Analysis of Pygmalion

Analysis of "Pygmalion" by Bernard Shaw Numerous times a piece of literature is changed into a movie or musical it’s plot and or theme has been changed to suit the director’s thought of what would appeal to the public. One such example is Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. In this play Shaw’s purpose and ideas were horribly misconstrued to the point at which he was forced to write an Epilogue to try to reconcile the injustice done to his masterpiece. In the Epilogue he bluntly expressed his points and purposes so that the ignorant public could no longer discount Shaw’s theme of the play and change it in to a happy ending love story. Shaw’s outrage was set off by the director’s construction of characters and dialogue. Character’s roles were strengthened and belittled according to the director’s purpose. This was accomplished by added scenes, songs and changed dialogue accompanied with omitted scenes and minimizing other characters roles. One such character’s role that was altered and changed from Shaw’s entire purpose was Henry Higgins. The two main things that were altered in Henry Higgins character were his outlook on life and his profession accompanied closely by his relationship with Eliza. Higgins outlook on life and profession and over all character was enhanced and did little to change the over all-purpose of Shaw. But nonetheless in multiple and added and omitted scenes accompanied by songs explaining his thought process strengthened and changed his character. One such scene was on the street corner when Higgins told the crowd their origin and dialect. This was emphasized to show Higgins profession and abilities. Also a dialogue is added to voice Higgins extremist opinion on poor grammar and speech. It is best said in the quote, not found in the play, “A woman who utters such disgusting and depressing noises has no right to be anywhere, no right to live. Remember that you’re a human being with a soul and the divine gift of articulate speech. That your nature language is the language of Shakespeare, Milton, and the Bible, don’t sit there crooning like a bilious pigeon.” This quote is followed by the song “Why can’t the English teach their children to speak. These combined immensely strengthen Higgins views and opinion on language. Later Higgins voices like views on women with Colonel Pickering through the song “Why can’t a woman be more like a man.” In the play Higgins simply states he is a confirmed old bachelor but in the movie it is over dramatized in the song. The best contribution that the movie bestows upon the play is in the dialogue where he expresses his purpose for taking on the bet. He says what could be more gratifying than changing a person’s class and character solely through speech. This is and excellent line which captures Higgins purpose perfectly. The other aspect that was greatly changed which so enraged Shaw was Higgins’ and Eliza’s relationship. The move transfers from a condescending relationship to a love that will endure. It adds the scenes and events of Eliza’s teachings, which the play passed by shortly. This is where we see the change in their relationship. In the beginning of the drills Higgins makes Eliza say a phrase every night and he says,“ You’ll get much farther with the Lord if you learn not to offend his ears.” Then later he is drilling her with marbles and she swallows one and he assures her he has plenty more. This is the character that Shaw would of approved of. For the first time one late night Higgins affirms Eliza and converses with her civilly and tells her she will succeed. At this moment Eliza can speak clearly and perform all the drills flawlessly. And it was triggered by Higgins affirmation. Here Eliza is shown admiring the Professor and has a song in which her feelings are expressed. Then Higgins expresses that he wants to reward Eliza for her accomplishments. Later scenes show Higgins’ determination and stubbornness hand in hand with his confidence in Eliza. Many different things fantasize their relationship such as Higgins’ worry for Eliza at the ball. At the beginning of the movie he wouldn’t even have thought twice about her welfare. In the last song after Higgins was rebuked and discounted by Eliza he expresses that he loves and misses Eliza and doesn’t know what he will do without her. Then at the last scene where Eliza returns and Higgins is overjoyed to see her but contains himself with the line, “Where the devil are my slippers?” This stripped Eliza of her independence and thus enraged Shaw. Though the musical strengthened some aspects of the play, it mutilated Shaw’s purpose of making Eliza independent. In the book at the end Eliza is the alpha person and teacher while Higgins is the outcast and rebuked by society. But in the musical Eliza and Higgins are falling in love and Eliza will fetch his slippers. Through this belittled characterization of Eliza, Higgins character is strengthened. This is just another way of the many that Higgins character was strengthened. The two points mentioned above are the main changes in the conversion from the play to the musical adaptation. You ask a person if he has read a certain book; or a student watches a movie or musical; in substitution for the literature and they think that are the same. But as displayed in this essay the original literature and the movie or musical can be totally different. This will always be true because not all literature will be appealing to the public or satisfy its needs and wants for perfect endings and tranquility. Thus you can never judge a book by the movie.

Class Differences in Shaw's Pygmalion Pygmalion illustrates the difference and tension between the  upper and lower class. A basic belief of the period was that a person is born into a class and that no one  can move from one class to another. Shaw, on the contrary, believed that personality isn't defined by birth.  Instead, he thought that you can achieve social change if you really believe in yourself. As to the play, the  barriers between classes aren't natural and can be broken down.  Eliza and Alfred Doolittle, originally living in bad conditions, represent the working class. What happens to  Eliza and her father expresses Shaws belief that people are able to improve their lives through their own  efforts, but they have to consider that their character might change as well. Thus it doesn't seem  astonishing that the difference between a lady and a flower girl lies rather in her treatment than in her  behaviour. Shaw's criticism is obviously in the paradox of Alfred's character: He is happy being poor and  miserable being rich. In the same way, Doolittle shows how difficult it can be to change one's whole  personality. Once he becomes wealthy, he adapts to the conventions of the upper class and fears the lower  class. Instead of this development, one should develop one's own personal, flexible code of behavior. The  upper class regards background and wealth as decisive and is keen to preserve class distinctions. In the  play they are represented by the Eynsford Hills appearing dishonest towards themselves. They escape from  reality and prefer an illusion. This can be explained by the fact that the Eynsford Hills are lacking money,  but refuse to go earning their own living. At the end, Clara can be seen as an exception because she  makes up her mind and takes an honest, realistic look at her own life.

Evolution in George Bernard Shaw's PygmalionIn the play, Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw,  Professor Higgins, an expert in the art of speech, bets Colonel Pickering, another master of phonetics, that  he can take a common flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, and pass her off as a duchess at an ambassador's  Garden Party. During this story, Shaw uses the characters to demonstrate the necessity of human  evolution. As Eliza's verbal ability increases, so does her personality and self­esteem; and Higgins's failure  to recognize her changes leads to a severe strain on their relationship.                                                 Eliza  begins the story as an unstable, insecure character who acknowledges her membership in the less  privileged class but still tries desperately to prevent those above her from thinking poorly of her. She feels  she must emphasize the fact that she's "a respectable girl,"1 even though she is somewhat timid. When  Higgins is seen taking down notes of her speech, and is suspected of being a policeman, she becomes  defensive and is willing to "take [a] bible oath [she] never said a word"

Eliza as a Strong, Assertive Woman in Pygmalion   Bernard Shaw’s comedy Pygmalion presents the  journey of an impoverished flower girl into London’s society of the early 20th century.  Professor Higgins  proposes a wager to his friend Colonel Pickering that he can take a common peddler and transform her into  royalty. Eliza Doolittle is the pawn in the wager. But little does Higgins know the change will go far beyond  his expectations: Eliza transforms from a defensive insecure girl to a fully confident,strong, and  independent woman. When the audience first meets Eliza Doolittle she is a flower girl peddling at 11 PM in  front of St. Paul’s Church. The audience’s first impression is one of sympathy because she is dressed in  rags and pedestrians are unkind to her. Higgins calls Eliza "you squashed cabbage leaf, you disgrace to the  noble architecture of these columns, you incarnate insult to the English language." (p. 21) The audience’s 

sympathy is intensified when we see Eliza’s wretched lodgings. These lodgings are much contrasted to  those of Higgins in Wimploe S

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 utilised 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 utilises 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, the audience is witness to the many ways that an individual can be dehumanised  through the socialisation process. Issues of both class and gender arise from the tensions within the play  that surround the interactions between Higgins and Liza and the viewer is able to openly question the  values that exist within a society that judges the character of

Pygmalion is a sad play. There is no humour in it at all. Discuss.  'Pygmalion' is the story of a London flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, who is turned into a lady by Professor  Higgins, an elocution teacher. This  essay will analyse whether or not 'Pygmalion' is a sad play and whether or not 'Pygmalion' has any humour  in it at all. Some audiences  would oppose the idea that 'Pygmalion' has no humour is in, as there are many comical elements with in  the play. For example Eliza's accent  at the beginning of the play and the way in which Higgin's feelings and sarcasm is portrayed.  Some people may believe and support the statement, "'Pygmalion' is a sad play. There is no humour in it at  all," as some parts of  'Pygmalion' are tragic and sad. For example Eliza is treat in a disrespectful and hurtful way by Higgins,  "wrap her up in brown paper  till they come," shows how Higgins believes Eliza has no self dignity or respect and suggests Higgins to be  a cold hearted and cruel man.  Mrs. Pearce is also abrupt and mean to Eliza to begin with, this is particularly shown in the incide...

"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 utilised 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 utilises 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, the audience is witness to the many ways that an individual can be 

dehumanised through the socialisation process. Issues of both class and gender arise from the tensions  within the play that surround the interactions between Higgins and Liza.