Educating Rita Free Essays

As individuals we must be prepared to face challenges which will prompt ourselves to be more adaptable to change. The process of moving away from the past and entering a new world is a complex one that involves sacrifice, change and a sense of unknown. The movement into a new world may be physical, emotional or psycholigcal as evident in Willy Russel’s ‘ Educating Rita’. We will write a custom essay sample on Educating Rita or any similar topic only for you Order Now Similarly a newspaper article ‘ A Getting Of Wisdom’ published on March 3rd 2007, an Indigenous boy expericens mental and emotional obstacles throughout his life which he eventually overcomes by accepting challenges. With the help of a tutor she was able to achieve her goals; Frank on the other hand, discovers himself encountering challenges as he himself beings to find his true self. This is further emphasised in a similar scenario in the newspaper article, â€Å"A getting of Wisdom†. Willy Russel’s play, Educating Rita explores themes that reflect change, education, and realisation which are achieved and evident through the use of an array of techniques throughout the play. The play â€Å"Educating Rita† by Willy Russell demonstrates that moving into the world creates both problems and possibilities. This is found with Rita and her transition from one word into another, with the help of Frank. Rita being a hairdresser feels that life has passed her by. She wants an education, so she goes to Frank, a dissolute university professor. Ironically Frank is not a promising answer, he is self destructive, clinical and he does not inspire confidence. Although Rita is smart enough to recognise the Frank represents a different culture and offers her access from a state of un-education and ignorance to one of an intellectual and social betterment or better known as â€Å"into the world† that she has always wanted. Already, near the beginning of the play, Rita has shown her step towards personal growth as she explains to Frank how she changes her name from Susan White to Rita Mae Brown as she believes that in order to change the direction of her life, that she must start anew; for instance her name. This evidently shows her personal growth beginning as she enters the new world. Hence proving that was is determined to face any obstacles that come before her. How to cite Educating Rita, Papers Educating Rita Free Essays New experiences often occur in the transition of coming ‘into the world’. People in society learn to experience growth and cope with change in the world and themselves. Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita, demonstrates different pathways between the two protagonists, Frank and Rita and there coming ‘into the world’ journey. We will write a custom essay sample on Educating Rita or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the play Willy Russell uses visual techniques such as: positioning, colouring, facial expression, and symbols. The use of these techniques has allowed the composer to portray a better understanding of the play Educating Rita and how it represents the message of coming ‘into the world’. write an essay quickly One of the main themes in Educating Rita is change. Rita want’s to move into a different world from where she grew up in. At the beginning of the play the audience comes to understand Rita changes her name from Susanne to Rita. This is significant as it shows an indication that she wants to transform herself, leaving her past behind her. Frank however becomes uncomfortable with the idea of being the mechanism of Rita’s change. The theme change is represented in the positioning of the two protagonists as it signifies both Frank and Rita as ‘coming into the world. The positioning of the characters shows Frank standing over Rita, distinctively reflecting the authority of Frank as he is the professor and the enthusiasm of Rita, as she is getting an education she is finding herself â€Å"See I don’t wanna a baby yet. See, I wanna discover myself first†. (Act one Pg. 12) This shows Rita coming ‘into the world’ as her transition of becoming educated helps her discover herself. Frank however has many questions, â€Å"what can I teach you? † (Act one Pg. 3) This displays Frank without authority as he is asking Rita what she wants to learn, meaning that even though Frank is educated it does not mean he has all the answers. The colouring of the visual text also expose the theme of change reveals a sense of coming ‘into the world’ as it shows Rita wearing blue, a bright coloured shirt, which shows the passion for her education. This relates to her experiences ‘coming into the world’ as Rita has experienced life without an education and is now becoming educated through help and knowledge of her professor Frank, she has come to terms with changing the outside you also need to change the inside. But if you want to change y’ have to do it from the inside, don’t y’? Know, like I’m doin’†. (Act one Pg. 11 This shows Rita wanting to change. Frank however is wearing a formal suit, dark and professional colours which demonstrate to the audience that the image being portrayed is different to what his personality is. This is also showing that although Frank is dressed professionally he is still a drunk. Frank is teaching because he has to not because he wants to. This shows how his passion is not there. Frank does not experience a positive change throughout the play. He becomes less sober and more ‘pig headed’ â€Å" Rita: Do y’ need the money? Frank: I do as a matter of fact†. (Act one Pg. 4). Franks therefor is depicting that he is teaching Rita for the money, although Rita knows this she does not pay mind to it as she is getting an education she is happy. This shows both Frank and Rita coming ‘into the world’. Another theme that is relevant and used throughout the play to demonstrate ‘into the world’ is Social change. Rita feels as though she is socially disadvantaged as she is not educated with her working class neighbourhood. Her whole ego for an education was when her husband Denny, wanted to have a baby and she was looking for â€Å"a better way of livin’ me life. The use of facial expression is used in the visual text to portray feeling and a sense of understanding. Rita looking up at Frank shows her wanting him to understand how much she wants an education. This shows Rita maturing as a working class citizen. † Rita: But I had a choice. I chose me. Because of what youâ €™d given me I had a choice†. ( Act two Pg. 72) This quote shows Rita’s transition of coming ‘into the world. Franks facial expression is less enthusiastic. It shows him holding a book, portraying that Frank wants Rita to learn herself, backing up the play when he says he does not want to be the mould to Rita’s change. Although Frank understands Rita wants an education he does not understand why she wants one now. â€Å"Frank: But I don’t know what I want to tell you, Rita, I don’t know what I want to teach you. What you already have is valuable. † (Scene 1 Pg. 48). This shows Frank’s confusion towards Rita. Choices and consequences is another theme used in the play Educating Rita to show the transition of Frank and Rita coming ‘into the world’. Rita’s motivation is to achieve a direction in which she wants her life to follow. Rita’s main choice of an education is so she can make more informed choices. Frank is also having to make choices too. Rita decides for Frank that he is teaching her and that he is to return â€Å"next week†. Frank feels as though he has forced Rita into losing her touch with parts of herself which were unique and precious. Frank’s life is unsatisfying for him but unlike Rita he choses to do nothing about it. It is this choice he makes into him being sent to Australia at the end of the play. The use of symbols used in the visual text is used to demonstrate an understanding of the world around the two protagonists, Frank and Rita. The window is set behind the two characters but is significant as it is referred to a lot in the play. Rita always looking out of the window to the educated class of people sitting on the grass gives a certainty of her need to escape and to become educated. Frank however won’t give up drinking. He always has an alcoholic drink with him this shows he has a problem. Although Rita uses the window to escape, Frank uses it as a deception. He does not want to change he is satisfied with how he is. Frank does not accept change from choices that have been made. â€Å"Frank: No you’ve found a different song, that’s all- and on your lips it’s shrill and hollow and tuneless†. (Act two. Pg. 9) This quote showing the audience that Frank still has not changed from his morbid character at the beginning of the play till’ now. The visual text reveals Rita as an enthusiastic student who wants an education to change her life and her past choices. The text also reveals Frank of his consequences. Frank not being able to stay sober does not allow him to experience change throughout the transition of coming ‘into the world’, to his fullest potential. ‘Into the world’ discusses change and experiences throughout one’s life.. The play Educating Rita mostly supports this. How to cite Educating Rita, Essay examples Educating Rita Free Essays It was a financially successful film that was popular with audiences. Summing It up for potential audiences, reviewers described It as both a ‘crime film’ and as a ‘romance’. It might be said to fit Into both these genres. We will write a custom essay sample on Educating Rita or any similar topic only for you Order Now For a short summary of Peter Weir’s films look at The Internet Movie [pick]Database [pick]. This site also contains a complete set of credits for all Peter Weir’s films, including Witness. A film of the same genre refers too film of the same kind or category. By describing audiences of what to expect when they go to see the film. Some of the best films are often difficult to fit into any particular genre, but nevertheless, this term genre is useful as a starting point for anyone analyzing or evaluating a particular film. For examples of different genres click onto the Internet movie data base mentioned above. Questions: Having viewed the film at least once, you should consider the following: 1 . Identify some examples of crime films. 2. If Witness is a crime film, what sort of characters, actions or events does it have in common with any of these other films? 3. Where are crime films usually set, or in what sort of environment does the crime occur? 4. Is there anything different about Witness as an example off crime film? 5. What do audiences expect to see in a â€Å"romance†? 6. Love stories or romances always have obstacles that stand in the way of the lovers getting together. What obstacles are there in Witness? 7. How does the romance end and are the obstacles overcome? 8. How is the crime story in the film resolved or worked out? In answering the above, you may now have some understanding of the rules or conventions that belong to particular film genres. Yet, to keep audiences interested, films of the same genre must each have something different or unique about them if they are not to seem all the same. Writing Task Write a critical response to the statement: â€Å"As a film, Witness, is no different from other crime films of the same type†. Describe your reaction to this statement. [pick] As you are studying Witness in Module B: Close study of text, some detailed knowledge of the plot and story will be necessary. You will need it to discuss the characters and issues successfully. Here are twelve questions related to the film’s story that you may find useful as background information for critical discussion of the film. 1. In the film’s opening, what is the purpose of the gathering of the Amiss? 2. Explain how the boy Samuel becomes a ‘witness’ too murder. 3. What upsets Rachel most about John Book’s way of questioning suspects? 4. Under what circumstances does Samuel identify the killer? 5. How and why does John Book become wounded? 6. Why is it necessary for Book to hide out with the Leap family and the other Amiss? 7. Why is Book so difficult for his corrupt colleagues to trace? 8. Why is Book so angry about Samuel finding his gun? 9. What complication does John Book’s falling in love with Rachel cause for himself? 10. What will Rachel have to sacrifice for a relationship with Book? 11. How do Book’s 12. How does Samuel help to capture Book’s enemies? [pick] To write about this text, you need to be able to identify the characters and show some understanding of their behavior. Know the names of the characters in the film rather than the names of the actors who play them. Use the cast list at end of the film to identify as many of the minor characters as you can. Major characters John Book, detective, Philadelphia Police, played by Harrison Ford. 1. Describe your first impressions of John Book. 2. View the scene where John Book leaves Rachel and Samuel in the care of Book’s sister Elaine. What does the audience learn about Book from the conversation with his sister in this scene? 3. In the scene where he eats hot dogs with Rachel and Samuel, Book shows himself to be awkward and uncomfortable with the Amiss? Why? Where else in the film does he show this? 4. Which scenes later in the film show that a change in John’s attitude has occurred? 5. Why does he leave Rachel at the end? Rachel Leap, Amiss woman and mother of Samuel, 6. Describe Earache’s situation at the start of the film. 7. Why is Rachel originally so resentful of Book? 8. What conflict does Rachel have the rest of the Amiss community? Alternative to Book does she have at the end of the film? Samuel Leap, Amiss boy, witness to murder, played by Lukas Has 9. What 10. How is Samuel shown to be naive and innocent at the start of the film? 11. How does his relationship with Book change throughout the course of the film? 12. With what other male character does Samuel seem to have a strong relationship? How is he different to Book? 13. Where in the film does Samuel show initiative and intelligence? Other characters: Daniel Hostler, Eli Leap, Elaine, Schaeffer and Emcee 14. Identify the roles each of them plays in the film. 15. In what ways are Eli and Daniel different to Book as men? 16. Compare the different lifestyles of Elaine and Rachel. 17. In what ways are the two corrupt police, Schaeffer and Emcee shown to be different to each other? The film gives the audience a chance to compare two different levels of American society, the culture and world of the modem city and the culture and world of the Amiss. In writing about Witness, Marie Sales states that the film shows that the two cultures meet, but never merge. ‘ It is this contrast of the two worlds, conveyed to the audience mainly in visual terms, that is the one of the most important and memorable aspects for the spectator. Now view again the opening five minutes of the film. How to cite Educating Rita, Papers