False Reality

How does one react to seeing a new face? It is appearances that allows one to quickly judge another and react. Without such response, a person would have no idea which behaviors are appropriate for the situation. With such response, a person increases the likelihood of a successful encounter, whether that means being well liked afterwards or fortunately escaping a serial murderer. On the other hand, these perceptions based solely on appearances do not necessarily represent a person’s actual characteristics. In the play Pygmalion, the playwright George Bernard Shaw details the power of appearances to craft a false reality upon which people base their opinions. The main protagonist of his play, Eliza Doolittle, argues against this shallow

Higgins illustrates such mask of reality; he is painted as a gentleman, with “a professional-looking black frock-coat with a white linen collar and black silk tie” (1017). One would assume, based on features alone, that this gentleman would come with manners, a courteous nature, and pleasant conversing abilities. Higgins is the opposite, however. He is also described to be “careless about… other people, including their feelings” and is a rude and demeaning conversationalist, with choice phrases like “What a damned thing!” and “Eliza: you’re a fool” (1017, 1037, 1062). Not only does his appearance contrast with with true character, he is convinced that he does not possess any of these negative character traits. Confirming his own delusions, Higgins declares during an argument with Eliza, “damn my own folly in having lavished… my regard and intimacy on a heartless guttersnipe” (1051). By perceiving himself to be the generous, kind, and otherwise perfect representation of his appearance, he is shielded from the reality of his personality. Furthermore, Higgins, by thinking that he is doing his duty as a benevolent gentleman, is also unmistakingly misled into thinking that his work with Eliza is good. This veil of appearances can similarly blind people: People who are convinced of their appearance begin to believe that it truly represents them, thus affecting how they perceive