Themes In Educating Rita

Tajanay Keaton–Chesson

November 28, 2017

Extra Credit: Educating Rita

In the film, Educating Rita, the life of a young working–class woman dreams of pursuing an English literature degree to help her gain social mobility. Rita, a 26–year–old blue–collar Liverpool hairdresser, meets an English tutor, Dr. Frank Bryant in hopes that she would discover and experience true happiness. Dr. Bryant is a wealthy alcoholic academic who suffers from low self–esteem and confidence and would eventually fall in love with Rita's unwitty ability to adapt to academia life and her continuous commitment to change and grow as a writer. This an example of how blue–collar workers are identified to be more independent, natural, and spontaneous people compared to white–collar workers. Generally, we think of blue–collar workers as less organized than white–collar workers regarding student success. The film relates to the book Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life, where Annette Lareau believes that a family'ssocial class position predicts an individual school success and their ultimate life chances (Lareau, 2003, p. 29). Lareau (2003) highlights three reasons why social class matters for blue–collar workers, one is the organization of daily life, the second is language use, and the third is interactions between families and institutions (p. 11). Working–class or blue–collar workers tend to communicate poorly compared to white–collar workers. The central difference between blue–collar

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The Humour in Educating Rita

'Educating Rita' is a humorous play that was written by Willy Russell in 1979, based on his own life. It is set in Liverpool and depicts the perseverance of a working class, 26–year–old hairdresser with no qualifications called Susan, or as she is called throughout the play, 'Rita', as she tries to 'discover herself' by participating in an English literature course at the Open University. Her lecturer, who is from a more middle class background, Frank, is somewhat of an unorthodox one; he is frequently found to be drunk and, during one lecture, he is so drunk that he falls off of the rostrum in the hall! This erratic behaviour leads to him being sent to Australia for two years. In this essay, I am...show more content... Another instance of comedy of character is apparent in the first scene. Rita says:

"Well that's no good always meanin' to, is it? Y' should get on with it; one of these days you'll be shoutin' 'come in' an' it'll go on forever because the poor sod on the other side won't be able to get in." The actor playing Frank would have to portray annoyed feelings towards Rita as she is saying this in a sarcastic manner towards him. The audience would find this particularly humorous, as the character's personalities are completely different; Frank being rather professional and Rita being an amateurish student.

The second aspect that creates humour for the audience is that of the comedy created from a certain situation, this is where an event occurs in a place that you would not expect it to. An example of this is in act two, scene three when we are told that Frank was teaching a class, clearly under the under the influence of alcohol, resulting in him falling off of the rostrum. Although we don't actually see Frank fall off in the play, Russell uses imagery to create a picture of Frank and his drunken antics in the audience's mind. We learn of this through Frank as he describes the event to Rita.

Once again the reason that the audience may find this amusing is the fact that it is an utterly unforeseen occurrence.

Another unexpected occurrence that falls into this category is when

Educating Rita by Willy Russell

"Educating Rita" displays the major changes that occur in the main character, an initially narrow minded, outspoken and socially na ve Liverpudlian trapped by her working class life. Rita thinks an increase in intelligence and worldly knowledge will change this, and set her "free". She strives to change classes, and although is different from her working class peers, she still isn't ready to be accepted as middle class. She aims to reach her goal through an Open University course, yet naively thinks knowing what books to read and clothes to wear will allow her to immediately become accepted as part of her chosen social strata. Change is a major part of the play, affecting Rita in both positive...show more content... She is also confused by Frank's formal manner of speaking, showing her social naivety. For instance, when he says, "You are?" she replies, "What am I?" Although she appears very confidently, she is immediately quietened when faced with something she feels she cannot succeed in. She is fairly defeatist towards the course, believing she isn't intelligent enough, and that although she wants to, she wont achieve her dream. She calls the courses, "Degrees for Dishwashers", implying that Open University degrees are not looked upon very highly, and are not thought much of. She is very negative about herself, believing she is not quite good enough. Rita wants to be of a higher status than her friends and family, and assumes the course will bring about this transformation. She is uncomfortable with being working class, as her outlook is more middle class, yet also isn't ready to be considered middle class. She knows that she fits in with neither social grouping, and at one stage, even refers to herself as a "half–caste". She naГЇvely thinks that knowing what books to read and phrases to say will automatically be happy and free, as if intelligence is the key to the lock of her cage. She believes all who are referred to as middle class have no problems, or worries, and are therefore "free". Similarly, she tells Frank that she wants to know "everything", not understanding that this is completely impossible. She believes her image is sophisticated; yet her Get

New stages of experience often bring about growth and change in one's life. As one experiences new phases in their life, change is an implicit part of moving 'into the world'. This is clearly demonstrated in the play Educating Rita, by Willy Russell, where Rita's growth and change comes about with her education and experiences in her social, working–class life. The Devil Wears Prada, directed by David Frankes and an interview titled 2 of us, John van Tigglemen, also demonstrate how new stages of experience can bring about growth and change in one's life leading to a transition into a new world.

Growth and change often comes about when new stages of experience allow a transition 'into the world'. This is illustrated in Educating Rita ...show more content...

When Rita returns from summer school Frank is quite surprised at Rita's confidence and progression. Rita not only has become more confident but she has bought new second hand clothes, a symbol of her growth into the world. We are able to see this change in Rita as she fought her old–self at summer school when approached by a professor in regards to Ferlinghetti. Instead of Rita persisting to say 'Only when its served with Parmesan cheese' she holds back and replies with 'Actually I'm not too familiar with American poets'. This is a clear indication that Rita has changed her ways to move into the world of education and her new life. Rita's confidence in herself is demonstrated as she tells Frank how often she stood up during lectures and asked questions constantly. Further growth in Rita is seen when she quotes Blake, to Frank's surprise, and it is evident that Rita has come so far.

Frank paved the way for Rita's transition into the educated world and he now finds it difficult to accept she has successfully made a transition from one world to another and no longer needs to depend on him. Jealousy begins to arise in Frank as Rita is now able to analyse and criticise which Frank does not like. Frank believes he has created a monster one he can no longer control, making an allusion to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein 'Oh I've done a fine job on you, haven't I.' Rita however believes her growth and change has allowed her

Willy Russell, 'Educating Rita' 27/11/07 'Educating Rita' explores the way in which a woman, in her late twenties, Rita, has to deal with everyday life, conflict change and different phases as she becomes educated. The play is based on Willy Russell's own life. At the start of the play, Frank is a more relaxed character. Rita is a hyper and open minded character, searching for adventure. She comes from the working class society and tries to become educated and well respected. Frank on the other hand is from the upper–class society, well educated but has lost most of his respect through drinking. As the play progresses Frank starts to show a romantic and affectionate side of himself towards...show more content...

But she doesn't know that not all educated people live free. She is very fussy and childlike, she will get whatever she wants, and Frank cannot stop her: "You're my tutor ... You're going to bleedin' well teach me." Frank is pushing her away but she puts her foot down to get an education from Frank because she is determent to get educated and she will not take no for an answer. She is not happy with herself: "Takes a pencil and scratches out the initial 'S' " She wants to change and get rid of the old person she was. She chose her name after a famous person, thinking it would help her. This is symbolic showing that she is sick of herself and that she wants change. The language that Rita uses is very colloquial from the working class society. She gets straight to the point and swears a lot. " Y' don't mind me swearin', do y'?" The slang language she uses would come from the working class society; it could also be because of the reason that she does not read many books. In act two scene one, Russell changed the actions of Frank completely: "Frank is sitting at his desk typing poetry" This quote shows a big changing point in Frank's life, he has not typed poetry since he broke up with his life, suddenly he started again. This shows that he has improved on his life style "He pauses, stubs out a cigarette" The quote suggests that something is wrong, his girlfriend Julia forbid him to smoke, he is smoking again, this could indicate that he broke up with Get more content

Educating Rita

1. When we are first introduced to Rita she is a hairdresser. How would you define her in terms of her social class? Support your ideas with examples from the film and elsewhere e.g. the most recent classification system used to define social class. (P2)

I would define her in terms of her social class as a snobby person. She fits in a working class D, the way she speaks (language) is different the type of clothes she wears is different, she wears mini skirts. The environment Rita lives in is run down and dirty there is no front garden and no green space.

2. In details discuss how physical, social and economic factors have combined to affect Rita's personal development and self–concept and...show more content...

Socially Rita gets to know other students and starts to get involved in their conversations and she build in confident and her language starts to improve and she think before she speaks and makes sense in what she is saying.

Economically Rita does not have a good house to live in. the house she lives in is not as well decorated and her husband Denny is breaking down the wall to make two rooms into one. The environment she lived in was polluted and there was a factory nearby. She lived in a terraced house in a city area and they were probably buying that house or probably had a mortgage. There were no green spaces nearby. It was packed with houses and factories and there was only one corner shop.

4. Rita is married at the beginning of the film. What expectations does her husband, Danny, have of Rita as a wife? What other pressure, social and economic might affect marriages in general. (P2)

The expectation that Danny haves of Rita are that he wants to have a baby but Rita doesn't. He demands her to listen to him and when she didn't Danny throw her essay in the fire. Danny doesn't want Rita to change and be different from him. If they did have children they would struggle