In these two scenes we are presentedwith two main conflicts: Rita`s low esteem and fear to face people of higher social classes. Also, Rita`s main decision to leave her husband and move to her mother`s house. Another important issue is Frank`s attitude towards Rita.
When Frank invites Rita to a party at his place, Rita gets really puzzled; on the one hand her inner desire to start getting on with people from higher classes and on the other hand her fear of being looked down on. Also, she feels that Frank thinks she is a funny object with which people can have some fun. Of course, evrything is in Rita`s mind and these thoughts are triggered off by her lack of self-esteem. Here I think thta Rita`s attitude is the expected one. I mean one can try to make progress in life and that is perfect. However, one cannot change their essence, the real self. Rita is trying to be different, she really wants to get some knowdge but in this desperate search she forgets about her essence ( I think this will never change, no matter what one learns).Another important decision is leaving her husband. In she doing so , she realizes that to achieve her objectives her husband is a kind of burden that pulls her down and does not allow her to be what she desperately needs to.
one important point here is Frank`s support. He is really supportive with Rita`s choice and at the same time he plays the role of a shrink who not only listens to her but also he sympathises with her. Here he acts more like a good friend than as a teacher. Rita trust in him that it is clearly seen when she enters his study carrying her suitcase ( sth which makes Frank aware of Rita`s current affair).an It is here when he comments on her essay On Macbeth , and despite her lack of academic language, Frank strongly support it. here he clearly shows his human side , he really cares about Rita, not only as a student but also as a unique human being capable of writing the most wonderful essays in spite of the language.
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What do you exactly mean by "Rita's essence, her real self", Lucía? How is Rita forgetting about it "in her search for knowledge"? And was it knowledge Rita was actually after? I thought after discussing the first scenes we had agreed she was actually "looking for herself".
In a previous post, you said "here we can see Frank the man, rather than the teacher". Now you say he's behaving "more like a shrink" (sic) and "a good friend than as a teacher". Are you equating teacher with instructor or trainer then?
Finally, is Rita's essay is not written in "appropriately academic language", is it still wonderful in academic contexts? Should it be?
Puzzled as Rita, I guess!
Gladys
What I mean by Rita real self is the Rita we are all introduced from the beginning. The spontaneous one, full of joy, her essence. I think what she is looking for is herself but from a point of view which can please her more. I mean she already know who she is the thing is that she wants to develop her inner self into a more sophisticated kind of person. She wants to feel more at ease with herself but to me I think she already knows who she is.
As regards Frank, I think I have already developed these three concepts in a previous entry. I think there is a moment in the play in which Frank in which he gets too much involved with Rita. I mean he becomes a kind of friend who listens to Rita`s problem and I wonder if that is possible in the relationship between students and teachers. I don`t think we can get so much involved with our students. It is true that one of the roles of the teachers is being kind of a counsellor but I wonder which is the limit if it happens to be one.
As regards Rita`s essay, I think it is wonderful. I mean her ideas are wonderful but maybe the way they are plunged will not be accepted academically speaking.
I see your point, Lucía... However, I wonder how "true" that Rita was, since she was so limited in her choices... And she didn't seem that joyful to me (neither does she seem to have found happiness now, does she?)
Let's see how Rita keeps growing during Act 2, shall we?
Cheers,
Gladys
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