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‘
Educating Rita’ by Willy Russell
Themes
Class, Culture
This is a play that makes us think about class and culture- how different they are for people and also their impact on people’s lives and opportunities.
Rita comes from an uneducated working class background.. Frank belongs to the educated middle classes with a totally different culture. Actually, when Rita says that her background has no culture she is wrong – but it is a different culture. Rita’s culture is based on pulp fiction, popular songs and television whereas Frank’s culture is based on quality literature and academic knowledge. They really come from very different worlds and cultures yet the strange thing is that each envies the other and sees the other as being more ‘free’ Rita sees her class as a trap, holding her back from knowing what the world has to offer and believes that through education she will
‘dicover herself’ and gain happiness.
Speaking of her culture she says ‘ I just see everyone pissed or on the valium, tryin’ to get from one day to the next’ She believes that the working class is encouraged to pursue money and possessions to divert them from what their lives lack. ‘ The
Unions tell them to go out an’ get more money’ Basically, Rita wants something that will give her life meaning. Through education she believes she will find it.This is really asking a lot of education – to give your life meaning.
Denny fears her involvement in education –probably because deep down he senses
– correctly – that it will separate them in many senses. It is made clear that it is difficult for Rita to be educated and still be working class as we see increasingly her new understanding moves her away from what family and friends think is all- important in life. In Denny’s case this is a baby and a nice home.
Therefore in Act 1 in culture, language and accent it is as if Rita and Frank belong to different worlds. This is a play about a character’s journey from one class and culture to another – but very much it is about all that Rita learns by the end about life and happiness.
Education, Literature and Snobbery
This is also a play about the snobbishness that often surrounds education and literature. The play is set in the 80’s so it is very possible that education now is very different – it being far more widely available to all from every class. Perhaps everyone may not see it like this. What do you think?

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The insight Rita gives us into her school years is very telling. Education was seen by her peers as being unimportant and peer pressure meant that to be interested excluded you from your friends. The same really happens to Rita as an adult struggling for education. She is forced by Denny to choose between his world and the world of education and a different culture.
Frank is no snob but has come to see that his poetry was snobbish or elitist, appealing only to people with a depth of literary knowledge. Frank feels that that kind of writing is inferior and he values what he sees in Rita when he first met her – honesty, sincerity, a naturalness,passion. He sees these qualities in Rita and that is why he is so drawn to her. ( However, this was also why he was so reluctant to teach her as he feared that these qualities would disappear.)
Russell, himself, said that a play should be able to be understood as it stood without having to be educated or looking up reference books. Yet let us not forget the reference to ‘Howard’s End’ – a reference not probably accessible to an uneducated person and a reader of only popular fiction such as Rita’s ‘Rubyfruit Jungle’.
‘Howard’s End’ is about the inability of people from different backgrounds to
‘connect’.
However, eventually, Rita does ‘ connect’ and comes to realise that education is not everything and that education by itself does not guarantee happiness and she comes to a realisation that her ‘old’ culture is different – not valueless.
The play rejects some snobbish attitudes that surround literature and education but we see that education – if used wisely – is of value. This we see in Rita at the end of the play.
Unlike the central character in ‘Howard’s End’ Rita is not destroyed by her pursuit of education but she comes to see that it is not an end in itself. It is just something that should give pleasure and power over one’s life. It gives you knowledge and freedom
– and choice in life. It did not make her a new person or give her a better culture but gave her choice because she now knows what choices exist.
At the end Rita says ‘ I’ll make a decision, I’ll choose’ - choose what she wants to do with her life. The obvious difference in her is that now she knows what options there are in life – what possibilities exist. Really, what Frank gave Rita was not a new life but skills to take into life – skills that would give her choices!

QUOTES
‘Like cos they don’t want y’ to change’
Going Through the
Play As a Remimder
QUOTES
‘It’s that stupid bleedin’handle on the
Rita - Character and Development
She is full of energy and curiosity. Is about her a freshness and frankness that astounds Frank. door. You wanna get it fixed’
‘Everything I know – and you must listen to this – is that I know absolutely nothing’
She is open and enquiring about everything including Frank’s personal life but she is naïve and uneducated – but far from stupid.
‘It’s very erotic’
‘God, what it’s like to be free’
‘I wish I could talk like that. It’s brilliant’
In awe of the students – in awe in general of the educated classes.
The window through which she looks down at the lawn below represents the barrier that she sees between herself and the educated.
She sees Frank and the ‘real’ students as being not only educated but wise!
She sees them as having the ideal life.
Rita easily impressed. When she says this, Frank has not said anything brilliant. Unable to criticise Frank – in knowledge - God-like figure to her.
How realistic is this ? She believes that education will bring her freedom.
How right is she do you think? Think of Frank – how free is he? How happy is he?
A real gap between Frank and Rita in class, language and culture. (How?)
Rita- character and development
Rita desperate to change – put some meaning into her life. Feels unfulfilled
Rita has just accepted the life she was swept into and did nothing for a long time because – as at school – it was easier not to think. It is not ever easy in life to strike out, to be different.
One’s culture, one’s community can be a comfort but (window!) it can also be
Events + Frank
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Frank not keen on Open University student .
Doing it just for the drinking money.
Frank seems weary of life and drinking to forget a broken marriage and the loss of his poetic inspiration. We see what he knows that education has not ensured him happiness and he knows that some education can be shallow. He feels his knowledge of literature has been of little value. He takes for granted even despises the things in him that Rita wants!
Rita’s entry – Oil can!
Comments on Frank’s study and the painting and the scene below where the students are sitting on the lawn. Constantly asking Frank about his private life – because she is so alive and fascinated by everything that is new here.
Rita’s references eg ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and
‘Rubyfruit Jungle’
Drawn from pulp fiction or television.
Frank’s references are literary. Neither knows anything about each other’s worlds.
‘Howard’s End’ Rita notices on Frank’s shelves. Symbolism of this will become clear as play progresses.
Events + Frank

Quotes
Time has elapsed comes in drunk. She argues with him saying that he is being unfair to his students. Her essay on Blake – Frank is disappointed with
– why?
Rita says she needs less help from him now.

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