Pygmalion

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

Pygmalion

About the Book/Author

Year Published – 1912 Before WWI, during the early spread of socialist values in

Europe.Shaw was the son of an unsuccessful Irish

merchantMoved to London in 1876Had a background in economics and politics,

Shaw’s writing has principles of socialism.Received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1925.In 1950, Shaw fell off a ladder while trimming a

tree and died at age 94.Founded the Fabian Society (socialist political

organization formed to transform Britain through education into a socialist state)

Legend of Pygmalion

Pygmalion, a Cypriot sculptor, carved a woman out of ivory. According to Ovid, after seeing the Propoetides prostituting themselves, he is 'not interested in women', but his statue is so realistic that he falls in love with it. He offers the statue presents and eventually prays to Venus (Aphrodite). He wants his wife to be like the statue. She takes sympathy on him and brings the statue to life. They marry and have a son, Paphos.

Theme

People look down at others who do not speak properly – if someone speaks properly, everyone thinks they are educated.

Amount of money can change one's social status,It is important to have manners in order to

communicate effectively with the general society.No matter what, it is hard for one to adapt to a

new social status or role.Social-class differences are artificial, and it would

be better if we would rise above them.It is wrong to treat people as objects and people

should treat one another with equal amounts of respect.

Treat others how you want to be treated.

Characters

Henry Higgins – phonetician, makes a bet with Colonel Pickering to transform Eliza into a lady

Eliza Doolittle - an uneducated, flower girl from the “gutter,” speaks with cockney accent

Characters

Colonel Pickering – Author of Spoken Sanskrit, Pickering becomes the caring, kind voice in Higgins’s scientific experiment.

Alfred Doolittle - Eliza's father, "an elderly but vigorous dustman..."

Mrs. Higgins - Henry Higgins's  mother, disapproves and warns Higgins and Pickering of the experiment to turn Eliza into a lady

Mrs. Pearce – Henry Higgins’s housekeeper, a sensible, proud woman.  Warns Higgins to set himself as a good example to Eliza.

Characters

Frederick Eynsford Hill – Infatuated with Eliza, not of any use

Miss Clara Eynsford Hill – Freddy’s sister, who always seems to boss him around.

Mrs. Eynsford Hill – Freddy’s mother, meets Eliza again at a meeting at Mrs. Higgins house. The family is astonished at Eliza.

The Hills are not wealthy but continuously try to climb the social ladder

Nepommuck - Henry Higgins's first language student, speak many different languages.

Telling Quotes

“"You can spot an Irishman or a Yorkshireman by his brogue.  I can place any man within six miles.  I can place him within two miles in London.  Sometimes within two streets.“ The Note Taker (A.K.A. Higgins), Act I

“Happy is the man who can make a living by his hobby!” Higgins, Act I

“Women upset everything. When you let them into your life, you find that the woman is driving at one thing and youre driving at another." Higgins, Act II

“I have to live for others and not for myself; that's middle-class morality.” Doolittle, Act V

Telling Quotes

“Ah—ah—ah—ow—ow—oo!” Eliza"Walk! Not bloody likely [Sensation]. I am going to

take a taxi." Eliza, Act III"I sold flowers. I didn't sell myself. Now you've

made a lady of me I'm not fit to sell anything else." Eliza, Act IV

“The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she's treated.” Eliza, Act V

"Your calling me Miss Doolittle that day when I first came to Wimpole Street. That was the beginning of self-respect for me.” Eliza, Act V

Essay Prompt! ;x

“2003, Form B. Novels and plays often depict characters caught between colliding cultures -- national, regional, ethnic, religious, institutional. Such collisions can call a character's sense of identity into question. Select a novel or play in which a character responds to such a cultural collision. Then write a well-organized essay in which you describe the character's response and explain its relevance to the work as a whole.” – AP Prompt, Open Question