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.