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 is a smoker. ‘I hate smoking on me own… but everyone seems to have packed it in these days.’ There eccentricities show how they differ in uniqueness. One of the main differences between Rita and Frank is that Frank is educate and is a university professor. Rita on the other hand is educated to a point and a hairdresser. Rita is more outspoken and clearly speaks her mind. However Frank is more reserved. In Pygmalion it is the accents that are different between Eliza and Higgins. The colloquial language Eliza uses can be referred to Rita’s and the change of the accents (to make both women seem/educated or sound higher classed). The relationship between Frank and Rita is shown as a normal student-teacher relationship. However it does indicate a possible relationship after the plays timescale.
The play is set in Frank’s office in a university. The action of the play is always in Frank’s office this reinforces the idea of the student-teacher relationship, Frank and Rita have. It also helps to reinforce this play is a 2-hander which allows the audience to clearly see the change and development of the 2 characters. Margaret Thatcher was in power at the time of this play. This helps to reinforce that new laws were being introduced in education ensuring opportunities were open to all. This idea reinforces the idea that the Open University was a new after hour’s course anyone could take. ‘Degrees for dishwashers.’ This metaphor, Rita uses, makes the reader aware that Rita is aware she is different and lower class than the average university students.
In act 1 scene 5 there are changes to the characters of Rita and Frank. Rita has reached crisis point with Denny and Frank reveals some of his past to Rita.
Rita is at crisis point with Denny, ‘Denny found out I was on the pill again, it was my fault, I kept me prescription out. He burnt all me books.’
Rita’s use of colloquial language (me books etc.) which shows the lower class culture she was brought up in. Rita’s repetitive use of ‘I’ reinforces the idea that she keeps blaming herself and its no-one else’s fault. The sentence is structured in clauses. Prior to her revelation, Rita is staring blankly out of the window. This shows how worried and serious her argument with Denny is. The audience are alarmed. Rita later asks Frank if he actually likes drinking. He replies, ‘oh yes. I love it. Absolutely no guilt about it.’ In the structure of the sentence repetition is used as he is stating the same thing repeatedly in a row. Short sentences are used to create a dramatic effect. His dependency on alcohol is now made clear to the audience. Their relationship is presented as a gradually blooming one. This is shown by the dependency they both have on each other.
In act 1 scene 7 we see Rita more determined than ever to pass the course making life changing decisions (Rita starts sharpening pencils’, this stage direction implies that her eagerness to learn and get on with things will provide her with valuable life skills) that will affect upcoming events (e.g. her becoming educated and her introduction into a higher class etc.). Rita and Frank again have many differences such as Rita’s more serious approach to the course while Frank seems as he has a more laid back approach(due to Rita’s more serious approach). Rita is touched by her mother’s words at the pub, ‘because we can sing better songs than these.’ This is when she is crying about where she is in life and how she could be more but can’t because of her age. This prompts Rita to take life full on and also to take things more serious than before. It also pushes her forward, to have self confidence in herself and to put faith in everything she does. This is shown by her response to Rita, ‘…pretending she hadn’t said it. But she had. And that’s why I came back. And that’s why I’m staying.
In act 2 scene 7 Rita and Frank are different because Rita is now educated whereas Frank has been suspended for 2 years to Australia. Also Rita has been given more choice of what she wants to do. This can be compared to the choices Denny has. Rita has more choices than before, while Denny has barely any such as who to support in football e.g. Everton and Liverpool.
A small amount of Rita’s margin of choice is shown, ‘I dunno, I might go to France. I might go to me mothers. I might even have a baby. I dunno. I’ll make a decision. I’ll choose. I dunno.’
This reveals that Rita now has a choice about what she wants to do. There is a sense of indecision though. ‘I dunno’ in particular reinforces the indecisiveness Rita is experiencing. The same can be said about Rita’s use of ‘I might’. The aspect choice is emphasised by the repetition of ‘I’(personal pronoun). Alternatively the use of colloquial language implies that Rita is essentially the same person despite her academic achievement.
The relationship between Rita and Frank is shown as a close friendship developed from the student-teacher relationship portrayed throughout the play.
To summarise the change in Rita I would say she starts as an eager learner and evolves into a wise, educated women in the end. To summarise Frank’s changes is difficult because there barley is any. He starts off as an alcoholic and ends up resolving to make a change. He begins to find his independence by starting a new leaf in Australia. However Australia is not permanent as he is being sent there as his 2 year suspension for being drunk while giving a lecture. ‘I’m gonna take 10 years off you’. This shows Rita inspiring regeneration and growth of confidence in Frank. There relationship evolves gradually as it starts as a promising relationship into a student-teacher relationship and finally into a close friendship.
I think Willy Russell has ended the play the way he has, leaving an open ended ending for Rita and Frank, because it leaves the audience thinking as to what happens next or where will the characters end up? It makes you feel indecisive about what will happen. It leaves this lasting effect of ‘What happens next?’
The relationship between Rita and Frank communicates emotional dependency to the audience on a deeper level. This is portrayed in the Frank is emotionally dependent on Rita when she feels as if she needs to more on. ‘you really don’t have to put in the odd appearance out of sentimentality. I’d rather you spare me that.’ This shows how he thinks that he needs Rita but despises her for coming.