What has Rita learned by the End of Act One?

At the end of Act one what has Rita learned about herself, her

education and her relationships with others?

In the play "Educating Rita", there are two Acts which consist of

several scenes. These two Acts demonstrate the contrast between the

low cultured Rita and the high cultured Rita. At the end of the first

Act the audience can sympathise with Rita's position, she belongs to

neither social class at this point in time. She is stuck in a void,

which if she is to break through she must discard all that is holding

her back. In this essay I wish to examine Rita's feeling towards

herself and others at the end of the first Act, and how she values her

new levels of education.

As the play progresses the audience feels that Rita is becoming more

confident as well as furthering her education, she is willing to

sacrifice those close to her including Denny and their marriage to

achieve her ultimate goal." I got home from work, he'd packed me

case." Education has possessed Rita to the extent that she is

unwilling even to discuss the mater or comprise in anyway, "in the

circumstances I need to go on" she is unwilling to discuss her

current state with Frank, she is determined and does not take offence

at a direct approach. This demonstrates how steadfast she is in her

decision. The audience gets the impression that while Rita is in this

limbo she views society differently, and understands the mechanics of

the world. "If you go out to dinner don't you dress up? Don't you tale

wine?" Frank is unable to understand this point fully, the audience

feels that Rita has always been able to understand this due to her

uniqueness but has been unable to convey her point until she acquired

her new found education.

Throughout the play Rita's relationship with Frank has developed to

the point that they are able to communicate with each other through

certain actions,

Rita has learnt a great deal about Frank and how he reacts to

different situations. Frank is one of the items that has remained as a

constant throughout her purification period. This shows how highly

Rita views Frank although he could be described as a druken failure;

Rita believes that at least he has got that choice whether or not to

be classed as a drunk. The changes that Rita has endured towards

herself and others re extremely obvious to the audience," No, ta, I've

packed it in." As Rita's education progresses she rids herself of all

unnecessary baggage that is preventing her from realizing her goal,

including smoking which she felt so strongly about at the beginning of