Educating Rita and the Allegory of the Cave Essay

The film â€Å"Educating Rita† and the essay â€Å"the Allegory of the Cave† are based on philosophical ideas and problems connected with personal development, education and understanding of the good life. ‘Educating Rita† and the essay â€Å"the Allegory of the Cave’ portray personal development of people and importance of education, persistence and hard work crucial for success and self-determination. Thesis Both works portrays that only self-improvements and education combined with personal values will create a unique personality able to obtain social status and understand the world. Educating Rita’ and ‘the Allegory of the Cave’ discuss the role of persistence and hard work in education and learning. In the film, the main heroin would not be able to achieve success and change her personality without diligence and great desire to archive this success. Similar to the film, Plato portrays that persistence and desire to learn something new drive the personality. Thus, both works show that learning differences arise from different motives and personal traits, different goals and life expectations of the characters. Socrates questions: â€Å"And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the cave and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them? (Plato). In this case, thinking and analysis are the main tools which help the student to learn and develop new knowledge. For learners, one of the first and most basic steps to master new knowledge is to develop strong skills through practice and cramming. The works portray that a unique personality is coined by education and learning, knowledge sharing and continuous practice. ‘Educating Rita’ portrays that learning ensures that the knowledge is generated and perceived currently. ‘Educating Rita’ portrays that every person can improve her knowledge and receives good education in spite of her class location and background. Similar to the film’s theme, Plato says: â€Å"Whereas our argument shows that the power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already† (Plato). It is important to note that in contrast to many other students who work hard for many years but fail to achieve their dream, the film and Plato’s essay describe that learning can shape any personality in a short period of time, but he/she needs long-life learning and education in order to to keep abreast of time and expend his/her knowledge. Both works, â€Å"Educating Rita† and â€Å"the Allegory of the Cave† discuss the important role of teacher and mentor in education and self-development. The role of the teacher is to motivate and inspire his pupil. In general terms, motivation in the pupil can be described as the direction and persistence of action. It is concerned with why people choose a particular course of action in preference to others, and why they continue with a chosen action, often over a long period, and in the face of difficulties and problems. The process of learning is closely connected with self-regulated learning. Plato comments: â€Å"He will then proceed to argue that this is he who gives the season and the years, and is the guardian of all that is in the visible world, and in a certain way the cause of all things which he and his fellows have been accustomed to behold? (Plato). In the film, this process is supported by strong personal commitment to work, life goals and hopes which have not come true. In contrast to ‘the Allegory of the Cave’ in the film motivation is concerned, basically, with why Rita behaves in a certain way. Personal motivation and life goals have a direct and positive impact on her self-direct learning. Her motivation can be describes as urges, aspirations, drives and needs of human beings direct or control or explain their behavior. Symbolically, for prisoners ‘light’ symbolizes ‘truth’ while for Rita ‘education’ becomes the light in her life. In sum, both works describe that our world views depend upon education, learning, and a teacher who supports and guides his pupil. Education is the first major step that increases personal values of everyone and creates new opportunities to succeed on the workplace. Learning is typical for people, because they see persistence and diligence as important qualities of a character and personal traits. Character Sketches Rita (Susan) Rita is a young (about twenty) working class girl (hairdresser) who wants to improve her life and continue education. She is marriage but her husband is constantly against her education. From the start it is clear from her bad grammar that she has a less polished education than the other students. At the start she is simply the instrument of Frank. Later she seems to have some pity for him. One sign of Rita’s development is her growing realization of how Frank cares about her. She is smart, brave and courageous to start a new life. To be so clear about one’s upbringing is a step in overcoming it. At the end of the film she becomes persistent, diligent and hard-working students. A diligent attitude to learning is the best way to prove that hard work and persistence can result in social recognition and high social status. Dr Frank Bryant Frank is a middle aged academician who achieved nothing in his life. He lack money and decides to teach working class students to earn for living. Frank combines the moral and social qualities of a gentleman. He is patient, sympathetic and kind. He inherits honesty; he is a reliable and sensitive, clumsy and inaccurate person. In his love for Rita, he shows that he has none of snobbery or egoism. His tact is evident in his treatment of Rita and in the delicate way he corrects her manners. Frank is, above all, a loyal friend who actively helps Rita in her attempt to change herself. Knowing how to work and motivate his pupils is one of the marks of a true teacher. Frank conforms to this ideal. His fine manners show that he is a gentleman at heart.