Speech Question: Explain the individuals responses to the challenges of moving into the

world and how these are presented by the composers using there respective textual forms.

Into the World involves an individuals transition of one world of experience, knowledge and
insight into another. This transition can be both rewarding and challenging, depending on the
individual and the sacrifices and obstacles that they must overcome. Through Educating Rita
by Willy Russel and my related text Fast Car by Tracy Chapman, the composers use a variety of
language techniques to portray the beneficial and negative outcomes of a personal transition
into a new phase of life. The personal growth and independence derived from significant
experiences and the differing response to new transitions become apparent.

Willy Russells play, Educating Rita, explores the notions of personal growth through a
number of transitional stages and progressions, such as growing up and the progression of
maturation and personal reflection. This transition into a different society is explored through
the desire of the protagonist, Rita, to gain greater selfknowledge and self-fulfilment through
the vehicle of education. Using an educational context, Russell allows the audience to explore
Ritas extended journey of personal development, exploring perceptions of self and social
identity. An adjustment from one world of experience, knowledge and insight to another can be
initiated by an individuals personal choice, with this sense of awareness being motivated by
the desire of self-fulfilment and self-improvement.

Ritas dissatisfaction in her current, unsatisfying lifestyle with no meanin to life is expressed
through the second person pronoun of you in But dont you realise, I want to change!. Her
vague restlessness with her husband and confirmative marriage develops into an ambition to
flee the limitations of her preordained lifestyle. The first person narration, rhetorical question
and repetition of me in But I dont want to be myself. Me? Whats me? and the third
person narrative of he and repetition of He thinks weve got choice already: choosin which
washin powder reveals Ritas feelings of dissatisfaction within her socially restricted and
impoverished marriage and her life stretched out as a poorly educated hairdresser.

Therefore, her disapproval and displeasure in her personal life causes Rita to seek the
opportunity to grow and move into another world of knowledge, as a means of discovering
another part of her own identity. Furthermore, Russell establishes the notion that a personal
transition into a different world can result both negatively and positively, with the latter impact
assisting the individual in growing intellectually by replacing insecurity and ignorance with
confidence and insight. After questioning whether this [is] the maximum I can expect from this
livin lark? Rita decides that education is the vehicle that can bring change in yourself and an
escape route from a preordained lifestyle. The use of enjambment in Ive begun to find me-
and its great and the first person narrative of I in You know what I learn from you it feeds
me, inside highlights the protagonists maximisation of human potential and exploration of
another part of her personal identity. The colloquial statement, It makes me stronger comin
here and the clich and simile, Im havin the time of me life I even feel like them out
there, reveals Ritas personal intellectual and emotional growth, and her growing control over
her personal life.

Furthermore, the low modality of I dunno and I might and the first person narration of I
in I dunno I might go to France. I might even have a baby. Ill make a decision. Ill choose
highlights the broad range of opportunities, choices and independence derived from Ritas
extended journey of personal development, that the working class had once denied her. In
contrast, Russell stresses the notion that a transition into a new phase of life can bring greater
confidence and self-awareness but at the cost of imposing upon an individuals personal
uniqueness and identity. Franks high modality and formal language in Youre going to have to
suppress, perhaps even abandon your uniqueness.

Im going to have to change you reinforces the notion that one must be willing to sacrifice
certain personality traits and values. Franks allusion to the novel, Frankenstein by Mary
Shelley, Oh Ive done a fine job on you, havent I, and his statement Theres nothing of you in
there highlights Ritas sacrifice of her personal and unique individuality for academic
conformity. The short concise sentence, Ritas these arent your views, reveals her subjective
perceptions to be damaged by the demands of the educational profile and status. Whilst Ritas
transition has removed her sense of insecurity and ignorance, it has pushed aside her valuable
personal traits and has adjusted her personal values and morals to mirror that of the educative
mainstream.

Simarily in the song, Fast Car, by Tracy Chapman focuses on a young girls journey of
maturation, highlighting the different choices and decisions offered by a transition into a new
phase of life. Tracy Chapman focuses on the young girls journey through three time phases,
that being the past, the present and the future. Each phase is distinct from the other as the
character progresses on to new phases of life. Whilst her past highlights her limited poverty and
existence, her presence focuses on her dreams to rise above her socio-economic limitations.
The last phase, her future, is left to audience interpretation as her transition into a new phase
of life offers her the opportunity for a better future.

Similar to Educating Rita, the song focuses on the notion that an adjustment from one world
of experience to another can be initiated through an individuals choice due to the desire for a
better way of life. The use of the second person narrative of you and the repetition of You
got a fast car by the female narrator is used to highlight the young girls desire to escape a life
that is unable to provide her with greater opportunities in life. The first person narrative of I
and the symbolic use of the term car and ticket in I want a ticket to anywhere represents
her dream for a better life to make something and see what it means to be living.
Furthermore, the repetition of be someone and the high modality of I know things will get
better reveals her belief that a transition into a new phase of life will bring about positive
change.

Moreover, the composer highlights the notion that transitions into new phases of life can have
both positive and negative outcomes. This primarily depends on the individual and their
response to a progression into a new world of insight, knowledge and experience. Her partner
who stays out drinking late at the bar has merely failed to rise to the challenge of finding
work. Whilst he has failed to recognize the importance of adjusting into a world of
opportunity, the female narrator continues on her journey searching for a better future. The
audience is able to recognise her maturity and personal growth through the juxtaposition of the
second person narrative you and the first person pronoun we. Her decision to embark on a
new transition alone further highlight her freedom of choice and the opportunities offered as a
result of her transition.