Educating rita Essay

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‘Educating Rita’ by Willy Russell

Themes

Class, Culture

This is a play that makes us think about class and culture- how different they are for people and also their impact on people’s lives and opportunities.

Rita comes from an uneducated working class background.. Frank belongs to the educated middle classes with a totally different culture. Actually, when Rita says that her background has no culture she is wrong – but it is a different culture. Rita’s culture is based on pulp fiction, popular songs and television whereas Frank’s culture is based on quality literature and academic knowledge. They really come from very different worlds and cultures yet the strange thing is that each envies the other and sees the other as being more ‘free’ Rita sees her class as a trap, holding her back from knowing what the world has to offer and believes that through education she will ‘dicover herself’ and gain happiness.

Speaking of her culture she says ‘ I just see everyone pissed or on the valium, tryin’ to get from one day to the next’ She believes that the working class is encouraged to pursue money and possessions to divert them from what their lives lack. ‘ The Unions tell them to go out an’ get more money’ Basically, Rita wants something that will give her life meaning. Through education she believes she will find it.This is really asking a lot of education – to give your life meaning.

Denny fears her involvement in education –probably because deep down he senses – correctly – that it will separate them in many senses. It is made clear that it is difficult for Rita to be educated and still be working class as we see increasingly her new understanding moves her away from what family and friends think is all- important in life. In Denny’s case this is a baby and a nice home.

Therefore in Act 1 in culture, language and accent it is as if Rita and Frank belong to different worlds. This is a play about a character’s journey from one class and culture to another – but very much it is about all that Rita learns by the end about life and happiness.

Education, Literature and Snobbery

This is also a play about the snobbishness that often surrounds education and literature. The play is set in the 80’s so it is very possible that education now is very different – it being far more widely available to all from every class. Perhaps everyone may not see it like this. What do you think?

The insight Rita gives us into her school years is very telling. Education was seen by her peers as being unimportant and peer pressure meant that to be interested excluded you from your friends. The same really happens to Rita as an adult struggling for education. She is forced by Denny to choose between his world and the world of education and a different culture.

Frank is no snob but has come to see that his poetry was snobbish or elitist, appealing only to people with a depth of literary knowledge. Frank feels that that kind of writing is inferior and he values what he sees in Rita when he first met her – honesty, sincerity, a naturalness,passion. He sees these qualities in Rita and that is why he is so drawn to her. (
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