Educating Rita
Rita was reaching for a better life, as she was frustrated with the limitations that her old life had to offer her. Rita wanted to close the gap that existed between the world she had lived in all her life and the richer world that she had aspired to live within. Rita desired to find herself through education with Franks help. In making this transition into the new world Rita resulted in change, both physically and mentally.
The setting of this scene takes place in Frank’s office. This room serves as a halfway point between Rita’s dull life and the world of higher educated classes. Frank is usually in his office typing poetry or assembling student’s to work or eagerly waiting for Rita however, Act 2 scene 5 begins with Frank sitting by the window. The window is a metaphor for Franks view on the outside world thinking of Rita within her new world swimming with the stream. Frank finds it difficult to cope with Rita’s transition so instead of facing it he turns to his bottle of whisky to accompany him and his thoughts.
Rita shows up to Franks office unannounced and feels satisfied with the progress she has made, claiming that she now knows “what clothes to wear, what wine to buy, what plays to see, what books and papers to read.” Frank dismisses her achievements as “so very little.” Frank is uncomfortable with Rita’s transformation in crossing the divide between her and the “real” students and their world. Rita is now like a parrot using literary jargon and a sophisticated vocabulary unable to think for her.
Clothing is an important motif, as Rita gains confidence in her new lifestyle, she changes the clothes she wears and this helps the audience to track the results of change in the transition between Rita’s old life and her new. Rita’s old rough exterior and mannerisms and her old inability to focus at the task at hand is adapted when the world of literature is introduced.
Rita believes that Frank is angry with her for she is now educated and on equal
The setting of this scene takes place in Frank’s office. This room serves as a halfway point between Rita’s dull life and the world of higher educated classes. Frank is usually in his office typing poetry or assembling student’s to work or eagerly waiting for Rita however, Act 2 scene 5 begins with Frank sitting by the window. The window is a metaphor for Franks view on the outside world thinking of Rita within her new world swimming with the stream. Frank finds it difficult to cope with Rita’s transition so instead of facing it he turns to his bottle of whisky to accompany him and his thoughts.
Rita shows up to Franks office unannounced and feels satisfied with the progress she has made, claiming that she now knows “what clothes to wear, what wine to buy, what plays to see, what books and papers to read.” Frank dismisses her achievements as “so very little.” Frank is uncomfortable with Rita’s transformation in crossing the divide between her and the “real” students and their world. Rita is now like a parrot using literary jargon and a sophisticated vocabulary unable to think for her.
Clothing is an important motif, as Rita gains confidence in her new lifestyle, she changes the clothes she wears and this helps the audience to track the results of change in the transition between Rita’s old life and her new. Rita’s old rough exterior and mannerisms and her old inability to focus at the task at hand is adapted when the world of literature is introduced.
Rita believes that Frank is angry with her for she is now educated and on equal