Discussion Topic
Colonel Pickering's Characterization and Significance in Shaw's Pygmalion
Summary:
Colonel Pickering in Shaw's Pygmalion is characterized as a kind, considerate, and gentlemanly figure. His significance lies in his contrasting behavior to Professor Higgins, treating Eliza with respect and dignity. Pickering's courteous demeanor highlights the social themes in the play, emphasizing the importance of manners and humanity over class distinctions and phonetics.
How is Colonel Pickering characterized in act 2 of Pygmalion?
At the beginning of act 2, Colonel Pickering, who only met Professor Higgins the night before, is firmly established as his friend and sidekick, rather like Sherlock Holmes's Dr. Watson. He is not as intelligent or as charismatic as Higgins and is quite well aware of this. Their inequality in ability does not bother him in the slightest, and one of the first characteristics to become evident is his likeable modesty:
I rather fancied myself because I can pronounce twenty-four distinct vowel sounds; but your hundred and thirty beat me. I can't hear a bit of difference between most of them.
Pickering was introduced in the previous act simply as "the Gentleman," and he always behaves in a gentlemanly manner. He shows this characteristic in a fairly trivial way when he reveals his sporting inclination for a wager ("a gentleman and a sportsman" was a common description of such a...
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man in the Edwardian era) and displays his financial generosity at the same time:
Higgins, I'm interested. What about the ambassador's garden party? I'll say you're the greatest teacher alive if you make that good. I'll bet you all the expenses of the experiment you can't do it. And I'll pay for the lessons.
However, Pickering shows the more serious side of his nature when he questions Higgins about his intentions toward Eliza. He shows here that he is a gentleman in moral terms, particularly in his treatment of women. He is not only kinder and more courteous to Eliza than Higgins is, treating her as a lady. He also demonstrates concern for her wellbeing:
PICKERING. Excuse the straight question, Higgins. Are you a man of good character where women are concerned?
HIGGINS. [moodily] Have you ever met a man of good character where women are concerned?
PICKERING. Yes: very frequently.
Pickering, therefore, emerges from act 2 as a modest, conventional man of somewhat limited intelligence. He behaves generously to those around him, has sporting instincts, and is kindly, decent, and honorable.
What is the significance of Colonel Pickering's role in Shaw's Pygmalion?
Colonel Pickering is not terribly important to the main plot of Shaw's Pygmalion, which centers on Eliza's transformation and Higgins's commentary. The transformation of Eliza from a disenfranchised, impoverished young woman to a seeming "Lady" illustrates the class snobbery and economic injustice pertaining in Britain in the Edwardian era.
However, Pickering does function meaningfully in two ways. First, as a scholar of dialect himself, he gives Higgins an audience by which Shaw can express his own views. Without a sympathetic ear, much of Higgins's pronouncements might seem out of place. Similarly, Pickering is clearly a decent fellow, and his tolerance of Higgins's eccentricities and his respect for Higgins's work gives the audience a perspective that softens their response to Higgins. Pickering filters potential objections to the theories espoused and the actions practiced.
Pickering also softens Higgins's approach to Eliza, a young woman with whom the audience must sympathize. Pickering makes the bizarre undertaking of transforming a flower girl into a respectable British woman tenable. His kindness allows all to go along with the bet and, therefore, the plot.