Changes in Rita and Frank in Acts One and Two

Changes in Rita and Frank in Acts One and Two

Nicola White The ways in which Russell portrays the changes and

developments in the characters of Rita and Frank in Act 1 scene 1 and

Act 2 scene 1 of Educating Rita

The play ‘Educating Rita’ written by Willy Russell explores the life

of Rita, a twenty-six year old woman from a working class background,

who is trying to find a new identity by becoming more independent,

educated and cultured. Rita goes to the Open University and meets her

tutor Frank. She is determined to learn from him and will not let

anything step in her way. On closer analysis of Act 1 scene 1 and Act

2 scene 2 of this play and the changes in the relationship between

Frank and Rita in these two scenes. When Rita enters Frank’s office at

the beginning of Act 1 she is very talkative and excited. Frank is

having problems with his life but he makes an obvious connection with

Rita. In Act 2 scene 1 Rita returns from her holiday she is more

mature and also widely educated and does not have to completely rely

on Frank anymore. He does not approve of this and tries to become very

controlling over Rita.

In ‘Educating Rita’ there are two acts. In the first act there are

eight scenes and there are seven scenes in the second, fifteen

altogether. This whole book is over a one year period and Frank and

Rita are the only two spoken characters in the play. The scene is set

at the Open University inside Frank’s office in England. This is

effective because it shows you how the characters change but the

setting will always stay the same. It shows the change more

effectively. Frank’s office is very dark, there are a lot of books

against the wall, a large bay window and a large painting Rita

describes a...

... middle of paper ...

...en in a dark office for so long. “It hasn’t

been opened for generations,” Frank explains to Rita. At the end of

Act 2 scene 1 Rita uses higher vocabulary words and recites a poem by

William Blake. She explains the Frank how they covered Blake at summer

school and Frank is a bit shocked but also disappointed that he cannot

teach her Blake. Frank thinks more of Rita than just her tutor and

friend, he has stronger feelings for Rita but she does not notice at

all.

Rita and Frank have become closer; the audience knows Frank has

feelings for Rita although she does not. Rita’s change in Character

makes her more exciting and willing, but Frank seemed to like her

better in Act 1 scene 1. Rita sees Frank as someone she an share

things with in Act 1 but in Act 2 scene 1 she does not tell him she

has a new flat mate or some other new things happening in her life.