Hannah chapman To what extent does Russell use comedy to explore the clash between class and culture in Educating Rita? Class is a system in which it separates society into social and economic class sections. This is determined by how much money you have, who you are friends with, and your priorities or beliefs. The class can be divided into three sections, upper class, middle class and lower class. Willie Russell created two extremes of culture, bringing them together to identify the differences between them and how these two cultures clash as the show progresses. The show shows the reconstruction of Rita, an initially self-confident, vocal and socially naive individual, confined to her middle-class lifestyle and beliefs. He believes that if he gets a decent education he can escape his boring position in the working class sector. Although she is different from her peers, she is not ready to be accepted by the middle class. Rita is shocked and believes that education is the only way to change herself inside. This is similar to his clients altering their outward appearance with a haircut. He believes that the only way to achieve this is through education and therefore decides to start his academic journey by attending the Open University course. There is a stark contrast between Frank and Rita in the classroom. Russell portrays Rita as a working-class woman who aspires to transition into the middle class by obtaining a decent education, something she has never received. Rita instinctively knows that she is missing something and thinks that a college degree, she believes that acquiring an education is the only way to make her way into the middle class sector. Rita often sees things very literally and to the point, taking… half paper… and the articulate language used by academics. He loves classy lifestyle and tastes because of the difference from his boring cyclical lifestyle. Frank clashes with Rita as the things he values ​​these days, Rita has in abundance: individuality, wit and erasure. He compares the idea of ​​simple work and simple pleasures, in fact he wants to take a step back, Rita wants to move forward and change leaving Frank behind, showing the clash between the two characters who actually want to have each other's lifestyle. This causes comical collisions between them, eager to change their lifestyle to potentially realize their dream. The irony is that, thanks to Frank's lessons, he has transformed a once individual and creative student into a pretentious facade. Rita has become everything Frank despises because of her adherence to conventional education.