Act 1 Scene 2

When Rita gets into Frank's room, she is in a different world; she can see what she expects to achieve by studying, i.e., to develop "good taste," to become somebody different from who she actually is. Though she did not have the chance to become a regular student since it was frown upon by those who surrounded her (and even herself!), she enjoys looking at them, watching or imagining how their lives differ from hers. In a way, Rita idealizes both Frank and regular students: she looks up to them as they have succeeded in doing something she did not: academic life. And this is a contradiction in itself insofar as up to this moment she has been part of a social class who regards academic people as posh, as detached from "real life..." Will Rita change her mind as to what "being educated" implies? Will she try to continue studying in spite of her prejudices? I hope my questions have an answer by the end of the play!