Educating Rita

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Many critics agree that there is a dramatic transformation in the Russell’s Protagonist, Educating Rita. Rita has many parallels with the author Willy Russell. Both Russell and Rita had the same job as a women’s hairdresser and then realize that there is more to life than just new clothes and decide that an education would give them ‘choice’. So they both studied literature to get a better education. Russell reveals the changes Rita undergoes through his stage directions, Rita’s language throughout the play and her body language.

In the beginning of the play, we see Frank in ‘control. This is shown by Rita's respect and admiration for him, she refers to his room as “a perfect mess,” (Act 1 Scene 2). This shows that Rita sees Frank’s room as being a symbol of middle class unpretentiousness.
To Rita it seems that Frank is too busy to clean up. However her statement is biased as Frank is from the middle class and Rita sees the middle class as being superior to her as she is of the working class. Rita also shows her admiration for Frank by saying “ an’ I like you” (Act 1 scene 1). She has just met him but Rita grows to admire Frank very quickly, and refuses to change tutors. This shows that Rita looks up to Frank in the early scenes, and appreciates him for who he is. Rita also says, “if I’d got some other tutor I wouldn’t have stayed,” (Act 1 scene1) Rita’s admiration for Frank is highlighted here.  Frank’s higher status position soon changes and Rita takes ‘control’ towards the middle of the play. This is shown in Act 2 scene 3, when Rita is already in the study as Frank enters. This shows Rita’s authority and her control of the relationship. Is shows a transformation in Rita. In the beginning of the play Rita is also suffering from low self-esteem and most of her humour is self effacing “It’ll probably have trouble finding my brain” (Act 1 scene 1). This shows Rita’s lack of confidence. Her language is very colloquial. Most of her words are abbreviations, for example, instead of you she says y’. “Dead good” is a phrase Rita uses often, when describing things (Act 1 scene 1). She also describes the erotic painting as the “pornography of its day” (Act 1 scene 1). This shows that Rita is trying to analyse the painting but is finding it difficult with her limited vocabulary, therefore falling back on this comment. It shows that Rita is observant¸ she also shows an innate intelligence, while describing how erotic it is. The main theme shown in the first scene is determination, as Rita is determined to learn ‘everything’.

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In Act 1 scene 7 Rita’s growing dissatisfaction with her working class roots is shown. This scene is a pivotal scene in her development. She explains to Frank how she found it difficult to attend the dinner party as she was anxious that she wouldn’t fit in. this shows her low confidence. She didn’t want to be “charming and delightful,” (act 1 scene 7). Rita wanted to be able to “talk seriously,” she felt that she didn’t have the ‘tools’ (language / skills) to cope. She missed the party because she would feel out of place in those surroundings ...

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