin' me life". She feels the need therefore to seize the opportunity before the obstacles trap her forever.  Rita is determined to reach her amibition and she believes that with the help of Frank she can.

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Rita's husband however feels threatened by her detemination. Denny is strongly challenged by Rita because he assumes he is not satifying her by acting the role as a husband. Denny believes she might become superior to him and this instantly intimidates Denny by thinking Rita might change into a different person: "He brings me presents sometimes, hopin' that presents'll make her come back". This quote refers to when Rita tells us when Denny wishes Rita to change back to herself when she did not want an education. Denny feels jeopardized and shows his strength by how much he is ...

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