Discuss the ways in which Russell portrays the changes and developments in the characters of Rita and Frank in Act 1 Scene 1 and Act 2 scene 1

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Oliver Miocic 10 NW                                                                      

English Coursework

Drama (post 1914)

Discuss the ways in which Russell portrays the changes and developments in the characters of Rita and Frank in Act 1 Scene 1 and Act 2 scene 1 of ‘Educating Rita’.

‘Educating Rita’ is a play written by the British author Willy Russell. It is set in Liverpool around the 1980’s. It explores the themes of education, poverty and working class life. The play is based on Rita’s enthusiasm and determination to be educated. Rita undergoes her course at the Open University. Here she meets her tutor Frank and it is here their plutonic relationship blossoms.  This is what occurs in Act 1 scene 1. In Act 2 scene 1 the relationship contrasts from that of the previous act. Although they have this friendly love, Frank becomes jealous of Rita. This is because when Rita returns from her summer school she is a new woman. She is more educated, has acquired new clothes and her accent has changed.

The play is structured in two acts. It has eight scenes in the first act and seven scenes in the second act. The first scene of act one is set in Frank’s office at the Open University. There is a large bay window at the left of his room and a small desk positioned in front of it. In the centre of the room there is a larger desk covered with books and papers. The walls are also lined with books. On one wall hangs a nude religious scene. The way in which the scene is set gives the reader a first impression that Frank is a disorganised person. Yet when we see all the books we assume that he is an intelligent person too.

When the scene opens we see Frank searching for something. At first we think he is looking for a book because he is recalling the names of some authors. Then suddenly he remembers the author and pulls out a book to reveal a bottle of whisky. He pours himself a drink. The drink is interrupted by a call form his partner Julia. When he is speaking to her he uses negative and sarcastic language. An example of this is when he says ‘‘I don’t need determination to get me into a pub’’. This suggests to us he would rather go to the pub than go home or speak to Julia. The audience are led to believe that Frank is miserable, rude and argumentative

We are first introduced to Rita when she knocks on Frank’s door. This gives Frank an excuse to end his phone call with Julia. Rita bursts through the door clumsily blaming this on the door handle. Rita sumps her bag. She seems to be a very inquisitive person because she starts inspecting the bookcase and notices the nude picture on Frank’s wall. She moves around the room a lot; this indicates that she is also nervous. The audience is led to believe that there are two contrasting characters in the same room. We have Frank the very scholastic, well-mannered, prim and proper person and we have Rita who is working class, boisterous and loud.

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Rita talks in a different way to Frank. Frank uses more structured sentences with proper known English words, whereas Rita uses colloquialism. An example of this is on page 15 where Rita says to Frank ‘‘D’ y’ get a lot of students like me?’’ Rita uses this language because she has not been taught how to speak with proper language. Her family and peers might have used this slang language so she will have assumed it to be correct. This shows it is not her fault but her upbringing and surrounding, which has left her with this. The content ...

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