Pygmalion is in many ways a Cinderella story with its transformation of a poor but lovely young girl into a princess. But is Eliza the only character to undergo such a transformation? Consider her father, Alfred Doolittle, as well as Henry Higgins himself. Describe the other transformations. Whose transformation is the most significant? Why?
In many ways, Pygmalion is a Cinderella story. Eliza Doolittle is transformed from a poor, dirty flower girl into a beautiful upper-class darling. However, she is not the only character to undergo a transformation. For example, Eliza’s father Alfred Doolittle undergoes a transformation much like Eliza’s. At the beginning of the play Alfred is a dustman. He’s dirty, crude, and honest about making a mostly dishonest living. When he isn’t working his job, he’s mooching off people for enough money to get drunk. It’s established he wasn’t much of a father to Eliza either. It’s implied he beat her, and considering the poverty he lives in, he didn’t provide for her all that well. He turned her out as soon as he was able and doesn’t care about her until he realizes he can get money from her. In fact, he comes to meet Higgins for the first time to essentially pimp out his daughter. And not even for that much money. However, by the end of play he is a mostly changed man. In an ironic twist, Higgins arranges for Alfred to become a lecturer on morality. This proves to be a well-paying job and thus he is unwillingly thrust into the financial range of the middle class. Just like Eliza he must behave properly to fit in no matter how much he would wish not to. However, also like Eliza, he doesn’t change who he is essentially. Underneath all of the forced manners he’s had to adapt, he’s still the immoral undeserving pimp like he was in the beginning of the play.
Professor Henry Higgins also undergoes a transformation but in quite a different way. Eliza and Alfred both underwent more of a physical transformation; their appearance, speech, and things of that manner. Although not a big one, his transformation is of self. Higgins is characterized for his lack of manners and sensitivity to others. Throughout almost all of the play we see him being unintentionally rude and hurtful to people. He is uncaring for anyone other than himself and his interests. However, it seems there are internal changes taking place in him that we as an audience are unaware of until act four when Eliza gives back the ring he bought her. He gets furiously upset and mentions how wounded he is. This indicates that uncaring attitude changed somewhat through Eliza. Although he doesn’t show it, he grew to care for her.
Out of these three transformations I believe Eliza’s to be the most significant because of the commentary Shaw is making through it. When Eliza passes as a duchess at the ambassador’s party, I believe Shaw was implying anyone can be middle class with the proper manners. The only thing that divides the classes is the rituals and ways the separate classes interact with one another. The thing is you need money to be able to afford to learn how to do these rituals and interactions. Given a chance, the poor can come out shining; for example, no one could tell that Eliza was wickedly smart and a fast learner until she was given a chance to show it. I think Shaw was saying that if we did away with the divisions of class, the poor could merge with the well off. Even Alfred managed to do it, albeit grudgingly.
Professor Henry Higgins also undergoes a transformation but in quite a different way. Eliza and Alfred both underwent more of a physical transformation; their appearance, speech, and things of that manner. Although not a big one, his transformation is of self. Higgins is characterized for his lack of manners and sensitivity to others. Throughout almost all of the play we see him being unintentionally rude and hurtful to people. He is uncaring for anyone other than himself and his interests. However, it seems there are internal changes taking place in him that we as an audience are unaware of until act four when Eliza gives back the ring he bought her. He gets furiously upset and mentions how wounded he is. This indicates that uncaring attitude changed somewhat through Eliza. Although he doesn’t show it, he grew to care for her.
Out of these three transformations I believe Eliza’s to be the most significant because of the commentary Shaw is making through it. When Eliza passes as a duchess at the ambassador’s party, I believe Shaw was implying anyone can be middle class with the proper manners. The only thing that divides the classes is the rituals and ways the separate classes interact with one another. The thing is you need money to be able to afford to learn how to do these rituals and interactions. Given a chance, the poor can come out shining; for example, no one could tell that Eliza was wickedly smart and a fast learner until she was given a chance to show it. I think Shaw was saying that if we did away with the divisions of class, the poor could merge with the well off. Even Alfred managed to do it, albeit grudgingly.