Download Willy Russell`s play Educating Rita explores the growth and change

Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita explores the growth and change in
perspective individuals experience as a result of transitioning into
different a society. The protagonist undergoes changes in her attitudes
towards society. Through transitioning, she gains courage to challenge
social norms and standards to become individuals, make decisions,
and realise their self-worth. Additionally, moving from one world to
another affects the individuals’ relationships with others, both positively
and negatively.
In Educating Rita having the courage to challenge social norms
and beliefs to become an individual is the first phase of Rita’s change
as she enters the new world. Initially, Rita struggles to conform to the
norms and acceptable behaviours of her peers as expressed by the
dialogue, ‘Everyone expects me to have a baby. I don’t…I wanna
discover meself first.’ Her desire and resolve for better opportunities in
life causes her to change, as supported by the rhetorical question, ‘Is
this the absolute maximum I can expect from this livin’ lark?’. However,
the difficulty of entering the new world and leaving the old world
behind is metaphorically symbolised by the stage direction of
struggling with the door handle of Frank’s study. This difficulty is
reflected in her deteriorating relationship with Denny, conveyed by the
metaphor, ‘He’s blind, he doesn’t want to see.’ Denny’s act of burning
Rita’s Chekhov books represents Rita’s ‘old’ world’s reluctance to
accept change. In contrast, Frank the represents the ‘new’ world.
Rita’s admiration is conveyed by the dialogue, ‘I wish I could talk like
that.’ His study window acts as a metaphoric physical and emotional
barrier that separates Rita from the ‘proper’ students.
The second stage demonstrates Rita’s change in attitude towards
society, her conformity with her ‘new world’ and rejection of her past.
Rita’s desire to be ‘just like them’ culminates in a pressure to conform.
The window is no longer a barrier, symbolised by Rita’s act of sitting with
the students on the grass. Due to the new world, Rita’s life and
behaviour is gradually shaped by others, not herself. She seeks to
emulate those she admires, such as Trish and follows a predetermined
set of social rules. As conveyed by the dialogue, ‘to talk properly, as
Trish says…’ and the stage direction, ‘She is dressed in new, second
hand clothes.’ The second hand clothes symbolises her shift in
personality; while they are new to her, her ideas are borrowed from
others. Through the metaphor of ‘finding a different song that sounds
shrill and hollow,’ emphasises Rita’s sacrificed identity. As a result of
transitioning, she rejects her ‘old world’ as conveyed by her dismissal of
Frank, The dialogue, ‘They’re not trapped…they’re too young for that,’
suggests Frank is trapped and dispassionate about life, a constant
reminder of Rita’s former self.
In the third stage of change, Rita realises that education offers
freedom of choice. This change in attitude is catalysed by Trish’s
attempted suicide as Rita realises education’s inability to provide
happiness. As expressed, ‘[Trish] spends…the other half [of her life] tryin’
to kill herself.’ Rita learns education enables endless opportunities as
opposed to forcing conformity. The repetition of “I might go” in ‘I might
go to France… I might even have a baby”, conveys her
acknowledgement of choice. She is no longer ‘trapped’ but has
freedom. Furthermore, she realises Frank’s significant role in her change
as a teacher, seen through the emotive statement ‘Because of what
you’ve given me I had a choice.’ Thus, through transitioning, Rita
growth is reflected by her realisation of the importance of individualism
and freedom of choice.
Thus, the play Educating Rita explores the protagonist’s growth and
change as she transforms from one world to another.