Analysis of Educating Rita

Analysis of Educating Rita

Scenes 7 and 8 are the two last scenes in Act1. Seeing as it is only a

two act play, this is a good point to reflect on how Rita and Frank's

relationship has changed and developed since the beginning, both as

teacher and student and on a more personal level. In scene 7 Rita and

Frank talk about why Rita did not show up for Frank's dinner party and

Rita explains how she was seriously thinking of going back to her old

way of life. In Scene 8 we find that Rita has chosen her new life over

Denny and has packed her bags and left him. Rita is now more desperate

than ever to learn and change herself but Frank is not sure he wants

to teach her because he likes her the way she is.

At the start of scene 7 Rita walks into the office, sits straight down

and gets out her pencil case. We can tell there is a tense atmosphere

because neither of them greet each other. There is tension because

Rita failed to turn up to the dinner party which Frank invited her to.

Before even saying 'hi' Frank starts to talk about it. "Now I don't

mind; two empty seats at the dinner table means more of the vino for

me. But Julia - Julia is the stage manager type. If we're having eight

people to dinner she expects to see eight. She likes order." This

passage says a lot about the way Frank is feeling. He is obviously

very upset which explains why he didn't even say hello before starting

to talk. But I don't think he wants Rita to think he cares, I think

this because he acts like he is angry for Julia rather than himself.

He thinks it was rude of her to not fully explain why she didn't come.

When Rita explains that she and Denny had a big fight...

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... After a few scenes the

relationship had developed into a more friendly one, there was still

flirting but they were mainly friends. They became very good friends

and Rita tells Frank a lot about her life and she runs to him to

discuss everything. Now towards the end of the first act Frank has

realised that as much as he likes Rita, it is inevitable that she is

going to change. He is obviously disappointed and tries to make Rita

see that education isn't everything. Rita however is very determined

to change her whole life; she makes many sacrifices to do so. Due to

the change Rita is trying to make, she and Frank come into many

different conflicts. Scenes 7 and 8 show us that Rita and Frank's

relationship can only deteriorate from this point because the more

determined Rita is to change the more bitter Frank will become.