Educating Rita a Social Comedy

SHORT STORY “EDUCATING RITA”
A Literature Class and a “Social” Comedy
It is a British movie based on a play written by Willy Russell that narrates the relationship of the two main characters: Susan (who asks to be called as Rita at the beginning of the story) and Dr. Frank Bryant. Susan is a young lady who belongs to the working-class, she works as a hairdresser and is about to get marry with her boyfriend, even though, after knowing Dr. Frank Bryan, she experiences a sense of freedom that leads her to leave behind the oppression she is living with his boyfriend and to get rid of the patriarchal regime in which she is immerse. Dr. Frank Bryant is a middle-aged man who works in a university as a lecturer, he is an alcoholic who has taken the tutorship to pay for his drink; the play opens as 'Rita ' meets her tutor, Frank, for the first time.
It is important to remark the moment in which Susan starts studying in the university; her objective was to get education once again in order to leave her actual situation of poverty. Nevertheless, she was not totally convinced about her capabilities, that is the reason why she seems pessimistic at the beginning of her academic training in literature, because she did not trust in her academic skills. Notwithstanding, when she begins her academic formation with Dr. Bryant, despite her objective was to study for her literature tests, he teaches her to know herself and make her own decisions freely; this aspect will influence her behavior since that moment to the end of the story.
Is at this point in which the literature class turns into a social comedy, taking into account the comic events in which operate the two characters, besides the metamorphosis process that crosses Rita-Susan during the development of the story in which is shown an outlandish character who talks in an inappropriate way and is considered as an opposition to the rules of high society, and then it appears a character who eventually turns into a cultured and refined character who lately questions the behavior of Dr. Bryant, a character who at first is who promotes the transformation of Rita. As the play progresses, Frank starts to show a romantic and affectionate side of himself towards Rita, she starts to move away from Frank as she makes new friends and as she becomes more educated, creating a sense of jealousness in Frank.
On the other hand, the role of the educational process within the work is very important, because both characters show a process of introspection in which they redefine their work, both teacher and student; in the first place is Rita who despises her knowledge, however after their educational process, she realizes that she was not as stupid as she first thought. Otherwise is Frank, who proves himself that he is a much better teacher than he thought he was. Rita’s enthusiasm revitalizes her tutor’s dying passion for what he teaches. However, with Rita’s growing confidence as she becomes ‘educated’, Frank feels ironically more and more insecure. And when Rita acquires for herself other ‘teachers’, (her tutors in the summer school and her flatmate Trish) Frank is obviously shaken by her divided devotion. He finds solace in bottles of whisky and gets himself expelled to teaching in Australia.
The title of the movie “Educating Rita” leads us to think that the plot is based on educational processes, and it clearly concerns the education of the female lead. As the story is developed, Susan is given guidance on literary theories and conventional critical thinking. She learns to question and approach literature objectively and critically. The acquired ability to interpret and analyze her reality provides her a broader view of her options in life and gives her what she has been looking for: to know how to make choices in life.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Bramann, Jorn, Educating Rita and Other Philosophical Movies.
(http://www/frostburg.edu/dept/phil/forum/PhilFilm4.htm)
- Russell, Willy, (1998). Educating Rita. Singapore: Longman Group Ltd.

Bibliography: - Bramann, Jorn, Educating Rita and Other Philosophical Movies. (http://www/frostburg.edu/dept/phil/forum/PhilFilm4.htm) - Russell, Willy, (1998). Educating Rita. Singapore: Longman Group Ltd.