While most discussions on Willy Russell’s Educating Rita (1980) focus on the parallels between Shaw’s Pygmalion (1913) and the play what seems to be lacking is a deeper exploration of how the two plays and Oleanna (1992) which is modeled on a similar pedagogical dynamic to theirs fit within the broader historical and cultural context of the 20th century. Each play embodies distinct tutorial relationship that reflects the ethos of its respective era. For instance, Rita's narrative is steeped in its historical moment, notably through its portrayal of the protagonist's enrollment in the Open University. By positioning Rita as the main text of analysis, this essay aims to contextualize the play’s dynamic between the male professor and the female student as a bridge between the modernist feminism portrayed in Pygmalion and the postmodern identity politics and sexual conflict thematized in Oleanna.
1. Before and After Rita
2. The Beginning of Tutorial
3. The Middle of Tutorial
4. The End of Tutorial
Works Cited