Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw | Characters

Course Hero

18 Dec 201903:21

Summary

TLDRIn 'Pygmalion,' Professor Henry Higgins, a phonetics expert, transforms Eliza Doolittle, a lower-class flower girl, into a refined lady, showcasing her intelligence and ambition. Despite his scientific success, Higgins' disregard for Eliza's feelings leads to her quest for independence and self-respect. Supporting characters like Colonel Pickering, Doolittle, Mrs. Higgins, Freddie, and Mrs. Pearce add depth to the narrative, highlighting themes of class, manners, and personal growth.

Takeaways

🎭 The play 'Pygmalion' features seven central characters, each with distinct personalities and roles in the narrative.
🧙‍♂️ Professor Henry Higgins is a phonetics expert and the main character, who is robust, energetic, and scientifically inclined, yet insensitive to others' feelings.
🌟 Higgins undertakes the transformation of Eliza Doolittle from a flower girl to an upper-class lady, treating her primarily as a scientific experiment.
🌷 Eliza Doolittle, also known as Liza, is a smart and ambitious flower girl with a strong Cockney accent, representing London's lower class.
🔄 Eliza's transformation is not just external; her true change comes from being treated with respect and gaining self-respect.
🤴 Colonel Pickering is an elderly gentleman with a kind and courteous nature, who is supportive of Eliza's transformation.
👴 Doolittle, Eliza's father, is depicted as a happy but morally questionable dustman, willing to give up his daughter for a small sum of money.
👸 Mrs. Higgins is a perceptive upper-class woman who is aware of the potential issues arising from Higgins' experiment with Eliza and often corrects her son's manners.
💖 Freddie is a young, good-natured, and somewhat weak upper-class man who is infatuated with Eliza and shows genuine devotion to her.
🏠 Mrs. Pearce is Higgins's housekeeper, who ensures Eliza's proper care and advocates for her, pushing Higgins to consider Eliza's future.
🔄 The play explores themes of class, gender, and the power dynamics between the characters, with a focus on Eliza's journey towards independence and self-respect.

Q & A

Who is the central character in the play 'Pygmalion'?
-The central character in the play 'Pygmalion' is Henry Higgins, an authority on phonetics.
How is Higgins described in terms of his personality and profession?
-Higgins is described as a robust, vital, and appetizing man of around forty, an energetic scientific type, and an authority on phonetics.
What is the main transformation that Higgins performs in the play?
-Higgins transforms Eliza Doolittle, a flower girl, into an upper-class lady who can pass for a duchess.
How does Eliza Doolittle's transformation affect her sense of self-respect and independence?
-Eliza's transformation leads her to stand up for her independence and self-respect, as she is initially treated as merely an experiment by Higgins.
What is the role of Colonel Pickering in the play?
-Colonel Pickering is a character who is the author of spoken Sanskrit and a master of Indian dialects. He is an elderly gentleman with a generous and courteous nature, and he is kind to Eliza throughout her transformation.
What is the occupation and character of Doolittle, Eliza's father?
-Doolittle is an elderly but vigorous dustman, a happy member of the undeserving poor. He is reckless with money and has no morals, willing to turn his daughter over to Higgins for five pounds.
How does Mrs. Higgins, Henry Higgins' mother, perceive her son's manners and experiment with Eliza?
-Mrs. Higgins is a gracious upper-class member who is irritated by her son's lack of manners. She is intelligent and perceptive, quickly discerning the problems that her son's experiment will cause for Eliza.
What is the character of Freddie, and how does he relate to Eliza?
-Freddie is a young man from the upper class, good-natured but somewhat weak. He is infatuated with Eliza and, by the end of the play, Eliza suggests that she might marry him despite his lack of wealth and work ethic.
Who is Mrs. Pearce, and what is her role in the play?
-Mrs. Pearce is Higgins's housekeeper with a strong sense of propriety. She ensures that Eliza is cared for properly in the house and frequently pushes Higgins to show consideration for Eliza and to think about her future.
How does the relationship between Eliza and Mrs. Pearce evolve throughout the play?
-The relationship between Eliza and Mrs. Pearce grows stronger as the play progresses, with Mrs. Pearce becoming an advocate for Eliza's well-being and future.
What change occurs in Higgins' perspective towards Eliza by the end of the play?
-By the end of the play, Higgins gains a new perspective on Eliza, viewing her with respect, which is a significant shift from his initial treatment of her as an experiment.

Outlines

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🎭 Character Study in Pygmalion

This paragraph introduces the central characters of the play 'Pygmalion'. Professor Henry Higgins is a phonetics expert and a robust, energetic man in his forties, who is also emotionally detached, particularly towards Eliza, the flower girl he transforms into an upper-class lady. Eliza Doolittle, portrayed as a lower-class Londoner with a strong Cockney accent, is intelligent and ambitious, seeking to rise above her social status. Through Higgins' experiment, she gains self-respect and independence. Colonel Pickering, a kind and courteous gentleman, is a contrast to Higgins in his treatment of Eliza. The characters of Doolittle, Mrs. Higgins, Freddie, and Mrs. Pearce are also described, each with distinct traits and roles in the play, contributing to the dynamic of Higgins' experiment and Eliza's journey.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Phonetics

Phonetics is the study of the sounds of human speech and the ways in which they are produced and perceived. In the context of the video, Higgins is an authority on phonetics, which is central to his experiment of transforming Eliza's speech from a cockney accent to that of an upper-class lady. This transformation is a key element of the play's theme, illustrating the power of language and social perception.

💡Transformation

Transformation refers to a profound change in form, appearance, or character. In the video, Eliza Doolittle undergoes a transformation from a lower-class flower girl to a lady who can pass for a duchess. This change is not only physical and linguistic but also involves her gaining self-respect and independence, which is a central theme of the play.

💡Independence

Independence is the state of being free from control, influence, or the condition of reliance on others. Eliza's quest for independence is a significant aspect of her character development. She asserts her independence by standing up to Higgins, who treats her as an experiment rather than a person, thus driving the narrative towards her self-actualization.

💡Self-respect

Self-respect is the feeling of intrinsic worth and the regard one has for oneself. Eliza gains self-respect as a result of her transformation, which is a pivotal moment in the play. It is through this newfound self-respect that she is able to demand recognition and respect from others, including Higgins.

💡Experiment

In the context of the video, an experiment refers to Higgins' project of changing Eliza's speech and manners to pass her off as a member of the upper class. The experiment is a central plot device that raises questions about identity, social class, and the ethics of manipulating a person for one's own purposes.

💡Cockney Accent

The Cockney accent is a traditional working-class London accent, which Eliza initially speaks. It is used in the video to symbolize her lower social status. The accent's transformation to an upper-class one is a key part of the narrative, highlighting the play's exploration of social mobility and the role of language in defining one's social identity.

💡Upper Class

The upper class refers to the highest social caste in a stratified society, often associated with wealth, power, and prestige. In the video, Eliza's transformation into an upper-class lady is a central plot point. It serves to critique the rigidity of social class and the superficiality of social judgments based on appearance and speech.

💡Courtesy

Courtesy is the act of being polite, considerate, or showing good manners. Colonel Pickering demonstrates courtesy throughout the play, treating Eliza with kindness as she transitions from a flower girl to a lady. His courteous nature contrasts with Higgins' indifference to Eliza's feelings, emphasizing the theme of respect and humanity.

💡Dustman

A dustman is a person who collects and disposes of waste or dust, often associated with lower-class occupations. Doolittle, Eliza's father, is described as a dustman. His character represents the undeserving poor, and his willingness to give up his daughter for a small sum of money reflects the harsh realities of the lower class in the play's setting.

💡Perception

Perception is the process of interpreting and organizing sensory information to form a meaningful understanding of the world. In the video, the perception of Eliza changes as a result of her transformation, highlighting how society often judges individuals based on their appearance and social status rather than their intrinsic qualities.

💡Infatuation

Infatuation is a strong but short-lived passion or admiration for someone, often characterized by idealization. Freddie, a member of the upper class, is infatuated with Eliza. His infatuation is significant as it contrasts with Higgins' manipulative approach, showing a genuine affection that respects Eliza's autonomy.

💡Housekeeper

A housekeeper is a person responsible for managing the domestic staff and maintaining the cleanliness and order of a household. Mrs. Pearce, Higgins's housekeeper, plays a supportive role for Eliza, ensuring she is cared for and advocating for her well-being. Her character adds a layer of compassion and social consciousness to the narrative.

Highlights

Higgins is a phonetics expert and a robust, energetic man in his forties.

Higgins is described as scientifically minded but insensitive to people's feelings.

Eliza Doolittle, a lower-class flower girl, is transformed by Higgins into an upper-class lady.

Eliza's transformation includes gaining self-respect and standing up for independence.

Higgins's character remains largely unchanged despite his new perspective on Eliza.

Eliza's intelligence and ambition allow her to aspire beyond her lower-class status.

Colonel Pickering is an amiable, elderly gentleman with a generous and courteous nature.

Pickering is kind to Eliza throughout her transformation process.

Doolittle is a happy, undisciplined member of the lower class with questionable morals.

Mrs. Higgins is perceptive and critical of her son's manners and behavior.

Freddie is a good-natured, upper-class gentleman infatuated with Eliza.

Eliza considers marrying Freddie despite his lack of financial means.

Mrs. Pearce is Higgins's housekeeper with a strong sense of propriety.

Mrs. Pearce ensures Eliza is well cared for and pushes Higgins to consider her future.

A bond develops between Eliza and Mrs. Pearce throughout the play.

The play explores themes of class, transformation, and self-respect.

Higgins's experiment with Eliza raises questions about the ethics of treating people as subjects.

Eliza's journey reflects the struggle for identity and the importance of being treated with dignity.