Educating Rita Theme Essay Example

It was unavoidable." Frank responds with a question regarding Rita's voice, to which she replies "Nothing is wrong with it, Frank."

Rita's decision to speak appropriately reflects Trish's advice about discussing fine literature in a pleasant tone. This indicates that Rita has been influenced by her roommate and is not relying on her own judgment.

The play mentions Trish as a future example of Rita's influence on decision-making. Rita's speech becomes more articulate and less colloquial towards the end of the play. In act two, scene seven, she uses the phrase "is this what you call a scholarly neckline?" which shows that she is speaking to Frank as an equal.

Initially, Rita and Frank struggle with their communication skills. This is demonstrated in act one, scene one when Frank asks "You are?" and Rita responds with confusion saying "What am I?". However, as the play progresses, we observe that Rita has gained control over her style of speech and successfully blends a wider range of vocabulary with naturalness. Hence, it can be inferred that initially, Frank and Rita face communication barriers.

Both Frank and Rita lack understanding of each other, causing ineffective communication even in simple exchanges. However, in act two, scene four, we witness Rita's ability to converse with Frank in a more intellectual style.

In the following passage, we can observe that Frank and Rita possess similar interests. Although their discussion pertains merely to a book, it is evident that they can converse about the same subject matter, indicating a shared interest between them. Frank's statement exemplifying this connection is as follows: "...

After reading it, I must say that Rubyfruit Jungle is excellent," Rita

stated.

Although it is intriguing within its category, it falls short of being exceptional. The play showcases the evolving connection between Rita and Frank, as their characters grow closer and share moments of deep intimacy.

Observing their bond progress, one can note that they exhibit various defining aspects. Their ability to exchange humor effortlessly in a manner that resonates with them and the viewers is one such facet. An illustration of this can be found in act one, scene five. We see Rita saying, "..

During The Seagull, there is no attempt to rape. Frank expresses disappointment and suggests that the presence of such an action would have added excitement to the theater. Meanwhile, a scene depicts Frank and Rita sharing food and drink on stage.

Even though it may not hold great significance, the exchange between Rita and Frank in act one, scene six, where he throws her an apple and she offers him a can of soda, displays their affection for each other. Despite their argument in act two, scene six, they ultimately reconcile in act two, scene seven, indicating that their friendship remains strong and they value each other's company despite any disagreements that may arise.

The play's extent shows the close relationship between the two characters. Rita's various moods are apparent throughout the play, with her enthusiasm for her Open University course being predominant. Her actions on stage reflect her contentment.

Examples of actions that are unseen on stage but can be witnessed by the audience are presented in the play. One instance in Act One, Scene Three is when Rita flounces into the room and heads to the desk. In Act One, Scene Six, she

bursts through the door feeling breathless. In an interesting twist, there is a change in her name during the play. Initially, she is named after Rita Mae Brown, the author of Rubyfruit Jungle; however, she later reverts to using her original name, Susan White. Rita's admiration for the book Rubyfruit Jungle is evident as she changes her name to that of the author.

In the first act, first scene of the play, Rita declares that her real name is 'S' for Susan, but she now goes by Rita and no longer identifies as Susan.

The character known as "Rita" has named herself after the author Rita Mae Brown. However, in a later scene, another character named Frank brings up and criticizes Rita for her previous statement: "I've called meself Rita - y'know, after Rita Mae Brown."

"Rita? Rita? Nobody addresses me as Rita except for you. I abandoned that affected nonsense immediately after realizing its true nature."

Frank teases Rita by suggesting new names for her now that she is educated and no longer wants to be associated with bad literature like Rubyfruit Jungle. He proposes names such as Virginia (Woolf), Charlotte (Bronte), Jane (Austen), or Emily (Bronte). By doing so, Frank emphasizes that Rita can now differentiate between good and bad literature thanks to her education. Despite Rita's reaction, Frank makes a sarcastic point about the positive impact education has had on her.

Displayed is Frank's evident distress as he longs for the return of the old Rita. In act two, scene six, he specifically references his plight by likening himself to Mary Shelley, the creator of Frankenstein. Frank states: "...

The speaker expresses a desire to

change their name to Mary Shelly. They compare themselves to Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. Just like Victor creates a monster which he can't control, the speaker has created Rita who they no longer have control over.

In the same scene, Rita makes a remark about Frank where she questions his liking for her now that she has grown up and is no longer the little girl he used to bounce on his knee and watch stare back in amazement at everything he said. She mentions that she is now educated.

Rita is visibly frustrated with Frank, believing that he does not support her desire for change. She fears that Frank wants her to revert to her former self, though Rita wishes to continue growing and moving forward. The play centers around Rita's pursuit of education despite having limited schooling and no prior successes in exams. Nonetheless, she remains determined to learn and improve.

The quote in act one, scene one between Frank and Rita highlights her eagerness to learn and obtain an education she has always desired. Despite investing her own time and money into the course, Rita's focus shifts to passing her exam in act two, scene four. In this scene, she questions the grade her work would receive in an exam. After successfully passing her exam, Frank asks Rita about her plans, to which she responds with uncertainty but the possibility of going to France.

Having completed her course, Rita now enjoys a lot of liberty to make choices such as going to her mother's or even having a baby, although she is yet to decide.

The above quote suggests that Rita has

become a stronger character over time. Initially, she spoke often about Denny and her mother, but now that she is independent, Rita has accomplished a certain level of freedom. This newfound freedom stems from her pursuit of education, which has enabled Rita to make important decisions for herself. In relation to the original task question of how the playwright demonstrates changes in Rita's character throughout the play, William Russell employs several methods. These include analyzing Rita's language and speech, examining her interactions with Frank, exploring their relationship, scrutinizing her moods and emotions, studying her attitude towards her work, and considering the movements on stage.

From beginning to end of the play, Rita has experienced a series of drastic changes before finally settling into a state of balance.