Educating Rita Frank and Ritas Relationship Essay Example For Students

Educating Rita: Frank and Ritas Relationship Essay Educating Rita is a play written by playwright Willy Russell in the 1980s. Willy Russell appears to be from an educated social class but found a good basis for him to write Educating Rita from his own life. Willy Russell, born in 1947,grew up in Liverpool, and was originally from a working class background and was expected to work in either the docks or a factory. But he knew from the start that he was going to be a writer; his ambitions were achieved against all odds as he became educated and over came social boundaries. Educating Rita mirrors his life very closely; I think Willy Russell changes his main characters sex so as to make the change more poignant, as a womens place in the later 20th century was still to be a housewife and the oppressed sex.This has been challenged during this period as an outdated view, and that women were every bit as capable as a man in the workplace. Educating Rita is a play that uses these contrasted views to its own uses and shows a working class woman proving that she can have an education if she is given the chance, and the means to do so. The whole of the play takes place in just one setting giving the audience a closer and more intimate feel between the two characters as their relationship develops. In Educating Rita the relationship between Frank and Rita is constantly changing throughout the play. In Act one we see them becoming closer and in Act two we see them pulling apart; this is due to the fact that Rita earns her independence at the end of the play. This is perfectly normal as Rita learns how to socialise with other individuals despite the social class barrier and gains confidence; this process is a complete role reversal as Frank is now relying on her. It is in some ways like a parent-child relationship because Ritas character is naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and innocent to begin with; she learns quickly and is soon independent. Frank doesnt like Rita becoming mature and out growing him; like the process parents go through with their teenage child. Ritas character in the play is bright bubbly and loud, this covers up her insecurities on the inside, as she doesnt know how to act. We can see this from her first entrance into the play in scene1. Rita and Franks first meeting in the play involved a rather dramatic and rude entrance by Rita who bossed Frank around and swore drawing attention onto her. The first words she said to Frank were Its that stupid bleedin handle on the door. You wanna get it fixed! To the audience this language for a first meeting seems very inappropriate and informal this may seem shocking to them, as it is the first impression she makes on her tutor. This shows the audience how little Rita knows how to act in formal situations; usually the audience would expect her to act quiet and polite. Ritas use of dialect and basic vocabulary suggests that she lives in the poorer parts of Liverpool, but that doesnt make her any less able as a student. However the audience at this time would think so because the play was a comedy and Ritas character was intended to amuse the audience with her inappropriate comments like look at those tits. Ritas constant swearing and rude language is different from the language and manners of the other students making her different and more appealing to her tutor Frank as he sees her as original. Franks character in the play is cynical and bitter. He has had many failed relationships, which imply that he is emotionally stunted, and drinks to keep his problems away. He grew up from a quite well educated background but prefers not to bother teaching; he knows this and quite openly tells Rita on their first meeting Im actually an appalling teacher. Frank seems to have lost all enthusiasm for anything since his wife left him 15 years ago; Frank tells Rita that he has stopped writing altogether; Frank used to be a poet who used to write about love but it all changed when his wife left him. Hes stuck in a dead end job and the only thing that can make him feel better is alcohol. Discuss how Shakespeare orchestrates the outcome of this scene EssayThis change in Franks character and actions also tells the audience that he is now a dependant on Rita; their roles have completely reversed since the start of the play. A good example of this is when Frank goes searching for Rita; you were so late I phoned the shop. This is also a reversal of their earlier relationship when Rita always used to come to him. Franks reaction to this is bitter with jealousy which drives Rita further away from him. The climax of their disagreements is a huge argument which involved Frank telling Rita his bitter views of what she had become to be educated. Found a better song to sing have you? No youve found a different song thats all and on your lips its shrill and hollow and tuneless This shows the audience Franks thoughts of how Rita has changed for worse in her quest to change social classes and to be accepted. In Act two scene five Ritas reply to Franks insults are You like to keep your natives thick, because they still look charming and delightful. I dont need you This destroys the very little self confidence that Frank has left and drives him into a downward spiral of alcohol abuse. Despite the huge argument in scene 5 there is still a bond connecting Frank and Rita together in the play. In the next couple of days Rita comes to Franks office to apologise, this shows the audience that she still cares about him even though previously she was swallowed up with self pride and arrogance. Frank accepts the apology because he obviously still wants to remain friends with Rita or possibly more because he asks her to come to Australia with him. Why dont you come as well? I think Frank and Rita have truly learnt a lot from each other throughout the course of the play. Rita learned from Frank one of the most important highlights of the play; Independence. Independence has given Rita the knowledge of how to support herself and most importantly of all, choice. Ill make a decision. Ill choose. Rita has beyond doubt gained choice in her decisions in life by being independent; because when you are an independent individual you dont need others to help you make your choices. Rita also learnt to be an individual through Franks harsh but honest criticism of her weak personality in Act one and Two. We evidently see this in the play as she drops the pretentious Rita side of her. I dropped that pretentious crap as soon as I saw it for what it was. Another important lessons Rita learned was gaining confidence. With all the support and comfort from Frank, Rita has learned to have confidence in herself again. It is crucial for Ritas character to have confidence in this play because without it she would have packed it in and never completed her course or be able to be an independent woman. These new changes in Rita are reflected in her new personality in Act two as she sees the world through different eyes. She has become very mature, and can now see through peoples pretentiousness. She used to look up to her friend Trish, yet has realised she is not what she seems I thought she was so cool an together she spends half her life eatin whole foods an health foods to make her live longer, an the other half tryin to kill herself Frank learns a lot from Rita as well, he learns to appreciate things from another perspective Assonance is getting the rhyme wrong. This relationship with Rita has also made Frank see that he should be more independent too because people change for good and for bad, despite Ritas criticism Frank also learns from this. He learns how to improve himself into a better person and change his flaws as Rita pointed out that he was too jealous. Their relationship at Act two scene seven is similar to the one they had in the middle of the play but the difference is now they are both truly independent individuals, they like and only need each other out of choice.