The setting of Educating Rita, a play by Willy Russell, is in the North of England during the 1980s.
In her late twenties, Rita is resolute about obtaining an education and seeks assistance from Frank, a university lecturer whose dependence on alcohol governs his life. Act 1 Scene 1 of the play employs several dramatic techniques including alcohol, the study door, Rita's cigarettes, the nude painting on Frank's wall, and language to reveal and develop the characters. Alcohol plays a significant role in Frank's life and is employed as a dramatic technique; he accepts the Open University job primarily to pay for drinks, as stated in his confession, "Yes, I suppose I did it to pay for the drink."
Frank hides his whisky by pulling out books, using them as a symbolic disguise. He does this to keep his
...drinking a secret, possibly due to his unhappiness and depression. Russell also employs the door to Frank's office as another dramatic device.
Rita demonstrates her determination to obtain an education as she struggles to enter through Frank's broken door. Despite the difficulty, she persists in her efforts until she finally succeeds. Even when Frank urges her to enter, she retorts that the faulty handle on the door is to blame.
In contrast to the desire to have it fixed, Frank appears uninterested in repairing the door, stating that he always intends to but doesn't seem to care. His indifference suggests a desire to keep his life and those around him at a distance, using the door as a symbolic obstacle against the outside world. However, Rita oils the door during the film, making it easier
for her to enter Frank's office. This event demonstrates Rita's gradual educational progress and success.
A lively and entertaining 26-year-old married hairdresser from Liverpool named Rita is feeling nervous when she offers Frank a cigarette. Even though Frank claims to not smoke due to a promise made, his untrustworthy nature is revealed as he accepts the offer. His reluctance towards smoking alone and opinion on others being afraid of cancer highlight his character flaws.
According to the text, Rita's awareness of the harmful effects of smoking demonstrates her intelligence, which challenges the idea that formal education is necessary for intelligence. In Frank's workplace, a nude painting hangs on the wall, which catches Rita's attention upon entering the room. She confidently asks Frank if the painting is erotic, revealing her sexual confidence. In contrast, Frank, who suffers from depression and alcohol addiction and is sexually unfulfilled despite having a girlfriend, replies that he hasn't looked at the painting in ten years. Russell cleverly employs language as a dramatic device to highlight the difference in social status between Rita and Frank.
The use of informal and offensive language by Rita, including words like "tits" and "fuck", portrays her as uneducated, rude, and lacking the appropriate manners for an interview. In contrast, Frank uses Standard English and comes across as well-educated with good manners, which is expected of him as a high-status lecturer.
