Comparing the Opening Scene of Educating Rita to the Opening Scene of Pygmalion

he does, and in letting her son go she has not only made him happy but is also asserting her power

Eliza changed herself for the better. In act 5, she told the two men to start calling her “Miss Doolittle” and that was the beginning of learning her self worth. She was done being treated like a “live doll” and began to see herself like a Duchess, like Higgins

says to her that she has no right to speak of his wife in such a

Educating Rita by Willy Russell explores the value of education, but also the wider education that takes place and how to use that education to your greatest benefit; not only during the school education but also the looking at the surrounding world. Rita, an uneducated lady, is unhappy with the limitations of her social class and feels that to escape the limitations she needs to get a properly recognised education. She therefore decides to do an Open University course in English literature. This she believes will greatly increase the horizons of her life and remove some of the limitations that she feels are imposed upon her. She wants to learn everything but soon discovers that even education has its limits. Frank, her tutor and lecturer,

employee and perceives her as beneath him. He doesn 't think too highly of her as a female. Laureate Education (2014)

indeed a person who has a lot to say and Frank listens and responds to

Warner Brothers’ My Fair Lady (1964) a film adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion has been seen as a success in terms of box-office profits and popularity of the work. In it, the protagonist Eliza Doolittle’s is portrayed as a Cinderella-like figure: In a short span of time, she rises from a humble family to become a well-mannered lady. It offers “a fairy-tale story” Paul Bauschatz says that is “bound to please most viewers, while retaining its potential for compelling visual display” (17). At the same time, musical components, witty dialogue, and splendid visual effects all have contributed to the popular appeal of the film to the general public. However, it seems to lose the edge of criticism of the conflict of social class and gender issues, as clearly manifested in Pygmalion. Eliza is presented more as a doll-like Cinderella figure than a woman in search of freedom. In the following, the essay is to discuss the transformation of Eliza from the dynamic and growing awareness selfhood to the romantic and pragmatic woman. Eliza’s quest for self-assertiveness and confidence remains, but she seems to lack the inner drive and momentum she used to have. A comparative study of Pygmalion and My Fair Lady (1964) will help learn the

This is shown by the way he talks to her and how he acts around her.

Higgins tries to take all of the credit for Eliza’s transformation into a lady. In his mind, Eliza did nothing and without him, she would not have been able to accomplish this task. Mr. Higgins continues to express his dominance by telling Eliza what to do even though she does not work for him. Eliza does not like the way that Mr. Higgins treats her and leaves his house, angrily. After searching for Eliza, Mr. Higgins finally finds her and tells her that he paid for her services and she needs to finish her job. In this way, he treats her as if she is

is not quite good enough. Rita wants to be of a higher status than her

Educating Rita tells a story of a 26-year-old married hairdresser, Rita, who decided to get education by taking a course in English literature from the Open University. Through the development of the relationship between Rita and her alcoholic and cynical tutor, Frank, this story brings up many concepts in adult development and education. After watching the movie, I have a further understanding of the concepts of changes, motivation to learn, freedom, and stability.

have taken place in Rita’s life since we last saw her, in the play we

     After long, excruciating lessons, Eliza starts to get it and begins to talk in perfect English. Now, its time to try her newly learned skills. In the play, Higgins takes her to his mother’s house, while in the musical he takes her to the Ascot Races. Here they learn that she may speak perfectly, but she still can revert to her “flower girl” ways. This is where Freddy Eynsford-Hills falls in love with Eliza. Eliza’s father is forced into Middle Class after he inherits a large sum of money.

The Effect of Summer School on Rita in Educating Rita by Willy Russell 'Of course; you don't do Blake without doing innocence and experience, do y?' When Frank explains to Rita that after summer school they will study William Blake, Rita says that she has already studied Blake and implies in such a way that she almost disgraces Frank. Before summer school Rita has only been taught Frank and has only learnt his ideas, when she gains her own confidence she then challenges Frank on his views to do with poetry by telling him about William Blake. This confidence reflects the effect which summer school ultimately had upon Rita. Willy Russell was born in Whiston, near Liverpool, England, in 1947.

Also, he didn’t know how he can express his emotion for her frankly. He always hid his expression about Eliza because of his useless pride.