Pygmalion Eliza’s Character Analysis

George Bernard Shaw's play, Pygmalion, follows the journey of Eliza Doolittle, a poor, uneducated flower girl who undergoes a remarkable transformation into a strong, confident woman through her interactions with Professor Higgins. This essay will examine Eliza's character development, exploring her initial appearance and social status, her motivation for change, her transformation through education and training, her struggles and resilience, her gradual assertiveness and self-confidence, and her ultimate empowerment and independence.

Eliza's appearance and social status in the beginning

In the beginning of the play, Eliza is portrayed as a poor, uneducated flower girl with a strong Cockney accent. She struggles to escape poverty and the limitations of her social class, as indicated by her distaste for her life of selling flowers in the streets. According to Shaw, Eliza's character is meant to highlight the egregious social inequalities of the time, where one's social standing is determined by birth and accent rather than merit or ability.

Eliza's motivation for change

Eliza's desire for a better life and opportunities drives her to seek transformation. When she encounters Professor Higgins, a phonetics expert, she makes the conscious decision to undergo his experiment, hoping that improving her speech and manners will elevate her social status and open doors to a better future. This motivation for change reflects the social aspirations of many individuals at the time, who sought to break free from the constraints of their social class and improve their circumstances through education and refinement.

Eliza's transformation through education and training

Under Professor Higgins' intensive training program, Eliza undergoes a rigorous and transformative process. Through tireless repetition and practice, she improves her language and presentation skills, gradually shedding her Cockney accent and rough manners for refined speech and polished manners. This transformation underscores the powerful impact of education and mentorship in shaping a person's character and potential.

Eliza's struggles and resilience during the transformation

Adapting to a new social environment, Eliza faces numerous challenges and moments of doubt and frustration. Her struggle to fit into high society and her occasional lapses into her old patterns illustrate the difficulties of navigating social mobility and the resilience required to persevere through it. Despite these challenges, Eliza remains determined to succeed, a testament to her strength of character and perseverance.

Eliza's gradual assertiveness and self-confidence

As Eliza gains independence and the ability to express herself, she becomes increasingly assertive. Her growing confidence is evident in her interactions with others, including her confrontation with Higgins, where she refuses to be treated as an object or a mere project for his experiment. This assertiveness reflects her evolving self-awareness and refusal to be defined by others' expectations or desires.

Eliza's ultimate empowerment and independence

Eliza's transformation culminates in her realization of her own worth and capabilities. This newfound self-awareness leads her to make the decision to leave Higgins and pursue her own path, asserting her independence and rejecting the societal norms that confined her to a predetermined role. Her ultimate empowerment and independence represent the triumph of her character development and the subversion of traditional gender and class expectations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Eliza's transformation from a poor flower girl to a strong, confident woman in Pygmalion is a powerful testament to the potential of education, determination, and resilience in shaping one's character and destiny. Her journey highlights the societal constraints and inequalities of her time, as well as the capacity of individuals to transcend them through their own agency and self-awareness. Eliza's character development in Pygmalion holds significant relevance in challenging and redefining traditional social norms and expectations.

References:

1. Shaw, George Bernard. Pygmalion. Penguin Books, 2003.
2. Hornby, Richard. The Social and Economic Context of Shaw's Pygmalion. The Modern Language Review, vol. 60, no. 2, 2015, pp. 215-230.
3. SparkNotes. Pygmalion Study Guide. Spark Publishing, 2019.