Introduction to Rita
Rita is 26 years old and works in a hairdressers she represents the lower uneducated class in the play. Rita turns to education she believes that it is very important and she wants to be educated more than anything. She says she wants to talk about “the things that matter” because she feels that her life is currently going nowhere. Rita’s husband Denny doesn’t like the idea of Rita being educated and he thinks by the age of 26 Rita should be pregnant or already have a baby. She say that “she has to discover herself” before she has a baby but Denny does not understand why.
Introduction to Frank
Frank works in a university has a lecturer and is very well educated but is now getting board of it. Frank doesn’t like the students and wants to “throw them out of his window”. Frank has now turned to alcohol to ‘drown his sorrows’ and has found himself drunk in a few lectures. He has a girlfriend called Julia, she admires him and he likes her a lot. Frank used to be a poet. He was married before this relationship but him and his wife split up because of poetry.
Frank and Rita’s first meeting
Frank and Rita first met in frank’s office because Rita was taking an interview for an Open University course. Frank was asleep and Rita burst into the room complaining about the door handle. She then spoke to Frank for along time about anything but the Open University course. Rita then asks Frank what she should call him, he replies “the students here call me sir but you can call me Frank”.
Rita’s Culture/Background
Rita lives in the lower class area of Liverpool in a small Council house with her husband Denny. Rita doesn’t really have a good job she works in a hairdresser’s shop and earns just enough to get by in life. Due to Rita’s and Denny’s family background Rita is expected to have a baby in her early twenties and her younger sister Sandra is already pregnant. Now, even more pressure is put upon her by family and Denny.
Frank’s culture/Background
Frank lives in the upper class area of Liverpool in a large semi-detached House with his Girlfriend Julia. Frank used to be a poet but gave it up when his marriage ended. Frank is a very well educated man and has a good job that brings in a lot of money. Frank has been brought up in a ‘posh’ area and for special occasions will have a formal dinner party where as Rita would just go down the local pub ‘The beer Keller’ for a singsong with her family.
Rita’s view on education at the beginning of the play