Pygmalion

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

 About the Book/Author

Year Published – 1912

 Before WWI, during the early spread of socialist values in Europe.
Shaw was the son of an unsuccessful Irish merchant
Moved to London in 1876
Had a background in economics and politics, Shaw’s
writing has principles of socialism.
Received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1925.
In 1950, Shaw fell off a ladder while trimming a tree and
died at age 94.
Founded the Fabian Society (socialist political
organization formed to transform Britain through
education into a socialist state)
 Legend of Pygmalion

Pygmalion, a Cypriot sculptor, carved a woman out

of ivory. According to Ovid, after seeing the
Propoetides prostituting themselves, he is 'not
interested in women', but his statue is so realistic
that he falls in love with it. He offers the statue
presents and eventually prays to Venus (Aphrodite).
He wants his wife to be like the statue. She takes
sympathy on him and brings the statue to life. They
marry and have a son, Paphos.
 Theme

People look down at others who do not speak properly –

if someone speaks properly, everyone thinks they are
educated.
Amount of money can change one's social status,
It is important to have manners in order to communicate
effectively with the general society.
No matter what, it is hard for one to adapt to a new social
status or role.
Social-class differences are artificial, and it would be
better if we would rise above them.
It is wrong to treat people as objects and people should
treat one another with equal amounts of respect.
Treat others how you want to be treated.
 Characters

 Henry Higgins –
phonetician, makes a bet with
Colonel Pickering to
transform Eliza into a lady
 Eliza Doolittle - an
uneducated, flower girl from
the “gutter,” speaks with
cockney accent
 Characters

Colonel Pickering – Author of Spoken Sanskrit,

Pickering becomes the caring, kind voice in
Higgins’s scientific experiment.
Alfred Doolittle - Eliza's father, "an elderly but
vigorous dustman..."
Mrs. Higgins - Henry Higgins's mother,
disapproves and warns Higgins and Pickering of the
experiment to turn Eliza into a lady
Mrs. Pearce – Henry Higgins’s housekeeper, a
sensible, proud woman. Warns Higgins to set
himself as a good example to Eliza.
 Characters

 Frederick Eynsford Hill – Infatuated with Eliza, not of

any use
 Miss Clara Eynsford Hill – Freddy’s sister, who always
seems to boss him around.
 Mrs. Eynsford Hill – Freddy’s mother, meets Eliza again
at a meeting at Mrs. Higgins house. The family is
astonished at Eliza.
 The Hills are not wealthy but continuously try to climb the social
ladder
 Nepommuck - Henry Higgins's first language student,
speak many different languages.
 Telling Quotes

 “"You can spot an Irishman or a Yorkshireman by his

brogue. I can place any man within six miles. I can place
him within two miles in London. Sometimes within two
streets.“ The Note Taker (A.K.A. Higgins), Act I
 “Happy is the man who can make a living by his hobby!”
Higgins, Act I
 “Women upset everything. When you let them into your
life, you find that the woman is driving at one thing and
youre driving at another." Higgins, Act II
 “I have to live for others and not for myself; that's middle-
class morality.” Doolittle, Act V
 Telling Quotes

 “Ah—ah—ah—ow—ow—oo!” Eliza
 "Walk! Not bloody likely [Sensation]. I am going to take a
taxi." Eliza, Act III
 "I sold flowers. I didn't sell myself. Now you've made a lady
of me I'm not fit to sell anything else." Eliza, Act IV
 “The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how
she behaves, but how she's treated.” Eliza, Act V
 "Your calling me Miss Doolittle that day when I first came
to Wimpole Street. That was the beginning of self-respect
for me.” Eliza, Act V
 Essay Prompt! ;x

“2003, Form B. Novels and plays often depict

characters caught between colliding cultures --
national, regional, ethnic, religious, institutional.
Such collisions can call a character's sense of identity
into question. Select a novel or play in which a
character responds to such a cultural collision. Then
write a well-organized essay in which you describe
the character's response and explain its relevance to
the work as a whole.” – AP Prompt, Open Question