Pygmalion Essay

Feminism In Pygmalion
Pygmalion
(...through a Feminist Lens)
"Pygmalion was written to challenge the class system, traditional stereotypes and the audience's own
views."
To begin with, George Bernard Shaw was an early and outspoken advocate for the rights of
women, and as a playwright he created some of the most distinctive women characters of his day.
He was deeply influenced in this aspect of his writing by Henrik Ibsen.
This play deals with a lot many themes. To cite a few: Rewriting the tale of Cinderella and Sleeping
beauty, Class, language and phonetics and Independence.
From the very beginning of the play, we can see the unequal relationship between Mr. Higgins (the
man) and Eliza (the woman). This difference can be seen by the parallelism between these two
...show more content...
She retorts back by replying, "You want me back only to pick up your slippers and put up with
your tempers and fetch and carry for you." Eliza is mere domestic helper for Higgins, a helping
hand to Mrs. Pearce even if Eliza can be much more than that. This is the crude reality of the
patriarchal setup. Women, how much ever is qualified, is better than the oppositegender when it
comes to education, the opposite sex will always take her as a house maid or a person working
under him.
Eliza, in the climax scene vulnerably asks Higgins, why he made her a sophisticated Duchess if her
never cared for her, and why did not he thought of the trouble it would make for her, on which
Higgins shocking reply says:
"Would the world ever have been made if its makes had been afraid of making trouble?" (Act V,
127) Making life means making troubles. He still finds faults with Eliza,' you are an idiot I waste
the treasures of my Miltonic mind by spreading them before you." Higgins thus suffers from
intellectual snobbery. He belongs to the world of Shakespeare and Milton.
All throughout the play, Higgins behave rude with Eliza. Eliza, in the last act as a representative of
all women trapped in patriarchal setup says the below quote to Higgins, who is the representative of
all the patriarchal men in the
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The Controversial Ending of Pygmalion Essay
The Controversial Ending of Shaw's Pygmalion George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion is a play that
has become a classic in today's world. It is a retelling of an ancient story, of the same name, by the
Roman poet, Ovid, in which a sculptor falls in love with a statue he carved. In Shaw's story, Henry
Higgins, an expert in phonetics, happens upon a poor flower girl with awful English and street
manners named Eliza Doolittle. Throughout the course of the play Higgins transforms her into an
elegant independent woman. The play tracks Eliza and Higgins's journey and the transformation of
their relationship from teacher and pupil to one where both are equally accustomed to the other and
have become integral parts of the others lives. Shaw does...show more content...
It is also mentioned that we should not assume that Higgins would marry Eliza since in his eyes,
no woman would ever compare to his mother. Shaw then details the future life of Eliza and her
marriage to Freddy, and it still is not a perfect one. Shaw does give some assurance that Eliza
constantly visits her old home with Higgins and the Colonel, and that Eliza and Higgins bicker just
as ever before, but reaffirms his stance that she simply does not like him in a way that is fitting for
marriage (Shaw). This simply would not suffice for those reading, attending, and directing the play
though. Despite Shaw's addendum to the ending of Pygmalion, directors still fought for a different
ending so as to please their audiences. The production of a movie version of Pygmalion, was
started in 1938. The producer, Gabriel Pascal demanded that there be a different ending to please
the general public to which this would be released. Shaw, in a sort of compromise, sent him a
revised ending that he felt retained the truthfulness of his story. In it Eliza and Higgins have an
affectionate goodbye instead of the bitter almost non–existent farewell written in the play, and there
is then a scene of Eliza and Freddy happy in a flower shop. Pascal accepted this from Shaw, but
secretly filmed the ending that was actually released which included Eliza returning to Higgins and
repeating a line spoken at the

Essay about Pygmalion, by Bernard Shaw
Bernard Shaw Pygmalion A Romance in Five Acts 1. Summary of the Play, page 2 2. Introduction
and Short Analysis of the Main Character, page 4 3. Interpretation, page 5 4. Additional Information,
page 7 5. Literature and Links, page 8 1. Summary London at 11.15 a.m., on a rainy summer day.
EverybodyГўв‚¬в„ўs running for shelter because of the torrential storm. A bunch of people ist
gathering in St. Pauls church, looking outside and waiting for the rain to stop. Among the crowd,
there is a young flower girl which grew up in the slums of London and therefore has a terribly bad
language, although she is a good–natured, simple and pure being. She is carrying a basket with
flowers. As there is nothing else to do while waiting...show more content...
So he lets Eliza live with him (heГўв‚¬в„ўs quite rich, an he has a big house), and he buys her
clothes. And the most important thing: he teaches her how to speach proper English. As for the
manners, it is Pickering who shows Eliza how to behave like a lady (as Higgins cannot). For Eliza,
this is very hard in the beginning, but after a while sheГўв‚¬в„ўs getting along pretty well, and she
is improving fast. After some time, they are visited by ElizaГўв‚¬в„ўs father, who is an unreliable,
greedy alcoholic (and has never cared for her anyway). He is theoretically the only familiy Eliza
would have, but she always had to look for herself. He insists on taking her with him, but it soon
turns out, that he only wants money, having heard that the gentleman whome Eliza is living with at
the time is quite rich. Higgins freezes him out. A few months later Eliza faces her first test: Higgins
introduces her to his mother. Unfortunately, his mother is already expecting visitors, and Eliza is
getting more and more nervous because there are so many people. At the end, she rushes out, and
Higgins must agree that she is not quite ready. At the end of the six months, he finally lets her
accompany him to the ambassadorГўв‚¬в„ўs ball. Everyone who passes her way looks at her in
amazement, for she is now due to be a queen. She is not a flower girl

Pygmalion Essay
The distinctive voices, characteristic in any text/s, can be deconstructed to develop an understanding
which may validate, challenge or disprove society's values and/or beliefs within a given context.
Language, in all its forms, is a human thing, and allows the traces or imprints of human use, not
inherently but in its use. A text may promote obvious distinction between the authorial voice and
character's viewpoint. This can be seen in the play of Pygmalion in by George Bernard shaw and the
film Pleasantville directed by Gary Ross. Both of these texts show distinctive voices through
dialogue the use of dialogue which highlights the relationships and differences between characters.
Pygmalion is a play in five acts. It is about a young...show more content...
Another distinctive voice in Pymalion is that Henry Higgins . is an important character in the
play as he is Eliza's tutor. He Is an expert in phonetics and is very proud of his skill and his ability
to transform Eliza into a lady. However he fails to follow the rules of social conduct when they
are out in public. This is evident in Act III when he was rude to the hostess saying: "fearful bore
for you this sort of thing. Forgive my part in it". However he is most rough with Eliza. His voice
is characterised by the severe tone, high volume and use of profanity or insults. He also uses a
harsh tone, particularly when talking to Eliza e.g "You won my bet! You! Presumptuous insect!/ I
won it." In this quote he uses exclamations, repetition and italics to show his emotion.This quote
uses exclamations and repetition of you to emphasise his emotion. He also uses the metaphor of
Eliza as an insect to communicate his anger but also create the sense that she is small and
meaningless. This quote shows his inability to acknowledge that eliza worked hard for the bet. "
Damn Mrs.pearce ; and damn the coffee; and damn you: and wildly damn my own folly in having
lavished my hard–earned knowledge and the treasure of my regard and intimacy on a heartless
guttersnipe". At this point Mr.Higgins has truly lost his temper. This is shown in the repetition of
the curse "damn". He has been hurt by what Eliza has said because he believes that she is
ungrateful. Eliza has won

Summary Of Pygmalion And Galatea
When comparing Ovid's representation of the Pygmalion story and one of Jean–LГ©on GГ©rГґme's
artwork (Pygmalion and Galatea), the viewer will be able to pinpoint multiple references that
coincide with each other. Starting with the two faces on the right, the two faces most likely
represents how Pygmalion feels at the start of this story. Pygmalion informs the reader that he is
angry at the faults a woman has been given by nature. However, Pygmalion is also saddened
because he knows that he will not be able to find someone else to love and his "ivory girl" will
always be a statue. Pygmalion is mad at women but is also saddened that he might never meet the
woman of his dreams. Furthermore, Pygmalion continues this "battle", shown by his shield in the
painting, by creating his own "perfect" woman and continues to drown it with gifts he believes a
woman will love. Rather than creating a compromise where both sides will be at peace,
Pygmalion pushes forward with his "ivory girl". Even when he does ultimately gets the girl,
Pygmalion continues to improve the "ivory girl", as a hammer is seen near them. Possibly
referencing back to Pygmalion's "battle" between his emotions and on deciding on what details
makes a woman perfect. Once Pygmalion is finished with his artwork, he gives the "ivory girl"
beauty no woman could have and fell in love with it. The stature itself is currently places on top of
pedestal. Giving a sense that Pygmalion greatly admires the "ivory girl", and it is

Essay On Pygmalion
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) the versatile dramatist used contemporary social, political and
religious problems as subjects for his plays. Pygmalion, perhaps the only one of his many plays in
which he points out to his audience and his readers that he has used an ancient classical myth to
explore a problem that is not merely contemporary but one that has lasted through time. This myth is
the story of Pygmalion – Galatea which has been told and retold by several later writers in
differing forms. In the most familiar version of this myth, Pygmalion was the king of Cyprus. He
was also a great sculptor who used to make beautiful statues of bronze, marble and ivory. He was
devoted to his art and always sought for perfection at any...show more content...
Dressed in Opera Cloak with diamonds, fan, flowers and all other accessories she passes like a
Duchess, creating sensation in the whole atmosphere. Nepummuck, the marvelous interpreter
(and Higgins' previous student also to whom he taught phonetics) identifies her as a Hungarian
princess. Thus her success at the ambassador's reception is overwhelming. But the experiment is
followed by its aftermath. As euphoria of triumph is over, Eliza is faced with the stark reality.
She has become disclassed, left unfit for her old life and unable for her old life and unable to
forge a new one Eliza is tragic in her fear and despair. Higgins is also quite unsentimental and
unromantic in his approach to Eliza. Looking to this attitude of Professor Higgins Eliza shouted
on him asking; "What am I fit for? Where am I to go? What am I to do? What to become of me?
Higgins' this attitude of indifference drives her to Freddy, who worships her. Eliza leaves Higgins
house and so takes decisive step into the future. Shaw explains the sexual attitude of Higgins
towards Eliza in terms of the Oedipus Complex. In Appendix he says "If an imaginative boy has a
suffering rich mother who has intelligence, personal grace, dignity of character without harshness
and a cultivated sense of the best art of her time to enable her to make her house beautiful, she sets a
standard for him a disengagement of his

Marginalisation In Pygmalion
Pygmalion, a drama written by George Bernard Shaw is a discussion play that tackles and
discusses a lot of social issues during the 20th Century. The play takes place in London and focuses
on Eliza Doolittle a flower girl. Eliza represents the rare group of young, independent, and single
girls. Due to this reason Eliza is constantly marginalized by people around her in her community
which includes people who are close to her.
The representation of young, independent, working class and single woman that was still uncommon
during that time. In Pygmalion, Shaw portrays her as someone who fits that description. Eliza was
first introduced in the first act as a poor, working class flower girl. Shaw places Eliza in Convent
Garden amidst the first...show more content...
Even though she's attending fancy garden parties she can't change the fact she is still a young,
single, and independent young woman to Higgins who still objectifies her constantly. "Eliza
flinches violently; but they take no notice of her; and she recovers herself and sits stonily as
before. PICKERING. Were you nervous at the garden party? I was. Eliza didn't seem a bit
nervous. HIGGINS. Oh, she wasn't nervous. I knew she'd be all right." (50). This excerpt taken
from Act IV is seen as the climax of how Eliza herself finally realizes how marginalized she is.
This excerpt shows dramatic irony as well because the audience can clearly tell that Eliza is
starting to be fueled by the inner rage surpressed inside of her. Eliza is finally tired of how people
are treating her. Eliza thought that acting like a high class aristocrat would change people's
perspective on her and it does for a little while but at the end of the day to the people she's close to,
her true social image of a young, single and independent woman will never

"Pygmalion is a serious analysis of class and gender conflict."
Bernard Shaw's play, entitled Pygmalion, transcends the nature of drama as a medium to be utilized
for sheer entertainment value. Shaw's play powerfully comments on the capacity for the individual
to overcome the boundaries established by systems of class and gender. Dominant assumptions and
expectations may essentially prevent an individual from becoming socially mobile within a
seemingly rigid hierarchical social structure. However, Liza, the protagonist utilizes language as
the tool which enables the her to escape the confines of the lower class and to be regarded as a
human of a certain degree of worth within society. As Liza transforms from flower girl to duchess,
...show more content...
This is exemplified by Clara Einsford Hill's distaste as others are made aware that she is originally
from Earlcourt, rather than her mother's place of birth, which is near Epsom. Epsom is a well
known town of wealth and class, as opposed to Earlscourt, which is typically `middle class.' Clara
becomes frustrated, as in, 'Will you please keep your impertinent remarks to yourself.' (Shaw,
2003:16) Higgins is determined to clarify the origins of each person's accent, subsequently
undermining the sense of class that Clara seeks to exude.
In addition, the way that Shaw chooses to spell each dialect creates a stark contrast between each
of the characters. The flower girl's language stands out as being tedious and mispronounced, whilst
the reader is made aware that the Einsford Hill's speech is the dialect which is to be considered
normal through the spelling of their diction. For example, the flower girl's dialect is represented in
such a way: `Wal, fewd dan y' d–ooty bawmz a mather should, eed now bettern to spawl a pore gel's
flahrzn than ran awy athaht pyin. Will ye–oo py me f'them?' (Shaw, 2003:11) In this passage, Shaw
makes it quite clear that there exists an obvious difference between the two types of language.
Ultimately the difference that Shaw wishes to convey is not only that which is prevalent between
the dialects, but the defining difference that separates the certain

Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, describes Shaw's viewpoint on social class distinctions in the
1900s by describing characters of the upper, middle, and lower classes in the play. Through the
characters' descriptions, language, and actions, the distinction between classes becomes very
prominent. Similarly, Galileo, by Bertolt Brecht, describes Brecht's take on the social class structure
during Galileo's time and how the differences between classes affected Galileo's opportunity to do
scientific research. Both plays depict a society ruled by the upper–class and a lack of coherence
among the upper, middle, and lower classes that leads to eventual conflict. In both Pygmalion and
Galileo, the authors highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the different social classes in
order to critique how the relationships between people from different classes affect their interactions
with each other. The different classes in both plays had their advantages and disadvantages;
however, some classes had more benefits than others. In Pygmalion, the upper–class was the most
privileged money–wise. Henry Higgins was an upper–class educated man who had quite a reputation
and enough money to take on the challenge of transforming Eliza, a lower–class woman, into an
upper–class citizen. As a member of the upper–class, Higgins had access to "chocolates, and taxis,
and gold, and diamonds" that members of the lower–class didn't necessarily have (Shaw 19). These
objects are associated with

George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" Essay
For many decades, we as people have come to criticize on every aspect of one another's being
without learning the cause of why one portrays themselves in such a way.
In the book of Pygmalion, a play of an English woman who is looked down upon by society
Because of her dialect and occupation, is no exception to what many struggle with to understand.
The book takes place in London, England were a flower girl named Eliza Doolittle tries to sell
flowers to a bystander who becomes disgusted by her when she calls a man by his first
name("Freddy, look wh' y' goin' deah" Shaw 12). Moments later she tries to sell flowers to two men
named Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering, whom turn away from her and speak openly about her
awful...show more content...
George Bernard Shaw's life was a full one filled with many great accomplishments and life quotes
that many people follow and say today.
In the beginning of the book, Eliza Doolittle has trouble conversing with bystanders and towns
people when trying to sell her flowers because when she approaches them, hey feel offended
because of her word choices and how she comes off offensive when talking to them or yelling
("Impidence!" Shaw 23) , and throwing her basket at someone when things don't go her way.
Because of this behavior, it shows that she has a conflict with society due to her upbringing and that
being all that she has learned. When Colonel Pickering and Henry Higgins take Eliza in, She feels
that they think she is beneath them because they do not want to accept her money because she is no
good for it, but without her knowing it , the two gentlemen have decided to make her an experiment
and nothing more than that. When the experiment is finished,
the two men celebrate and congratulate one another, but they do not consider Eliza's feelings and
she ends up feeling unwanted and used yet again with no other place to go because her speech has
become proper and her being and self–worth have improved drastically in such a short amount of
time. When everyone is off to bed for the night, Eliza decides to head off for good before everyone
wakes up, but in doing so, she is feeling conflict within herself because she feels she has no

Pygmalion Play Essay
Discuss the different ways of representing class conflicts. Pygmalion, Bernard Shaw, 1914 My
Fair Lady, George Cukor, 1964 "As the purpose of comedy is to correct the vices of men, I see no
reason why anyone should be exempt." This famous quotation of French playwright MoliГЁre
proves how powerfully theater and social criticism are linked, and how in its different genres,
drama as well as comedy, theater can, and maybe must, be a way of communicating and
expressing the human and society's flaws. Indeed, theater, as defined by Marvin Carlson, is a
"collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or
imagined event before a live audience in a specific place." This specificity of theatrical...show more
content...
In this scene from the movie, Eliza has attempted to clean up and change her appearance in order to
look more lady–like. However, even after her efforts, she stands out as poor and inadequate
compared to Henry Higgins, Colonel Pickering and even Mrs. Pearce, who is also of the working
class. Physical appearance is of utter importance when it comes to differentiating each class, and
can also be modified in order to move among the social hierarchy. During the Vth Act, a maid
mistakes Alfred Doolittle for a gentleman, and Bernard Shaw insists on the fact that it is due to his
new physical aspect: " He is brilliantly dressed in a new fashionable frock–coat, with white waistcoat
and grey trousers. A flower in his buttonhole, a dazzling silk hat, and patent leather shoes complete
the effect." Furthermore, Eliza's transformation is made most evident throughout her clothing,
which consists of at the beginning of her flower girl outfit, dirty and gloomy, and ends with her
ball gown, rich and bright. However, what matters most when it comes to class distinction is
speech. The play and the movie are all based on the importance of language, and its power on to
build or break an individual. Eliza at the beginning of the plot speaks in a terrible manner, proving
her low origins. Her speech contrasts vividly with Henry's, especially

Pretty Woman vs. Pygmalion Essay
In the history of literary texts, many original tales have often been appropriated decades later with
a different message or purpose in the mind of the creator. The ideas, values and plotline are
redefined in a new context to appeal to a different audience. Like all texts, both Pygmalion, written
by George Bernard Shaw and Pretty Woman, directed by Gary Marshall, reflect values, beliefs and
attitudes of the time, nearly 80 years apart.
The use of different forms highlights the different intended audiences. On one hand, Pygmalion was
a play intended for the upper echelons on society. Pretty woman was created with the intention to
blockbuster so it was consequently made into a film intended for the middle class.
In both texts we see...show more content...
To overcome the social barriers, both girls receive additional lessons on social manners from Barney
and Pickering.
As the two texts are set in different eras, the leading male characters have different reactions to the
girls' attempts to refrain from submitting to the stereotypes. Edward is a lot more emotional and
sensitive as the 1990's audience would not bear abusive behavior like Higgins. He reacts to the
defiance of the stereotype warmly saying "very few people surprise me" after he discovers Vivienne
was hiding a roll of tooth floss. On the contrary, Higgins brutally tells her to "cease this detestable
boohooing instantly". This further exemplifies the different message given in the contemporary
version.
Both protagonists ascend through social classes with the help of two men with ability to access
higher classes via profession and wealth. The film establishes Edward's social superiority by
depicting him above all the guests at his party utilising a Bird's Eye View, supporting this, his
ex–girlfriend admonishes him "you think I'm at your beck and call". However, he can see below
him but he cannot break out of the glass window. Further supporting his inability, he becomes lost in
Hollywood requiring directions from Vivienne. The cross cutting of Vivienne and Edward
foreshadows and sets up their romance. In direct contrast, Higgins did not need saving at the
slightest, happily being a "confirmed old bachelor" as he believes that

Equality and Social Class in Pygmalion Essay
Equality and Social Class in Pygmalion
The idea of ranking individuals based upon their wealth and behaviors has endured through all
cultures, countries, and times. George Benard Shaw's Pygmalion addresses an individual's
capability to advance through society, an idea as old as social distinction. Shaw does so through the
social parable of a young English flower girl named Eliza Dolittle, who after receiving linguistic
training assumes the role of a duchess. She receives instruction, as a bet, by a self–absorbed
language professor named Henry Higgens. However, Eliza does not take her social ascension alone,
as she is joined by her drunken father Alfred P. Dolittle. The manner in which they rise from poverty
demonstrates...show more content...
Moreover, the strongest point of Shaw's social commentary is Eliza's inner feelings of equality,
mostly with Higgens (Lorichs 134).
Though, personal equality results from an individual's innate humanity, social behaviors form class
separations in Eliza's London. Social habits separate people into communal divisions. Shaw's
depiction of language and pronunciation becomes not only a distinction between classes of people,
but the only distinction between classes of people, completely preventing social equality
(Mugglestone 377). Differing social actions or ideas establish a "gulf that separates class from class
and soul from soul" (58). To draw attention to the distinctions in classes and lifestyles, Shaw stresses
the outward distinctions between a variety of classes" (Lorichs 139). Shaw's most incredible insights
during his social commentary is into the social interaction of language with "the finely graded social
stratification that speech habits reflect." (Boardsmore 715) Moreover, personal behaviors limit
social mobility. Eliza's poor and improper pronunciation of English limits her advancement through
society. Also, through Shaw's depiction of "the close correlation between linguistic usage, social
stratification and social mobility" he demonstrates how poor pronunciation both creates social
boundaries and limits individuals to them (Beardsmore 719). Shaw uses

Othello And Pygmalion Essay
The Treacherous Follies of Society
Desdemona from Othello by William Shakespeare (1969) and Eliza Doolittle from Pygmalion by
George Bernard Shaw (2003) are characters who struggle with the repercussions of prejudice created
by society and who defy social norms. Prejudice is an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed
beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason. Although both theater pieces are based on
different eras, both characters have similar characteristics and ideologies on how to behave within
society. In this essay, I will argue social prejudice is the antecedent of the negative outcomes which
impact Desdemona and Eliza's rebellious actions and through the use of meter, diction, and
punctuation; the authors reveal the extremism of the claim. Though I agree that their rebellious
attitudes played roles in their misfortunes, I still support that their misfortunes...show more content...
In Desdemona's case, she felt the need to help erase the misconception of Cassio to bring out the
truth whilst, society can easily confuse this for more intimate matters. ToOthello this seems innocent
at first; however, even he could not escape the prejudice of society. This becomes evident when
Othello's impulsive personality leads to the fatality of Desdemona.
Desdemona is portrayed as a very inquisitive women, whom loves to explore the things and people
outside of her class. She fell in love with Othello because of her curious nature and being attracted
to his acts of bravado. Her intentions are sincere; however her curiosity in this act is seen as folly.
She asks her cousin Lodovico about his arrival and informs him of Cassio's dismissal. This angers
Othello as she is praising another man, taking a persona of being proactive about him. For Othello
this concludes that she is disobedient and has dishonored him – to put her in place, he resorts to
violence:
OTHELLO. I am glad to see you

Pygmalion Essay
Essay question: Plays make powerful comments about societal structures. How does Shaw's
Pygmalion critique values and attitudes prevalent in the early 1900's?
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish immigrant in England, ostracised from society because of his
appearance and heritage rather than from judgement of his person, this kept him apart from most
social classes of the time. This feeling of not fitting in may have inspired Shaw to write the play
Pygmalion which premiered in 1914 to comment on the shallow nature of the people of this era
and satirise the class system. To do this Shaw introduced Eliza Doolittle, a class chameleon, to
guide the audience through the corrupt social hierarchy and give light to those who don't have a
real place in the structure, like himself and Eliza who are judged based on appearance and speech.
Shaw confronted his audience with his satirical reflection of reality; speech defines a persons' class
instead of what they have to say and to appear beautiful is more important than to be kind.
Emphasising these important aspects in different ways in various characters gives an interesting
view on how this class system influenced the people in their context. Pygmalion is a both reflection
of influence of class and the values it promotes which Shaw skilfully uses to criticise inequality of all
those within it.
Shaw critiques the shallow views of people from the 1900's by completely disregarding their belief
in the correlation between

Critical Analysis Of Pygmalion
Kate McHenry Doctor Nicole Jerr English 211– Essay #2 16 October 2017 Word Count: 1,270 Class
System During 20th Century London In the story Pygmalion, Bernard Shaw writes about a
garden flower girl, Eliza, who has troubles speaking. Two scholars of dialect, Henry Higgins and
Colonel Pickering want to use phonetics to make a duchess out of Eliza by teaching her proper
English. Pygmalion was written in 1912 during a time where classes were separated and the
upper class constantly looked down on the lower class. The setting of this story takes place in
London, England. During the early 20th century, England had declared war and War World I
began in 1914. Pygmalion represents the British class system along with Bernard Shaw's views
of women during that time. He decided to emulate the social classes during the early 20th century
England in a very non typical way. He used characters in the play to create these stereotypical
views of things such as the way women were treated and thought of, and the lower class citizens.
The play starts out in Act One with a mother and daughter waiting for their son, Freddy, to get a
taxi for them to take home. Freddy searched the area getting soaking wet in the rain for a cab
which he was unsuccessful finding. When he returned, the two ladies stood dry undercover and
his sister stated, "It's too tiresome. Do you expect us to go and get one ourselves?" (10). Freddy was
only asking for help looking for a taxi because he had been out in the rain

Pygmalion Essay
Pygmalion
An interpretation of Class Relations in Pygmalion
In Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, there is a distinct variance in class relations and the way that early
20th century Britains were perceived as being different by their speech, money, wealth, style,
manners, and appearance. Being a lady or a gentleman was an acquired status desirable among most
of London's society. However, in Pygmalion, Shaw tells a story about the transition of a homeless
young woman with the aspiration to become a respected lady.
Eliza Doolittle is an 18 or 19 year–old young women, making a living from selling old flowers on
the streets. When she comes across a rude Professor, named Henry Higgins, he sarcastically offers
her to "learn how to speak...show more content...
Another example is when Eliza goes to get in the taxi and the driver is trying to keep her out,
assuming that she has no money to pay for the ride.
When Higgins meets Eliza, he comes across as very rude, saying:
"Woman; cease the detestable boohooing instantly; or else seek the shelter of some other place of
worship......A woman who utters such depressing and disgusting sounds has no right to be anywhere
– no right to live.... this creature with her kerbstone English: the English that will keep her in the
gutter till the end of her days...Well sir, in three months I could pass that girl off as a duchess at an
ambassador's garden party....."
He then goes on to call her names like "squashed cabbage leaf" ; "disgrace to the noble architecture
of these columns" and an "incarnate insult to the English language". With obviously no respect for
the poor girl, he would say anything that he wants to her, with no spare to her feelings at all.
An example related to this scenario can be compared to "White Privilege: Unpacking the
Invisible Knapsack", by Peggy McIntosh. In this article, she describes how gender, race and
sexual preference are a problem in America. In this case, however, it is more a subcultural
problem, but it is related to the way classes differ. She discusses how white people, males
particularly, have "skin color that was an asset for any move one was educated

Pygmalion Research Paper
In the book Pygmalion a young flower girl had to sell flowers on the street in order to provide for
herself this book was put into visual in the musical "My Fair Lady". Both Pygmalion and My Fair
Lady are very similar but they also show many differences. The story Pygmalion is about a young
woman by the name of Eliza Doolittle who is poor and uneducated so her speech is very bad but
with the help of Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering becomes a well–spoken and well–mannered
woman. Pygmalion is the base of the musical and does not have as much flash as the musical does.
The movie and the musical are similar in the way that the characters are presented as well as the
relationships between the characters. In Pygmalion, a young woman by...show more content...
The first major way being that My Fair Lady is a musical which adds a whole new dynamic to the
story being told as a whole. For example in Pygmalion the audience knows that Eliza is fed up with
being commanded all of the time but in the song she sings to Freddy it is more apparent that she is
tired of words and people telling her empty words. Another major difference is the party that Eliza
attends, in the book it is a small get–together to see how Eliza does around others but in the musical
it is a huge ball. The ball in the musical was filled with royalty and women dressed to the nines. As
well as the ending of the musical being a little more vague than the play which directed us to
Eliza and Freddy getting married but in the play it was more of an idea. The musical was leading
to the audience believing that she would maybe begin to date Freddy or she might move back in
with Higgins at the end of it all. In conclusion, the play Pygmalion and the musical My Fair Lady
are very similar but have many differences that stick out like a sore thumb. In both the musical
and the play Eliza was presented the same way as being attractive, young, and feisty. Although they
are alike in the ways of characters the musical is more in depth as well as some of the scenes being
out of order and over

Class Distinction in Pygmalion Essay
The play Pygmalion offers the readers a view on the theme of class distinction, and the problem of
the barriers separating classes and people. Shaw reveals to us the truth about the artificiality of
classes and how anybody can overcome them, He also shows us that society puts up high standards
and that people are distinguished by their way of speaking, and their appearance alone and of course
that's wrong. In the first act of Pygmalion, Shaw chooses a setting that really helped shedding light
on this theme, for he chose the st. portico square between the church and the theatre, a setting that
embraced everybody from different classes and made them all clash under one place for shelter. The
gathering of all those...show more content...
Mrs. Higgins thinks of the experiment that her son and Pickering are doing with Eliza as child's
play, she tells the professor not to be happy for her didn?t succeed in passing Eliza as a duchess
he only made her look better. Mrs. Higgins sees classes as something people acquire through their
life, and they are taught as children how to behave according to their social classes. Eliza
Doolittle the cockney flower girl that came from the gutter snipe, and who by the end of the play
is a delicate beautiful lady, is the embodiment that crossed the class barriers and showed how
artificial they are. When Eliza is first introduced to us in Act one, her appearance and way of
speech gave away her very low class, and everybody treated her badly including Freddy who will
fall in love with her later on. However, after Eliza spends months and months at the Professor's
trying to improve her pronunciation of words and her outside behavior, everybody is impressed,
Freddy and his family are impressed, even though she is the same girl they looked down on in the
first act. Eliza's character developed through out the play tremendously, she became more aware
of her feelings and what people said about her. Eliza thought that since she looked, talked and
acted like a lady then she deserved to be treated like one, in fact, Eliza's definition of a lady is not
how she acts but how she is treated. There are also the Eynsford Hills', and they represent the

Pygmalion Character Analysis
Don't Pick Your Flowers Before They Bloom
Eliza Doolittle of Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, is first introduced in Covent Garden with an
impression that isn't easy to forget. Her slanged language and persistent personality make her a
notable character in literature. As she comes under the wing of professor Henry Higgins, she learns
simple etiquette and improved phonetics. However, Higgins' crude demeanor causes Eliza to violate
the pillars of respect and responsibility, though she continuously complies with the trustworthiness
pillar of character. The six pillars of character–trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness
and citizenship–are the framework of a good character with ethics and kindness.
To start, Eliza Doolittle of Pygmalion violates the pillar of respect. Charactercounts.org states that a
part of the pillar of respect is to "Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule." The Golden
Rule can be simply stated as treating others the way you would like to be treated. Eliza wanted
this civil treatment from Higgins, but when it came down to her actions, she was rather rude to
him. She clearly disrespects and threatens Higgins by exposing his lie to the public. "I'll advertize
it in the papers that your duchess is only a flower girl that you taught, and that she'll teach
anybody to be a duchess just the same in six months for a thousand guineas." (Act V). It's
hypocritical of her to treat Higgins with disrespect, when just a few minutes ago she was pleading
for his attention and kindness. Under the pillar of respect, charactercounts.org states a person of
good character should "Use good manners, not bad language." But Eliza's exposure to Higgins' crass
choices of words has majorly influenced her to speak fouly as well. In Act III, when Eliza visits Mrs.
Higgins and her guests, she swears fouly. In response to Freddy's question of if she will walk home,
Eliza says, "Walk! Not bloody likely. [Sensation]. I am going in a taxi." (Act III). Eliza disrespects
the people around her again as she blatantly swears. Her loss of good manners at this moment
reflects poorly on her and Higgins. Overall, Eliza violates the pillar of respect by treating Higgins
with disrespect and swearing in

Pygmalion Essay

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