I'm trying to go for time. My exam is in exactly 1 week and 1 day, so I'm trying to learn how to write my essay in under an hour. I have to write two in 1 hour 45 mins for the exam. It' s nowhere near my best work. I used pages 4-5, 50 and 69. If anybody coould take a look, it would be greatly appreciated.
Russell’s use of contrasting language, ‘matter of fact’ and ‘dead surprised’ highlights the diverse background of the duo, setting the scene for an un-conventional teacher-student relationship. The proceeding functional conversation between the characters suggests that socio-economic differences are a trivial matter, that the rich and poor are more alike than they think.
Rita’s ‘cigarettes’ are symbolic of risk-taking, thus highlighting Rita’s willingness to change. Frank’s admiration of cigarettes, yet his subsequent refusal, suggests that Frank is limited by the boundaries he has superimposed on himself. The opposite qualities they display suggests them to be beneficial to one another. Russell’s social commentary implies that the rich and poor are on benefit to each other and not binary opposites like some may misinterpret. Frank and Rita’s initial apprehension to the course, ‘Henry James’ and ‘Degrees for Dishwashers’ highlights that though the individuals may be currently ignorant to the benefits of the opposite class, all is not lost. Russell’s eventual portrayal of a prospering Rita-Frank relationship is symbolic of upper-lower class relations, thus furthering the message he is attempting to convey.
Rita’s education has an oppressive effect on her personality. Her one unique attribute is consumed by her apparently self-evaluated vital education. The juxtaposition between Rita’s pompous tone, ‘familiar with the American poets’ and casual tone, ‘dead proud’ suggests that Rita is ‘putting it on’ and has lost touch with her real self. As Rita ‘stood up’ in front of ‘two-thousand people’ she was metaphorically separating herself from the masses portraying herself as an enlightened figure, achieving what was hitherto, her objective. Rita’s conclusive reply, ‘ packed it in’ suggests her to have completed her change and that her ‘risk-taking’ is done, falsely believing that she is a member of high society and her life and has been infinitely improved. Rita’s actions are contrary to her earlier openness to cigarettes, furthering the notion that her ‘risk-taking’ is over and she is, in her mind at least, a well-rounded individual.
The subsequent argument to follow portrays Frank as an omniscient and authoritative figure, ‘Found… have you?’ It’s this attitude that Frank possesses that encapsulates the monotonous lifestyle Frank has brought upon himself, with his precedent values and general stubborn nature superimposing a limit on his life. His mocking of Rita, ‘Charlotte…’ suggests that he is discontent at the thought oh her departure, she is of great importance to him and symbolic on his sole outlet of any joy/verve. Rita’s misinterpretation of education, ‘little’ is underlying the value Russell attempts to convey. That education does not substitute culture nor human personality.
Rita’s efforts to change are skewed. Her perception of what needs to be changed about her is clouded and the lines between education and vitality are blurred. Frank’s ‘closed mind’ is an opposite and they can both potentially achieve mutual benefit, if only they were more open to change and accepting that they are wrong. Russell’s underlying value can thus be derived from the situation that he portrays, that both socio-economic classes have a lot to learn from each other.
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