Pygmalion, a play written by George Bernard Shaw, is as poignant today as it was when it was written. The two main characters, Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, demonstrate the major class differences of the play's period, and the prejudices of society. The actors in the movie version, "My Fair Lady," portray these characters coming from opposite ends of society, who are brought together by unspeakable chance.
Throughout the movie, my attention is drawn to the theme of class difference. Higgins is a rich, well-to-do phonetics scientist, while Eliza is a poor flower girl who has grown up on the streets. From the beginning, there is a sense of discomfort between the two classes starting when Eliza tries to sell flowers to Higgins after a glamorous theater performance. Higgins, as well as the rest of his upper class friends and family, blow Eliza off as nothing but a nuisance. Then, after arguing about his superior teaching techniques with Colonel Pickering, Higgins begins bragging that he could train this mere flower girl for a period of six months to the point of passing as a duchess in high-class society.
The idea of class difference in this play/movie can be analyzed through different viewpoints. First we have Professor Henry Higgins. Coming from generations of high social class standings, his reputation is his only stronghold in keeping others from disliking him. His arrogance is what gets him involved with Eliza. Believing he can transform someone to such standards as he does with Eliza gives Higgins a feeling of overwhelming power. His major fault was believing that through speech training and learning to walk, dress and act as royalty, could actually change the person to live "as" royalty. Higgins doesn't understand that a person can't just escape from a life in which they've been born and grown up in. Although Eliza's transformation was successful, the changes lie only on the outer surface.
Pygmalion and My Fair Lady A timeless novel, an Oscar award winning film. ... Pygmalion and My fair lady. ... The content of the novel "Pygmalion", written by George Bernard Shaw, differs in many ways to the Film My Fair Lady. ... The way in which the film appealed to the audience reflected the changes made to the script and idea of the "Pygmalion" concept. ...
The word 'bloody' is used quite some times in Pygmalion, one of the most applauded written play by Bernard Shaw. ... Pygmalion portrays an underclass flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, who metamorphoses into a beautiful and graceful duchess. ... The play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw and movie The Makeover share a similar storyline. ... The word Pygmalion came from an ancient Greek myth about a famous and talented sculptor named Pygmalion, who had a low opinion of women and decided to remain single. ... In Pygmalion, Eliza is transformed by Higgins, which shows that men is more domi...
Pygmalion vividly demonstrates this as in the epilogue, Higgins taunts Freddy because of his inability to provide financially for Eliza. ... As can be seen, the attitude to marriage in the 19th century context of Pygmalion contrasts sharply to that of Pretty Woman, a 20th century text. ... In Pygmalion, due to the limited capacity of a stage, Freddy and Eliza demonstrate their love for each and to the responder by kissing (shown by stage directions). ... Considering the social context of Pygmalion, the late 19th century, any visual display of love-making, especially in public was considered...
THE PYGMALION EFFECT IN SCHOOLS It is obvious in schools today that all students are not successful. ... Schools would be run quite differently if the Pygmalion effect was proven, and rightfully so! ... With the Pygmalion effect proven, this would mean that the vast majority of children would learn much better, and closer to their potential. ... This change in behavior deals with more than one factor dealing with Pygmalion. ... Because, according to the Pygmalion effect, the power of expectation alone can influence the behavior of others. ...
The Know-It-All Males In Pygmalion In the play Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shore, the experiment of two upper-class gentlemen prove that no matter what her social standing is, a woman can become a queen, if taught properly. ... The story of Pygmalion is a criticism of social barriers and class distinctions, and it upholds the ideal of equal opportunities of wealth and education for all, regardless of class and gender. ...
This is illustrated in the short fiction Daisy Miller by Henry James, and in the play Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw. ... Pygmalion is a play about a young flower girl in England who is taken up by a professor of phonetics. ... In Pygmalion however Eliza is influenced by Higgins in a different way. ... I feel that there are not many similarities between the short fiction Daisy Miller and the play Pygmalion. ...
Both Shaw and Cukor have appropriated the Pygmalion Myth, in their works, Pygmalion and My Fair Lady, respectively. ... Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, is a play of the appropriated myth, Pygmalion. In the play Eliza is Galatea, and Henry Higgins is Pygmalion who transforms Eliza into his impression of a perfect woman. ... This illustrates Shaw's dislike of overdone romantic plays with unrealistic endings, whereas Pygmalion had a romancing ending. ... In the appropriation My Fair Lady, Cukor has changed many facets of the Pygmalion myth in order to convey his own thoughts and opinions....
The play Pygmalion takes place in England in the early 1900's. ... Such was the nature of the Doolittle's in Pygmalion In the play there are several main characters, starting with the two already mentioned, Alfred Doolittle and Eliza Doolittle. ...
