Educating Rita A Play by Willy Russell

Main Themes

• Social class

• Relationships

• Education

• Growth and Change

Setting

• There is only one setting in the play: Frank’s university office/ tutorial room.

• - middle class

• - books everywhere

• - loved by Rita

• - taken for granted by Frank

• A book lined tutorial room on the first floor of a Victorian-built university …large bay window…a table covered with various books and papers. On one wall there hangs a good and striking print of a nude, religious scene. (Stage directions – Act One, Scene one)

• ‘I’m gonna have a room like this one day; there’s nothin’ phoney about it; everything in its right place…it’s a lovely mess’ (Rita – Act Two, Scene Two)

Act 1 Scene 1

• Establishes character

• Establishes setting

• Introduces the main themes

• A series of misunderstandings (based on social class and education , or lack of)

• TASK: Consider all the instances where Frank and Rita misunderstand each other. What causes these misunderstandings? What does it tell us about the characters?

Characters so far …As a class we have come up with these descriptions for the characters. Find relevant quotations and

disc Frank Rita

Sophisticated / middle class Confident

Educated Insecure

Troubled Friendly

A good teacher Funny

A bad teacher Shocking

Kind Unhappy / different / alone

Act 1 Scene 2

• In this scene two of the main themes emerge in more detail: education and social class.

• In your groups identify at least three quotations which are relevant to education. Discuss what they tell us in detail.

• When you are finished, do the same for social class.

• Remember that these are your notes and you will need them. Make them detailed and keep them safe!

Symbols

• Window

• Dress

• The door

Karl Marx and Rita

False consciousness is a term used by some Marxists for the way in which material and ideological processes in capitalist society mislead members of the working classes. These processes are said to hide the true relations between social classes.

Put simply: Marx argues that the working class are distracted from the fact they have no power by being encouraged to buy material goods and by being encouraged to behave like role models in society (the Royal Family, television stars)

• For example: people are encouraged to ‘keep up’ with the latest car, television, trainers, clothing, make-up as a result of advertising and social pressure

• Rita’s constant flow of new ‘dresses’ can be seen to symbolise this distraction as it keeps her from questioning her happiness and her education.

• Personal development (education and knowledge) vs material goods (cars, objects or , in Rita’s case, dresses)

Act 1 Scene 3

• Why does Rita struggle to complete her essay?

• Why is Frank unhappy with Rita’s essay?

• How does Rita feel about working class culture?

• Why does Frank suggest that Rita should take a course in politics?

• All answers should include quotations and you should discuss the significance/ relevance of these in detail.

Act 1 Scene 4

• What do we find out has happened to Rita and her books?

• What do Denny’s actions here make us think of? What does it tell us about him?

• In this scene Rita discusses the idea of ‘choice’.

‘He thinks we’ve got a choice already…between one shitty school an’ the next, between jobs for jokers or staying on the dole…because there’s thirty-eight satellite channels to watch’

• Explain fully what Rita means by this. Why is it not good enough for her? What does she want?

Act 1 Scene 5

• Tragedy. Here Rita sees Macbeth for the first time and is amazed by it.

• What is a tragedy in dramatic terms?

• ‘He’s warned in the play, constantly warned. But he can’t go back. He still treads the path to doom.’

• ‘he goes blindly on and on with every step he’s spinning one more piece of thread which eventually make up the network of his own tragedy’

• Can we compare Macbeth to Rita in any way?

Act 2 Scene 1

• How do we know from the first set of stage directions that Rita has changed? Why is this significant?

• In this scene Rita gives Frank a present. What is it? What does this tell us about her changing attitude towards him?

• What does it tell us about Rita that she tries to get Frank to sit outside with her on the grass?

• What tells us that Rita’s development in character might not be so positive?

Act 2 Scene 2

• ‘Shoulda seen the faces on them Frank. I said trying to compare Chatterley with Sons and Lovers is like trying to compare sparkling wine with champagne’

• ‘ Frank, he was asking for it. He was an idiot. His argument just crumbled’

Act 2 Scene 5

Why does Frank compare himself to Mary Shelley?

What does this tell us about their relationship?

Act 2 Scene 6

• ‘Yes … I think she works there … Rita White. No, no. What is it? Susan White? Sorry…erm…she doesn’t know the details …time and where the exam is being held….’

• What does this tell us about the character of Frank?

• Why do you think the scene is so short?

Act 2 Scene 7

• How did Rita do in her exam?

• Where is Frank going and what does he want Rita to do?

• What does Frank buy Rita? Why is this particularly significant?

• What does Rita do for Frank at the end? What does this tell us about her and the theme of education?

• How have both characters grown and or changed?

Possible questions … (a selection)

• Choose a play in which a character develops or changes as the play progresses. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the character’s nature is portrayed, then go on to show how our attitude changes towards him/her.

• Choose a play that builds to a climax. Describe how the playwright builds to the climax and then explain why the climax is vital to the play as a whole.

• Choose a play which explores a theme which makes an impression on you. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the writer explores this theme.