Themes: Subversion of Conventional Romance
Higgins and Eliza are clearly the two major figures in the play, which explores their feelings for each other in some depth. These are not conventionally romantic feelings, however, and the play does not not have a conventional happy ending—or even a conclusive one. Shaw objected to plots where the hero marries the heroine and tended to avoid them in all his plays. He wrote a long epilogue or “sequel” to Pygmalion at least partly to make it clear that Eliza will not marry or have a conventional romantic relationship with Higgins. In the last paragraph, he says that she sometimes longs to “drag him off his pedestal and see him making love like any common man,” but she will never do so. She finds Higgins immensely interesting. There is a sense in which she loves him, but she does not like him as she likes Freddy, for “his relation to her is too godlike to be altogether agreeable.”
Shaw states it as a simple fact that in real life, Eliza would marry Freddy, a man close to her own age whom she likes and who makes her feel comfortable, rather than have a passionate but probably dysfunctional relationship with Higgins. In addition, he regards Eliza’s choice as perfectly sensible. Her strong personality is more compatible with Freddy’s weak one than it is with Higgins’s equally strong character. It is for the best that Eliza’s fantasies about Higgins should remain fantasies. Higgins himself certainly has feelings for Eliza, but he is too devoted to his work—and perhaps to his mother—to make a good husband. The complexities of Higgins and Eliza’s feelings for one another do not allow a simple solution, such as marriage or even a love affair. They are not shoehorned into any type of conventional arrangement but remain complex and difficult to define. The “sequel” describes Eliza and Freddy’s marriage in realistic terms: not unhappy, but far from a fairy tale or even a traditional comedy.
Expert Q&A
What is Higgins implying about gender relations in this quote from Pygmalion?
Well, I haven't. I find that the moment I let a woman make friends with me, she becomes jealous, exacting, suspicious, and a damned nuisance. I find that the moment I let myself make friends with a woman, I become selfish and tyrannical. Women upset everything. When you let them into your life, you find that the woman is driving at one thing and you're driving at another . . . Lord knows! I suppose the woman wants to live her own life; and the man wants to live his; and each tries to drag the other on to the wrong track.
Higgins implies that gender relations are adversarial and imbalanced. He believes that men and women are inherently incompatible, with each trying to dominate the other. This view reflects his rigid and domineering attitude towards Eliza, seeing relationships as battlegrounds without compromise. Shaw, through Higgins, critiques societal norms, advocating for equality and mutual respect between genders.
In Shaw's Pygmalion, why does Liza decide to marry Freddy?
Liza decides to marry Freddy because she desires kindness and warmth, qualities she finds lacking in Higgins, who is aloof and unchangeable. Despite Higgins' sincere words in Act V, Liza interprets his intentions as seeing her merely as a convenient servant. Freddy, although less competent, offers her the affection she seeks. Additionally, Higgins' callousness and lack of apology solidify her decision to choose Freddy over continuing her strained relationship with Higgins.
What does Higgins claim he could achieve by changing Eliza in Pygmalion?
In Pygmalion, what relationship does Liza reject with Higgins and her father?
Liza rejects being objectified and used by both Higgins and her father. Her father views her as a source of money, while Higgins treats her merely as an experiment to boost his reputation. Liza desires respect and independence, aspiring to own her own flower shop. She resents being seen as a project or a means to an end and wishes to be appreciated for her intelligence and ambition.
How does Eliza's reaction to her bath relate to the Pygmalion myth?
Eliza's reaction to her bath in "Pygmalion" mirrors the Pygmalion myth, as she is unaware of her own beauty and values her integrity and hard work over extravagance. The bath symbolizes a transformation, similar to Pygmalion's statue coming to life. Eliza's exclamations of "I'm a good girl" highlight her discomfort with luxury and change, paralleling the awakening to a new life she cannot return from, much like Galatea's transformation.
Significance of the Title "Pygmalion" and Its Mythological and Romantic Elements
The title "Pygmalion" in George Bernard Shaw's play draws from the Greek myth where Pygmalion, a sculptor, falls in love with a statue he created, which is then brought to life by Aphrodite. Similarly, in Shaw's play, Professor Higgins transforms Eliza Doolittle, a flower girl, into a refined lady through education. This mirrors the myth's themes of transformation and creation. However, Shaw satirizes social class distinctions, highlighting that such changes are superficial, emphasizing nurture over nature.
Eliza's transformation and relationships in Pygmalion
Eliza's transformation in Pygmalion involves her development from a flower girl with a strong accent to a refined lady, thanks to Henry Higgins' phonetic training. Her relationships evolve as well, particularly her complex dynamic with Higgins, who sees her as a project rather than an equal, and her growing self-awareness leads her to seek independence and respect.
What do Eliza's comments in Pygmalion reveal about Higgins as the "wise old man" archetype and his success or failure in transforming Eliza?
"Is Eliza a victim of a language experiment in Pygmalion?"
Eliza is a victim of a language experiment as she is transformed by Professor Higgins in "Pygmalion." He claims he can turn her from a low-class flower girl into a lady by altering her speech. The experiment leads Eliza to expect a new life, but Higgins fails to fully integrate her into the society he promised, leaving her unable to return to her former life or fully embrace a new one.
Eliza as a representation of a new type of feminist character in George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion"
In George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," Eliza represents a new type of feminist character by evolving from a flower girl to an independent woman. Her transformation challenges traditional gender roles, highlighting her self-reliance and desire for self-improvement. Eliza's journey underscores her quest for equality and respect, making her a pioneering figure in feminist literature.
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