The Purpose of Education and Class Inequalities in British Educational System: A Study of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys

Abstract

The debate about the purpose of education seems endless. It varies according to various impulses related to social, religious, political and scientific contexts. Literature also has its recognized contribution. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the purpose of education as reflected in Alan Bennett’s play The History Boys. Using the cultural perspective, the research paper sheds light on different styles of teaching used by three teachers; each of them represents a different approach to teaching and to education in general. It also investigates class inequality in British education system as also reflected in the play.