In 'Educating Rita' Willy Russell writes about a working class women who wants to change and become educated

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GCSE English Literature Coursework

Modern Drama Unit

Educating Rita: Willy Russell

In ‘Educating Rita’ Willy Russell writes about a working class woman who wants to change and become educated, as she believes that by becoming educated it will let her forget and move away from her life at the moment.

The only setting in Educating Rita is in Frank’s office.  Frank is a middle class gentleman, who lectures in English, at a university, and he is an alcoholic.  He is about to start teaching Rita at an Open University.  Rita is going to be studying English.

Willy Russell gives Rita, a working class woman, colloquial speech, and wants to learn, whilst he gives Frank, a middle class gentleman, standard English, who is conventionally educated.  This tells us, even before we have started reading the play, that there is a difference between the two characters.

The first scene, Act One Scene One, begins with Frank looking behind some books, searching for some alcohol, that he had hidden earlier.  The telephone rings and Frank answers it. Frank’s girlfriend calls him to ask why he hasn’t come home yet, and telling him that he is late for dinner. Rita interrupts the call by entering the room, and immediately starting a conversation about the defective door handle.  By Willy Russell, making Rita immediately start a conversation suggests to us that Rita is confidant.

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It’s that stupid bleedin’ handle on the door

Her use of words tell us that she isn’t well educated and uses lots of her local dialect.  The way Willy Russell makes her speak implies that Rita is ‘in your face’ and loud.

Rita remarks about a picture on the wall that she insists is ‘erotic’.  As Frank and Rita begin to talk about the painting, Willy Russell evokes Rita through her language.  Rita is given straightforward language, and says what she thinks, or the first thing that comes into her head.  Willy Russell also makes Rita use sexual ...

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