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?
The classes represented in the play include the poor, the middle class, the rich, and the rich intellectuals. In the very beginning of the play, Eliza was either poorly treated or completely ignored by people of the higher classes solely because of her accent and her dirty appearance. Higgins called her names such as “bilious pigeon,” and the Eynsford Hills were concerned that Eliza might be acquainted with Freddy. The only reason Mrs. Eynsford Hill paid her money was to bribe her into telling them if she really knew Freddy. People of the lower class were automatically seen as unscrupulous or promiscuous because of the way they spoke and dressed, and nobody of the upper classes wanted to be associated with them. Their speech and clothing, however, were not outward manifestations of what they valued. Eliza Doolittle had more manners in her little finger than Higgins did in his entire being. She respected people for who they were and sought to be treated equally. The artificiality of the lower class also became apparent with Alfred Doolittle. While he was seen as a drunkard, he recognized the flaws of the wealthy and strove to enjoy his life by ignoring the judgmental eyes of society. The middle class was also looked down upon because it mostly consisted of people who were either poor and worked their way up, or people who were rich and lost their money. Working for money was despised because the ones who were truly wealthy had servants to perform work for them. In the Eynsford Hills’ case, they tried so hard to fit in with the upper class, but people knew they lost their money. While they came from a very wealthy bloodline, they did not have the money to make them true members of the rich class. Two sides of the rich intellectual class were shown through Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering. Higgins represented the side of the wealthy that thought of everyone else as dirt beneath their feet. Higgins treated Eliza like an object and failed to acknowledge her feelings after the ambassador’s garden party. Pickering was the ideal rich intellectual because he was well educated and treated everyone with respect. Membership in any of the previously described classes was mostly based on the patronym, and money. Speech and appearance were important because the owners of the flower shop that Eliza desired to work in would not hire her unless she learned how to speak proper English. While speech and appearance were used to classify people, they did not always determine what class one belonged to, as seen with Eliza’s social mobility. The characters that strove to move above their classes were Eliza Doolittle and the Eynsford Hills. Eliza’s ultimate goal was to improve her speech so she could work in a flower shop, and she dreamed of wearing the latest fashions and meeting members of the upper class. The Eynsford Hills endeavored to keep up with the latest trends to maintain their status in society. Alfred Doolittle, Mrs. Higgins, Professor Higgins, and Colonel Pickering wished to stay in their classes. Mr. Doolittle wanted to live as a free man away from the expectations that society placed on people entitled to money. He even became upset after he earned money because he was forced to follow certain manners. Society restricted his freedom because he was expected to give money to family members who previously never wanted to speak to him, and he had to pay servants to do his own work for him. He no longer felt he could do anything on his own after becoming a member of the middle class. Mrs. Higgins, Professor Higgins, and Colonel Pickering were well educated and wanted to maintain their elevated statuses in society. They all came from wealthy families and enjoyed the luxuries provided for them, such as chocolates and taxis.
The classes represented in the play include the poor, the middle class, the rich, and the rich intellectuals. In the very beginning of the play, Eliza was either poorly treated or completely ignored by people of the higher classes solely because of her accent and her dirty appearance. Higgins called her names such as “bilious pigeon,” and the Eynsford Hills were concerned that Eliza might be acquainted with Freddy. The only reason Mrs. Eynsford Hill paid her money was to bribe her into telling them if she really knew Freddy. People of the lower class were automatically seen as unscrupulous or promiscuous because of the way they spoke and dressed, and nobody of the upper classes wanted to be associated with them. Their speech and clothing, however, were not outward manifestations of what they valued. Eliza Doolittle had more manners in her little finger than Higgins did in his entire being. She respected people for who they were and sought to be treated equally. The artificiality of the lower class also became apparent with Alfred Doolittle. While he was seen as a drunkard, he recognized the flaws of the wealthy and strove to enjoy his life by ignoring the judgmental eyes of society. The middle class was also looked down upon because it mostly consisted of people who were either poor and worked their way up, or people who were rich and lost their money. Working for money was despised because the ones who were truly wealthy had servants to perform work for them. In the Eynsford Hills’ case, they tried so hard to fit in with the upper class, but people knew they lost their money. While they came from a very wealthy bloodline, they did not have the money to make them true members of the rich class. Two sides of the rich intellectual class were shown through Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering. Higgins represented the side of the wealthy that thought of everyone else as dirt beneath their feet. Higgins treated Eliza like an object and failed to acknowledge her feelings after the ambassador’s garden party. Pickering was the ideal rich intellectual because he was well educated and treated everyone with respect. Membership in any of the previously described classes was mostly based on the patronym, and money. Speech and appearance were important because the owners of the flower shop that Eliza desired to work in would not hire her unless she learned how to speak proper English. While speech and appearance were used to classify people, they did not always determine what class one belonged to, as seen with Eliza’s social mobility. The characters that strove to move above their classes were Eliza Doolittle and the Eynsford Hills. Eliza’s ultimate goal was to improve her speech so she could work in a flower shop, and she dreamed of wearing the latest fashions and meeting members of the upper class. The Eynsford Hills endeavored to keep up with the latest trends to maintain their status in society. Alfred Doolittle, Mrs. Higgins, Professor Higgins, and Colonel Pickering wished to stay in their classes. Mr. Doolittle wanted to live as a free man away from the expectations that society placed on people entitled to money. He even became upset after he earned money because he was forced to follow certain manners. Society restricted his freedom because he was expected to give money to family members who previously never wanted to speak to him, and he had to pay servants to do his own work for him. He no longer felt he could do anything on his own after becoming a member of the middle class. Mrs. Higgins, Professor Higgins, and Colonel Pickering were well educated and wanted to maintain their elevated statuses in society. They all came from wealthy families and enjoyed the luxuries provided for them, such as chocolates and taxis.