At the end of scene 7, we see a Rita who is desperate to be given a sign which shows her that what she’s done so far is the right thing to do. Nonetheless, everything seems to indicate that she is in the wrong path.
To begin with, despite deciding to go to Frank’s dinner party on her own, she can’t manage to find the suitable dress and bottle of wine. In fact what happens is that Rita realizes she’s not the sort of person she used to be: a woman who conformed herself with material things. Later, she comes to the decision she’s not joining the party because she’s afraid of facing the chance to interact with people she doesn’t know. Although Rita is very sociable, she refuses to make jokes of funny comments to be accepted by a group. This shows she is insecure.
On the other hand, when Rita joins in the singing at the pub, she has given in. She thinks she has reached the bottom end and cannot go on with her ideals any longer. It’s at that moment that her mum confesses she’s being crying because they could be singing better songs that those they are singing at the pub, and Rita sees the light: it’s now the time to move forward or she’ll always regret not having tried to follow her ambition. If she doesn’t, she’ll look back when she’s a middle-aged woman and she’ll feel she has betrayed herself.
To begin with, despite deciding to go to Frank’s dinner party on her own, she can’t manage to find the suitable dress and bottle of wine. In fact what happens is that Rita realizes she’s not the sort of person she used to be: a woman who conformed herself with material things. Later, she comes to the decision she’s not joining the party because she’s afraid of facing the chance to interact with people she doesn’t know. Although Rita is very sociable, she refuses to make jokes of funny comments to be accepted by a group. This shows she is insecure.
On the other hand, when Rita joins in the singing at the pub, she has given in. She thinks she has reached the bottom end and cannot go on with her ideals any longer. It’s at that moment that her mum confesses she’s being crying because they could be singing better songs that those they are singing at the pub, and Rita sees the light: it’s now the time to move forward or she’ll always regret not having tried to follow her ambition. If she doesn’t, she’ll look back when she’s a middle-aged woman and she’ll feel she has betrayed herself.
5 comments:
excellent! absolutely brilliant!
You know, Miri, this time I've found it hard to agree with you... To begin with, I can't see Rita as
somebody who was satisfied just by material things at any stage in the play. If that hadn't been the case, I think she'd have gone for a higher salary, or richer husband, rather than a course in English Literature!
Secondly, I don't believe she's given in when she goes to the pub.It's only that she feels so lonely... And that gets me thinking about the extent to which school (represented by Frank in this case) is responsible for this: Rita has been shown a new u life, a new culture, but right now belongs neither to her background nor to the new culture(s) she's been struggling to join!
In that context, the words uttered by Rita's mother are a perfect answer to Rita's loneliness... They tell her... oh, I've been rattling for too long, you tell me that! ;-)
Warmly,
Gladys
Gladys
I don´t think Rita was satisfied with material things at the beginnig of the play either. What I meant is that she used to feel that way until she realized it was no use. Then, she came up with the idea of joining the open university.
Then, your interpretion to why Rita ends up in the pub is quite different from the one I had thought of. You are right! Perhaps, it´s not a giving in but a desperate grasp for company. She does feel lonely and neitther does she fit in her family circle nor in the academic world yet.
Interesting your analyses.
Miriam
I do see your point now, Miriam... Though I still find it hard to believe Rita ever "went with the flow" and thought herself satisfied with material things...
As for her isolation, there's a lot to be pondered there: to what extent is school responsible for Rita's loneliness? Should school be responsible for "re-socializing" students into new groups in cases like this? Does joining the school culture necessarily imply breaking away with our background, esp in the case of lower socio-economic classes?
Lots of biiig questions, right... Perhaps you feel like taking a couple of them up!
Bye for now!
Gladys
I think school is also responsible for integration activities! By no means should it create a breaking away with the students´ background.
Students should learn to choose what social classes they want to socialise with the most, but that doesn´t mean we must forget about our roots.
Perhaps, I´m being too ambitious considering all the roles schools should fulfil in my opinion.
Miriam
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