Shaw explores the artificiality of class distinctions throughout Pygmalion. Trace this theme throughout the play. What classes are represented in the play? On what factors is membership based? Which characters strive to move above their class? Which wish to stay as they are? What are their reasons?
In the play Pygmalion, the upper and lower class are represented and analyzed critically through various characters. In the very first act, several people from these classes are brought together under a church by a rainstorm. Eliza, simply known as the flower girl in the first act, is the poorest of these group of people. She is easily discerned from the other richer people. She has a thick cockney accent, worn clothes, and a dirty countenance. This is in sharp contrast to the theater goers who are stuck under the church as well. They are all well off and dress the part. Their accents are refined with aristocracy and most of them are contemptuous of Eliza and people of her class.
Memberships into these certain classes are based on a person’s income and their outwardly appearance. A person’s income determines what lessons, education, and clothing they can afford, thus what they look and speak like, and thus what class they fit into. The poorest class makes the smallest amount of income. This class can’t afford high education nor lessons in manners or nice clothing so membership into the lowest class requires poor manners, dress, and speech. The higher class is quite the opposite. This class can afford what they need to be considered high society. Not only that, but most of this class is raised in high society and therefore bred to fit in. They are given the tools of speech and etiquette they need and the income required to buy nice clothing. Therefore membership to the higher class requires a hefty income, proper etiquette, and a nice physical appearance. Please keep in mind that these are generalities; within each class there are varying degrees of distinction and many exceptions. Professor Higgins is an exception to the rule that the higher class is defined by proper manners. He has the money required and the personage, but he’s rude and scandalous. Also, the Ensyford Hills would be an exception to the rule that higher class is defined by a large income. They have all the breeding required but are broke and need Clara and Freddy to marry into money to continue living as high class.
Eliza is the only character in Pygmalion that actively strives to move above her position in life. She wants to move up from a common flower girl and make a respectable, comfortable living for herself. In fact, the first reason she comes to Higgins is so she can learn to speak well enough to become a flower girl in a shop. While she never verbally expresses this ambition, we can infer through the way she lives that she wants a nicer life. For example, the pictures of nice dresses and a movie star on her wall implies she wants decorations and nice things. Also, how she sticks to a moral code like the middle class by staying “a good girl” illustrates she wishes to be of the same caliber as them.
On the other hand, there are many characters in the play that wish to stay where they are in life. Alfred Doolittle particularly. He wants to remain in poverty because he doesn’t want to become bound by “middle class morality”. He explains that he is an immoral man. He likes to drink, cheat, and sleep around. Therefore he like his he likes his position in life because the lower class is expected to be immoral anyway. If he were to become middle class (which he does unwillingly) then society would expect him to be righteous; he would be an immoral man in a moral world.
Memberships into these certain classes are based on a person’s income and their outwardly appearance. A person’s income determines what lessons, education, and clothing they can afford, thus what they look and speak like, and thus what class they fit into. The poorest class makes the smallest amount of income. This class can’t afford high education nor lessons in manners or nice clothing so membership into the lowest class requires poor manners, dress, and speech. The higher class is quite the opposite. This class can afford what they need to be considered high society. Not only that, but most of this class is raised in high society and therefore bred to fit in. They are given the tools of speech and etiquette they need and the income required to buy nice clothing. Therefore membership to the higher class requires a hefty income, proper etiquette, and a nice physical appearance. Please keep in mind that these are generalities; within each class there are varying degrees of distinction and many exceptions. Professor Higgins is an exception to the rule that the higher class is defined by proper manners. He has the money required and the personage, but he’s rude and scandalous. Also, the Ensyford Hills would be an exception to the rule that higher class is defined by a large income. They have all the breeding required but are broke and need Clara and Freddy to marry into money to continue living as high class.
Eliza is the only character in Pygmalion that actively strives to move above her position in life. She wants to move up from a common flower girl and make a respectable, comfortable living for herself. In fact, the first reason she comes to Higgins is so she can learn to speak well enough to become a flower girl in a shop. While she never verbally expresses this ambition, we can infer through the way she lives that she wants a nicer life. For example, the pictures of nice dresses and a movie star on her wall implies she wants decorations and nice things. Also, how she sticks to a moral code like the middle class by staying “a good girl” illustrates she wishes to be of the same caliber as them.
On the other hand, there are many characters in the play that wish to stay where they are in life. Alfred Doolittle particularly. He wants to remain in poverty because he doesn’t want to become bound by “middle class morality”. He explains that he is an immoral man. He likes to drink, cheat, and sleep around. Therefore he like his he likes his position in life because the lower class is expected to be immoral anyway. If he were to become middle class (which he does unwillingly) then society would expect him to be righteous; he would be an immoral man in a moral world.