What is the one challenge you are on the brink of facing at this point in your life? An obstacle you must overcome, a obstacle you must conquer, one that shall determine the course of the rest, of your life.

You are all gathered here to be given an insight into the concept of ‘texts and society’ in relation to Standard English. Under which I shall elaborate on, ‘into the world.’ The manner in which composers use this idea to bring to life their characters through the means of dramatic techniques both language and stage, their individual aspects of growing up and so transitioning into new stages of their lives.

“Life consists of experiences, challenges, and achievements; all of which are building blocks that inherently create ones path to success.”Two texts, which revolve around the human experiences of facing and overcoming challenges, as you are already well aware: is the prescribed text: ‘Educating Rita’ by William Russell and the world-renowned accompanying, related novel: ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ by Melina Marchetta.

In Educating Rita, Russell has created the sophisticated character of Susan White a woman driven by a sense of incompetence, who struggles for an education that will take her beyond the ongoing restrictions of class and culture; her self-discovery. This notion of an individual’s search for ones own identity and so a regarded lifestyle is reflected throughout the text, Rita’s determination in not allowing herself to be bound by the expectations and limitations of others is evident through Rita’s dialogue, “I’m slightly out of step… See I wanna discover myself first.” It is her disposition to remain stoic in the face of these challenges that keeps her on her path to finding her identity and interesting enough keeps us on the edge of our seats.

On the surface the play seems to deal with the larger more apparent issues of Education, Language and class, however when you dwell deeper into the meanings disarrayed throughout the text we find that it is really a journey of self-discovery, a journey to fill the void in her life. This path of self-discovery is central to the play, through education, Rita searches for the answers to life: “I’ve begun to find me-an’ its great y’ know…” We are able to understand Rita’s hunger for education, on a journey in pursuit of her identity. William Russell has used this realistic experience on varying stages, however, significantly through the metaphorical language spoken by Rita about the way she feels, “you know what I learn from you, about art an’ literature, it feeds me inside,” to successfully, bring to life the character of Rita White. It is the composers use of language both, a serious, yet humorous tone which positively engages the audience within the play, influencing us to walk side-by-side Rita, and to thus understand what she is going through, and to never doubt her determination in conquering these obstacles.