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Educating Rita Vs Pygmalion Writers are often able to create an original piece of work, by employing various elements of plot and character, from previous works. We can see Willy Russell’s drama ‘Educating Rita’ may be linked to many other texts, such as Bernard Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’, the fairytale Cinderella, Frankenstein and other texts. It is clear that Russell has employed a number of elements from the aforementioned texts. Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’ was a massive influence on Shaw’s writing, as it is from Pygmalion that the basic plot for ‘Educating Rita’ was derived from. The characters are very much a like, as there are many characteristics they share. We see Professor Higgins and Frank both share the same title of “Professor”. Higgins is a Professor of phonetics whilst Frank is Literature Professor. Both of these men hold the job of creating the woman both Eliza and Rita desire. Higgins accepts the challenge as he quotes “I shall make a duchess of this draggletailed guttersnipe”. Eliza and Rita are both from the working class society. They both want the same thing from their Professor-an education to integrate with the upper class, as well as wanting to make something more of their lives and themselves. Eliza, the flower girl doesn’t wish to be selling flowers on the street for the rest of her life.
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