Pygmalion: Analysis of Themes and Characters

The Aim of Art and Theatre in Pygmalion

According to George Bernard Shaw's Preface, Pygmalion succeeds as didactic art, demonstrating that art and theatre can be used to teach.

The Relevance of Phonetics

In Act I, the Note Taker explains to Colonel Pickering that phonetics is crucial because speech reveals a person's origins and many aspects of their identity.

Eliza's Motivation

Eliza seeks lessons from Professor Higgins to improve her pronunciation. She believes proper speech is essential for her dream of opening a flower shop.

The Bet and Conflict

Higgins bets he can transform Eliza into a refined lady within six months. Pickering agrees to cover the expenses if Higgins succeeds. This bet becomes a source of conflict because Higgins and Pickering treat it as a game, while Eliza sees it as a life-altering opportunity.

Mrs. Pearce and Mrs. Higgins' Concerns

In Acts II and III, Mrs. Pearce and Mrs. Higgins express worries about Eliza and the experiment. Initially, Mrs. Pearce is concerned about Eliza's background, but later she tries to make Higgins see how he has to behave with Eliza. They represent the idea that education is not as important as money, responsibility, respect, and concern for others.

Social Criticism with the Eynsford Hills

Shaw uses Eliza's interactions with the Eynsford Hill family to highlight social criticism. The Eynsford Hills are pretentious and not wealthy, serving as a parody of upper-middle-class behavior. Shaw ridicules their actions, showing how the middle and lower classes imitate the upper class, and exposes the hypocrisy in human relations.

Contrasting Generations

Shaw contrasts the young characters (Clara, Freddy, and Eliza) with the older ones (Mrs. Eynsford Hill, Mrs. Higgins, and Professor Higgins) in Act III to show how manners have changed over time. The younger generation has different ways of speaking and acting compared to the older one.

Eliza's Progress

Up to Act III, Eliza's progress is presented as Higgins' creation. She behaves as instructed, but she lacks awareness of her actions, resembling a machine or a robot, like the Pygmalion sculpture.