My Fair Lady

Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw, and the movie adaptation, My Fair Lady. Although both highlight the importance of phonetics and the teacher-student relationship that Henry and Eliza share, the alterations of the characters in the movie make it highly unrealistic. Henry Higgins exhibits aristocratic qualities and holds a prominent role in English society in the play, but his character in the film comes across as deluded, which undermines his elite status. Similarly, Eliza Doolittle, the protagonist, allows Henry…

Though many scholars may harshly criticize My Fair Lady for not adhering to Bernard Shaw’s intentions for Pygmalion, it is my conviction that the musical’s additions to his play should be celebrated, not castigated. The costumes, scenery, actions, and especially the songs significantly develop the characters, greatly enhance its comedic aspects, and fine tune many of Shaw’s themes; they are indispensable in gaining a full appreciation of Pygmalion. Songs play a vital role in developing Shaw’s…

both novel and film have similarities, they also share some major differences. One of the major differences was that My Fair Lady was a musical, while the novel by George Bernard Shaw was a written play. In the movie, several songs were sang by the characters. These songs were very good and really changed the whole aspect of the movie. While the characters were singing, they were…

when a child is brought to a foreign country, it picks up the language in three weeks, and forgets its own. Well, I am a child in your country. I have forgotten my own language, and can speak nothing but yours." Not only is Higgins just generally unfit to be with Eliza, in marriage aspects, but also he's twenty years older than her. Liza's still practically a child, though she seems about twenty. Higgins even plays with the idea that Liza could marry Pickering. To which she retorts,"I wouldn't…

Since the dawn of time, the world has gone through many changes. Some changes may be in the geological aspects of earth or may be in the people of the earth. The people of the earth go through changes all of the time, whether the person being a real person or if it being a character in a video game, television show, or even in a book. In books, most characters experience some kind of change. In George Bernard Shaw’s book Pygmalion the main character Eliza Doolittle experiences many different…

SA 2: "The Chrysanthemums" is a short story of John Steinbeck which reflects the frustration in the present life of Elisa Allen, strong and proud woman. This frustration arises from not having a child as well as from the dissatisfaction in a romantic relationship with her husband. The only possible way out for Elisa's frustration is her beautiful flower garden where she plants chrysanthemums. The author frequently uses chrysanthemums as a symbol as well as a number of other items in order to…

“The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated”(page 120). In the book Pygmalion written by George Bernard Shaw, the main character Eliza Doolittle started off as a flower girl in the gutter, soon after a man named Henry Higgins a phonetic instructor brought her in and taught her how to speak like a duchess. However, Eliza has changed her outer appearance immensely, she remains the same woman internally. Eliza Doolittle has a very strong…

conception devoid of human qualities. Nor may one forget the legends more recent and popular reincarnations. George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion and its musical My Fair Lady. There is something very unsettling about myth Pygmalion myth and many of its offshoots. They strike the reader or viewer as defying the logical balance that typically attends Greek mythology and most of all the transgression known as hubris; that is, the human conceit that a mere mortal could undertake a task that…

others in the group. Some of these types of nonverbal communication come together to demonstrate how in the film, the working class is shown as a more collectivist culture. Collectivism refers to the unity of a culture and the value it places on the group unit over the individual. (Wood, 2013) People like Eliza’s father, Alfred P. Doolittle (Stanley Holloway) are often shown dancing and celebrating with the group and are not focused on individual success over their peers. On the other hand, the…

The film "My Fair Lady" directed by George Cukor is an adaptation of the play "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw. The movie is set in London in the early 1900s. Although the film has too many songs, I believe that it is overall very good and has great actors and actresses castes to play the rolls, and scenes that are an addition to the book that add a great new taste! The movie My Fair Lady starts with the main character, Eliza, as a poor girl selling flowers on an England street corner. She…