Gender And Class Roles In Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion

Bernard Shaw’s timeless criticism of gender and class roles in society, titled Pygmalion utilises characterisation to challenge the reader’s perceptions about class and gender. The play highlights the transformation of Eliza Doolittle from a flower girl to a duchess under the direction of phoneticist Henry Higgins. Through the characterisation of characters such as Eliza, Mr Doolittle, The Eynsford-hills and Henry Higgins, Bernard Shaw highlights the mundane nature of middle class morality and challenges traditional stereotypes. Pygmalion scandalised its audiences in1914 as it condemns the British class system and asserts Bernard Shaw’s feminist views. Bernard Shaw’s views on class and gender roles are expanded upon through the characterisation

Throughout the text, Higgins is portrayed as a brash egotistical who improves upon life through science. The character of Higgins has ties to the myth of Pygmalion. Pygmalion was a ancient Greek sculptor who became disgusted with all women. He saw them as flawed creatures so he set to sculpt his idyllic woman. Upon completion, he fell completely in love with his masterpiece. He prayed to the Goddess Aphrodite who in return gave life to his statue, named Galatea. Higgins is the Pygmalion of this story and Eliza is the Galatea, Higgins has no interest in women. To Higgins they may as well be planks of wood. This point is delineated upon in this quote: “I’ve taught scores of American millionairesses how to speak English the best looking women in the world. I’m seasoned. They may as well be blocks of wood. I might as well be a block of wood.” The purpose of this quote is Higgins relationship with women. Higgins objectifies women and will never see them as anything more than ‘planks of wood’. Just as Pygmalion expresses disdain towards all women, Higgins sees women as nothing but objects. Higgins is portrayed as an incorrigible scientist who sees the earth solely in a scientific perspective and as such he treats Eliza as an experiment, not a person. Through Bernard Shaws characterisation of Higgins as a egomaniacal representation of everything wrong with the upper class, distinctive conventions of class are called

Alfred Doolittle is not only willing to sell his daughter for five pounds but is willing to sell his own daughter’s body as if she were a prostitute. This shocks viewers, as it’s a father’s role to nurture and provide guidance for their child. Bernard Shaws characterisation of Alfred Doolittle confronts the viewer with the realities of lower class life, cementing Bernard Shaws subversive stance on traditional class stereotypes. Alfred Doolittle, however impoverished he may be, seems to be content with the mundane nature of lower class life. Despite living a tedious life of destitution at the very bottom of the socioeconomic spectrum, he is seemingly at ease with this lifestyle. This notion is delineated upon in this quote:” I’m playing straight with you. I aint pretending to be deserving. I’m undeserving; and I mean to go on being undeserving. I like it; and thats the truth.” The aim of this quote is to elucidate the reader on the lack of aspiration of the lower class. Alfred Doolittle symbolises the paucity of ambition in the lower class. This is in start contrast to Doolittle’s daughter, Eliza, who actively works o better her socioeconomic standing. The reader is positioned to see Alfred Doolittle’s stagnation as profoundly uninspired and dissenting. Bernard Shaw provides critical depictions of lower class through the characterisation of Alfred Doolittle. Challenging traditional