Eliza Doolittle and Cinderella. Both these beautiful fictitious women have much in common, They undergo an enormous leap from the bottom to the top of their social pyramids with the aid of an unusual benefactor who alters their appearance to turn their rags to riches. However, the similarities stop there. Eliza Doolittle, the protagonist of the play Pygmalion by George Shaw set in early 20th century London, does not only have her appearance changed by her benefactor and mentor Professor Higgins, but her words and actions are as well. While Eliza undergoes these three stages of her metamorphosis into a sophisticated English duchess, Professor Higgins also goes through a minor transformation as well. In the beginning of the play, Eliza is portrayed
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Judgement day arrives and the three go to a party to see if Eliza could indeed be mistaken for a duchess. The night is successful and after their return Higgins and Pickering chat about their achievement while completely ignoring Eliza, the true genius behind the success. Higgins then becomes occupied with finding his slippers and still not acknowledging Eliza. She then reverts to her feisty self because of this and becomes so enraged that she hurls Higgins slippers at him, saying to him, “You don’t care. I know you don’t care. You wouldn’t care if I was dead. I’m nothing to you—not so much as them slippers” (Act IV) Eliza then flees with a dramatic exit, leaving Higgins distraught and surprisingly hurt. Eliza then returns to tell Higgins that she is going to marry Freddy, a gentleman she met at Mrs. HIggins’ party. Higgins begs Eliza to stay with him now that he can respect her as a strong woman who stands up for herself. This is shown as he says “ Five minutes ago you were like a millstone round my neck. Now you’re a tower of strength: a consort battleship. You and I and Pickering will be three old bachelors together instead of only two men and a silly girl.” (Act V) This signals Higgins’ change from someone who feels indifferent about everyone to someone who cares deeply about another. With Eliza still headstrong about wanting nothing to do with Higgins, he then has the gall to ask her to go and buy him things. The play concludes with Eliza gliding out the door after telling Higgins to buy them himself. In arrogant disbelief, Higgins remarks that “She’ll buy em all right enough. Good-bye.” (Act
Judgement day arrives and the three go to a party to see if Eliza could indeed be mistaken for a duchess. The night is successful and after their return Higgins and Pickering chat about their achievement while completely ignoring Eliza, the true genius behind the success. Higgins then becomes occupied with finding his slippers and still not acknowledging Eliza. She then reverts to her feisty self because of this and becomes so enraged that she hurls Higgins slippers at him, saying to him, “You don’t care. I know you don’t care. You wouldn’t care if I was dead. I’m nothing to you—not so much as them slippers” (Act IV) Eliza then flees with a dramatic exit, leaving Higgins distraught and surprisingly hurt. Eliza then returns to tell Higgins that she is going to marry Freddy, a gentleman she met at Mrs. HIggins’ party. Higgins begs Eliza to stay with him now that he can respect her as a strong woman who stands up for herself. This is shown as he says “ Five minutes ago you were like a millstone round my neck. Now you’re a tower of strength: a consort battleship. You and I and Pickering will be three old bachelors together instead of only two men and a silly girl.” (Act V) This signals Higgins’ change from someone who feels indifferent about everyone to someone who cares deeply about another. With Eliza still headstrong about wanting nothing to do with Higgins, he then has the gall to ask her to go and buy him things. The play concludes with Eliza gliding out the door after telling Higgins to buy them himself. In arrogant disbelief, Higgins remarks that “She’ll buy em all right enough. Good-bye.” (Act