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Educating Rita Essay

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Educating Rita Essay
Educating Rita and Pleasantville
The concept of ‘Into the world’ refers to the transition of an individual into a broader world which transcends class restrictions, enriching their sense of identity and freedom. Willy Russel’s play “Educating Rita” depicts Rita’s transition from her working-class background into the world of education while Gary Ross’s film “Pleasantville” similarly displays the journey of an individual from their restrictive background into a new society which.
Catalyst
The idea of venturing into the world by individuals can be catalysed by their need to transcend social expectations, ultimately creating new pathways into the world. This is evident in the play “Educating Rita” and the film “Pleasantville” which explores the desire for knowledge as the motivation to exceed restricting societal backgrounds.
Willy Russel’s “Educating Rita” depicts Rita’s transition into the academic world through education as an opportunity to transcend her restrictive working-class background. Rita’s initial discontent with her background is apparent through her social expectations where she “should have a baby now, everyone expects it,” She expresses a tone of reluctance that emphasizes her duties as baggage disallowing her choice. Additionally, Rita’s mother states “We could sing better songs” which metaphorically highlights her societal background as limitations that prevent personal growth and development fundamentally demonstrating Rita’s need to surpass these expectations. This need to accentuate her life is evident through her name, stating that “I’m not Susan anymore,” symbolically representing her yearning for a new identity outside her past. Additionally, stage directions show Rita constantly moving around the office exemplifying her desire for mobility. This is reinforced through the window motif, representing the academic world in which Rita desires stressed through the recurring directions outlining her “Staring” out the window. This ultimately

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