Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw | Characters

Summary

In '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.