Throughout Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, it becomes clear Eliza Doolittle has very distinct character traits. One of the strongest of these traits is independence. Eliza’s independence is shown several times throughout the play, and it is first seen as she explains why she wants to further her linguistic education. During the early 1900s in which Pygmalion is set, the main goal of most women was to be lady like enough to find themself a husband, but this is not Eliza’s current goal. Eliza wants to be lady like so that she can have a supportive job at a flower shop to better herself. This shows a great deal of independence on her part. To continue, Eliza’s independence continues to be shown as her attitude towards antagonist Henry Higgins
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Throughout the play, Eliza quickly reveals how complex and sensitive she really is. This is highlighted by treatment by Henry Higgins throughout the course of the play. When Eliza shows up at Higgins’ home to be taught as a lady, Higgins has a lot to say to her. The main portion of this, is that Eliza is not good enough and not wealthy enough to pay for lessons from him, but he wants to teach her as an experiment. He even says, “It’s almost irresistible. She’s so deliciously low-so horribly dirty-”(Act 2). To which Eliza responds, “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ow-ow-oooo!!! I ain’t dirty: I washed my face and hands afore I come, I did,”(Act 2). Eliza’s quick response to this show her sensitivity to be foreseen as dirty and lower class by those above her. In addition to this, when Higgins accuses her of using extra pocket money to drink, Eliza becomes very offended. She snaps back, “Oh you are a brute. It’s a lie: nobody ever saw the sign of liquor on me,”(Act 2). The nature of the word choice Eliza uses against him, calling him a brute, shows her sensitivity to being seen as poor scum by others. Also, the quickness of the responses to the accusations Higgins makes against Eliza show that she is not willing to be seen as any lower than she believes she should, increasing her ability to be seen as sensitive. In addition, Eliza also threatens to leave Higgins several times before he can even teach her because of the way …show more content…
Almost everyone in the play has some kind of admiration of Eliza either as soon as they meet her or after they have gotten to know her. In the beginning of the play, the likeable factor of Eliza comes from her ability to lighten any situation with her improper grammar. For example, when Eliza repeatedly talks about being a “good girl” at the beginning of the play, everyone who hears this finds it funny because she is just a poor flower girl. Although her audience is laughing at her, they still do like her company. After Eliza has shifted to a lady in the end of the play, people still admire her, some would say even more. For example, Freddy is quite infatuated with Eliza in the novel. “Freddy Hill writes me twice and three times a day, sheets and sheets...And he does love me,”(Act 5). Eliza most likely mentions this relationship with Freddy to make Higgins jealous, but it can be seen that he truly does love her because he does actually write these letters to her. Progressing forward, Mrs. Higgins also finds Eliza a likeable girl. She even lets her take shelter in her home after she runs away from Higgins. Letting Eliza take shelter in her home could have threatened her relationship with her son, which is very strong, but she still allowed it. Finally, Pickering could be seen to like Eliza the most. From the minute he meets her, he is head over heels with her life and her language, but as
Throughout the play, Eliza quickly reveals how complex and sensitive she really is. This is highlighted by treatment by Henry Higgins throughout the course of the play. When Eliza shows up at Higgins’ home to be taught as a lady, Higgins has a lot to say to her. The main portion of this, is that Eliza is not good enough and not wealthy enough to pay for lessons from him, but he wants to teach her as an experiment. He even says, “It’s almost irresistible. She’s so deliciously low-so horribly dirty-”(Act 2). To which Eliza responds, “Ah-ah-ah-ah-ow-ow-oooo!!! I ain’t dirty: I washed my face and hands afore I come, I did,”(Act 2). Eliza’s quick response to this show her sensitivity to be foreseen as dirty and lower class by those above her. In addition to this, when Higgins accuses her of using extra pocket money to drink, Eliza becomes very offended. She snaps back, “Oh you are a brute. It’s a lie: nobody ever saw the sign of liquor on me,”(Act 2). The nature of the word choice Eliza uses against him, calling him a brute, shows her sensitivity to being seen as poor scum by others. Also, the quickness of the responses to the accusations Higgins makes against Eliza show that she is not willing to be seen as any lower than she believes she should, increasing her ability to be seen as sensitive. In addition, Eliza also threatens to leave Higgins several times before he can even teach her because of the way …show more content…
Almost everyone in the play has some kind of admiration of Eliza either as soon as they meet her or after they have gotten to know her. In the beginning of the play, the likeable factor of Eliza comes from her ability to lighten any situation with her improper grammar. For example, when Eliza repeatedly talks about being a “good girl” at the beginning of the play, everyone who hears this finds it funny because she is just a poor flower girl. Although her audience is laughing at her, they still do like her company. After Eliza has shifted to a lady in the end of the play, people still admire her, some would say even more. For example, Freddy is quite infatuated with Eliza in the novel. “Freddy Hill writes me twice and three times a day, sheets and sheets...And he does love me,”(Act 5). Eliza most likely mentions this relationship with Freddy to make Higgins jealous, but it can be seen that he truly does love her because he does actually write these letters to her. Progressing forward, Mrs. Higgins also finds Eliza a likeable girl. She even lets her take shelter in her home after she runs away from Higgins. Letting Eliza take shelter in her home could have threatened her relationship with her son, which is very strong, but she still allowed it. Finally, Pickering could be seen to like Eliza the most. From the minute he meets her, he is head over heels with her life and her language, but as