Willy Russell - Educating Rita
The main theme of Educating Rita is that, in the playwright’s view, when a
person becomes educated, then he/she has the freedom to do whatever
he/she wants in life.
How does Educating Rita develop this theme?
1)
In Act 1 Sc. 1, Frank asks Rita why she enrolled in the course. Her
answer makes it clear that she realises that she is somehow
trapped in the life she leads – p.7 “God, what’s it like to be free?”
Later on (p.11) she tells Frank, “But if you want to change you have
to do it from the inside, don’t you?” – she has made a choice to
change herself in order to gain what is her idea of education, and
she refuses to get pregnant like her contemporaries so that she
can pursue her aim. In Act 1 Sc2. (p17) she explains more fully
about the working–class culture she comes from (see also p30), and
the lack of any real education she has had so far. She knew
something was missing, “But I’d just play another record or buy
another dress an’ stop worrying.”
2)
Now she has to make another choice (her first is to start the
course) – to actually listen to Frank and study required texts
(Forster, whom she hates) – p23 “stop wasting my time. You go out
and buy yourself a new dress and I’ll go to the pub.”
3)
Rita’s next decision is to do with leaving her old way of life behind.
In Act 1 Scs.3 & 4 we hear of the start of her marriage
breakdown. Her husband cannot accept her changing, or her need
for change p34. “He thinks we’ve got a choice because we can go
into a pub that sells eight different kinds of lager.” But Rita will
not be moved as “it’s providing me with life itself.”
4)
In Act 1 Sc7, after Rita’s failed effort to go to Frank’s dinner
party, we see the final choice of her husband or her studies which
comes to a head in Act 1 Sc.8. At the end of Sc.7, in a very moving
description of her alienation from her family we hear her reasons
for her choice, and see her determination to do the best for
herself.
What choices does she face in Act 2?
She must accept that education on its own is worthless – “found a better
song…timeless” p69.
By Sc.7, she has realised that the flatmate she admires has an empty
life, and that the exam is not important. p72 “But I had a choice”...she
chose to sit it, and now she is free to choose what she wants to do with
her life. It is not education as such but her decision to proceed with her
studies which has made her an independent individual.
Willy Russell says ‘Educating Rita’ is a love story. Do you agree?
From Frank’s point of view.
Act 1 Sc1 – he is fascinated by her, and his own sense of failure gets him
to try to get another tutor for her. “I’m actually an appalling teacher” –
wants her to succeed.
Already Rita knows she likes him – she refuses to accept that.
He finds her funny
refreshingly honest
interesting
He worries about her changing –
P34 Act 1 Sc.7 – “When art and literature…”
“I just – just wanted you to be yourself”, which turns into jealousy of her
new found self-confidence and abilities in Act 2 e.g.
a) Act 2 Sc.1 – Blake
b) Act 2 Sc.2 – Over students
c) Her work – she no longer only accepts his opinion “I can have a mind of
….”
By p62 Act 2 Sc.4 he has become dependent on her – a neat switch round
from her earlier dependency.
From Rita’s point of view.
At first he is only a teacher to her, then he is someone to talk to. She
thinks he is wonderful – find a quote yourself for this.
He infuriates her many times – arguments over her doing the set work,
his drinking, her development as an independent thinker – last one is Act
2 Sc.1 – p68 “ you’re like the rest of them…I don’t need you”
BUT
Last scene is reconciliation. She comes back – she didn’t need to – the
haircut (promised in Act 1 Sc.1) – they are equals.
Physical attraction? A few words on the subject from Frank, plus dress.
So – a romance? Not in romantic novel terms of “lived happily ever
after” – but definitely love of a sort develops between them and may
continue in the future. Not conclusive.