MUCH IS MADE OF “MIDDLE CLASS MORALITY” IN PYGMALION. TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS PHRASE AN OXYMORON? WHAT IS SHAW SUGGESTING ABOUT THE RULES AND TRADITIONS OF HIS CLASS?
In Pygmalion, much is made of middle class morality. Or really, the lack thereof. In Pygmalion Shaw makes constant jabs at the hypocritical ideals of the upper class. As Alfred Doolittle states in the play, the middle class is forced into morality. Society views wealthier people as more elevated so according to society they must have elevated ideals as well whether they believe in them or not. The phrase middle class morality is an oxymoron to a certain extent because Shaw makes it clear that the generalized middle class is not genuinely moral. They are only “moral” to keep up appearances. In fact, the upper class is established on keeping up appearances. This is how they remain within their class which is built upon appearances and presentation of self. They will be moral when somebody is looking and will get away with as much immorality as society will allow. A great example of someone possessing flimsy middle class morality would be Clara Enysford Hill. In the beginning of the play when Clara and Eliza meet for the first time, Clara is cruel and contemptuous of Eliza even though she knows nothing about her. She is like this simply because Eliza is a poor flower girl and therefore she thinks Eliza is below her. Not exactly moral, but society deemed it ok for her to be that way because of her social standing and therefore she does it. When Clara and Eliza meet again for the second time at Mrs. Higgins at-home day, Clara is again a stranger to Eliza. This time, however, Clara acts in awe of Eliza and obviously holds her in high regard. In this situation, Clara treats her with respect and worship because society would expect her too. So she is only moral when it is expected of her.
I believe Shaw is suggesting that the rules and traditions of his class are hypocritical. They seem sure that they are the superior human beings to the poor because they are more refined and well off. When in reality, they are just more constricted by society’s expectations than the poor are. The middle class looks down on the lower class because they believe they are not as morally inclined. This is not the case; society just has different expectations for the poor. They expect them to act a certain way and so they do. Just as the middle class is expected to act a certain way and does. The only thing standing between these two divisions is money. Money translates out into things like better education, material objects, and manners, the things that definitively separate the classes. When you get down to it that’s the only barrier. Not moral code. Thus the fact that the middle class thinks themselves higher than the lower is hypocritical because they are just as immoral or moral as them, they have only been placed in different circumstances.
Also, I believe Shaw is making commentary that all the rules and traditions of his class can be silly. In Pygmalion, we see Eliza traverse both the life of the poor and the rich. Therefore we get an inside view into both. It makes it easy to compare the two and in comparison it becomes evident to the audience just how silly the middle class can be. When Eliza is poor and fighting for survival, everything is about practicality. She has no time or money for anything else. Her life is simple and down to earth. However when she is learning the ways of the wealthy, we see her caught up in all sorts of traditions and rules that appear silly and unnecessary when compared to her previously practical life. I believe it takes an outside view to be a good critic and Shaw provides that for the audience with a view into both worlds.
I believe Shaw is suggesting that the rules and traditions of his class are hypocritical. They seem sure that they are the superior human beings to the poor because they are more refined and well off. When in reality, they are just more constricted by society’s expectations than the poor are. The middle class looks down on the lower class because they believe they are not as morally inclined. This is not the case; society just has different expectations for the poor. They expect them to act a certain way and so they do. Just as the middle class is expected to act a certain way and does. The only thing standing between these two divisions is money. Money translates out into things like better education, material objects, and manners, the things that definitively separate the classes. When you get down to it that’s the only barrier. Not moral code. Thus the fact that the middle class thinks themselves higher than the lower is hypocritical because they are just as immoral or moral as them, they have only been placed in different circumstances.
Also, I believe Shaw is making commentary that all the rules and traditions of his class can be silly. In Pygmalion, we see Eliza traverse both the life of the poor and the rich. Therefore we get an inside view into both. It makes it easy to compare the two and in comparison it becomes evident to the audience just how silly the middle class can be. When Eliza is poor and fighting for survival, everything is about practicality. She has no time or money for anything else. Her life is simple and down to earth. However when she is learning the ways of the wealthy, we see her caught up in all sorts of traditions and rules that appear silly and unnecessary when compared to her previously practical life. I believe it takes an outside view to be a good critic and Shaw provides that for the audience with a view into both worlds.