educatiing rita

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Jauhar Sumra

How does Willy Russell present the change and development of the relationship between Rita and frank in ‘Educating Rita’?

‘See if I’d started takin’ school seriously I would have had to become different from me mates an’ that’s not allowed.’ Rita explains to Frank at the beginning of the play why she failed at her education.

‘Most of the kids with whom I visited that place accepted that it was their lot to end up in that place.’

The link between Willy Russell and the character Rita shows how Russell links Rita to himself. He unveils his life experiences in the form of Rita and how he changed and developed as a person.

‘It’s the only time I can ever feel real hatred for another human being.’ Willy Russell explains how he hated his teacher. ‘I came to tell you you’re a good teacher.’ Rita explains to frank how she thinks he's a good teacher. These quotes show the differences that Rita and Russell have with there teachers. Russell could be trying to communicate the experiences he wished he could have had with his teacher and how his life could have been different with alternative guidance and nurturing.

Willy Russell communicates ideas throughout the play. The concepts of change and development are explored through the characters of frank and Rita. Russell exploits the dynamic of their relationship and how it facilitates opportunity in both of their lives.

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

Rita demonstrates her eagerness for learning and education. Frank is surprised when she says she wants to know everything. This shows frank realising she is serious about the course. This scene also shows the differences Rita and Frank have at the beginning of the play in act 1 scene 1. It is the beginning of the student-teacher relationship they experience throughout the book.

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There are many differences between Rita and Frank in Educating Rita act 1 scene 1. the characters differ in many aspects such as accents and idiosyncrasies. Rita has a Liverpudlian accent while Frank has the accent of someone who is well-brought up and educated. Frank is very dependant on alcohol as show when frank reveals his eccentricity, ‘care for a drink?’ and this is shown in the stage direction at the beginning, ‘Jubilantly he moves to the Dickens section and pulls out a pile of books to reveal a bottle of whisky.’ Also Rita has her own eccentricity. She ...

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