Dramatic Devices Used by Willy Russell to Present the Changes to the Character of Rita

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In the 1980s, women were thought to be the conventional uneducated house keepers of the household and throughout the play, Educating Rita; Rita is constantly battling this set image of a typical Woman in the 80s. Willy Russell has used many dramatic devices efficiently to show the different phases and changes in Rita. In so doing, there have been many impacts on the audience.

In Act 1, Willy Russell introduces the main characters, Rita and Frank; and provides crucial background information about the characters and their relationship with each other. Russell introduces some of the main themes of the play such as; journey of discovery and class clash. He also informs the audience when and where the play is set- time and site.

In Act 2 scene 1 of Educating Rita, Rita walks into Frank’s study with second-hand clothes. The audience knows that she has a particular idea about clothes when in Act 1 scene 1, she says 'I won’t be buying any new clothes til I am an educated woman'. This shows that she is in a new phase in her life, but the change is not complete. The dramatic device and sc...

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