Educatng Rita

'Educating Rita': Notes on Act 1 Scene 5:

Rita is understandably upset after her husband, Denny, burnt her latest essay and some books that Frank lent her. Despite her anger and frustration, she refuses to quit the course, saying it provides her with 'life itself'. Frank wants to go to the pub, but Rita insists on staying and discussing Chekhov. We discover that Rita has never been to the theatre and Frank hates it, but despite this, she manages to persuade him to see an amateur production of The Importance of being Ernest that evening.

We find out more about the two characters- Rita is married to a controlling, jealous man, and Frank reveals his girlfriend, Julia, would be very jealous if she knew Frank was taking Rita (who he calls 'ravishing') out to the theatre.

This scene contains further evidence that Rita is a strong, determined person who is single-minded about obtaining what she wants. Increasingly, she sees a difference between the expectations and desires of husband/family, and the lifestyle that she could obtain through education.

Key Quote:

RITA: He [Denny] thinks we've got choice because we can go into a pub that sells eight different kinds of lager. (p53)

Find two more relevant quotes from scene 5, either that back up Frank's character so far, or Rita's:

1)

2)

Notes on Act 1 Scene 6

Rita has been to see a performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth (without being forced to) and comes into Frank's study overcome with enthusiasm. Frank receives her enthusiasm with warmth, (FRANK: I am honoured that you chose me.) - despite it not being their designated time with each other. Frank also does not mock Rita or patronise her when she misunderstands the difference between a 'tragedy' (in the Shakespeare sense) and an event which is 'tragic'. At this point in the play, Frank still wants to teach Rita and she is still eager to learn from him.

Rita uses phrases like 'wasn't his wife a cow?' to describe the performance she has seen. The earthy, simple language she uses shows us she still has difficulty expressing the language needed to write critically about literature.

The exchange of an apple and a soft drink (both p61) are symbolic; Rita's eyes are being opened to knowledge (like Eve - of Adam and Eve - in the book of Genesis in the Bible when she eats the forbidden apple). Likewise, Frank declines Rita's soft drink:

...he takes