Educating Rita

Next, as Karen mentions that the main character should be “likeable” and “in jeopardy”, readers like Rita because she sacrifices herself for humanity(Woodward). “[Since] the mimic with the antenna is the mimic server, which analyzes the situation and turns back time, there must be a backup mimic with the same ability. In order to get out of this loop, [Rita has] to destroy the entire network” (Sakurazaka 263-4). However, with Keiji, the situation changes. Since “[their] brains [pick up] the signal…[they become] the antennas” (Sakurazaka Chapter 16). Rita, who grasps the whole situation, can easily kill Keiji, not telling him what’s going on because he does not have any idea. In addition, Keiji keeps looping back and forth, so he knows “when Rita [swings] her weapon and how she [makes] her next move” (chapter 17). Even though Keiji has advantages, Rita …show more content…
Rita is realistically the only one who has ability to fight against and kill mimics because she trains herself through the time loops. Therefore, mimics should focus on her so that Rita can easily obliterate mimics. Unlike Keiji, Rita’s time loop does not go back when she dies. Nevertheless, she takes a risk to be a target. Because she is doomed to die, she is in jeopardy during all the battles. On the other hand, Keiji goes back to the original point when he dies. This means that he does not need to be afraid of his death and can die as many times as he wants. Whenever he trains, he can make a mistake and have another chance to figure out the strategy to kill mimics. Moreover, with Rita’s help, Keiji even breaks the time loops easily. In this respect, even though Rita dies at the end of the book, her sacrifice is impressive enough to make her the main character. Her noble spirits arouse sympathy for Rita, and readers wants to remember her as the heroine who is willing to give up her