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Role of Psychology in Shaw's Pygmalion Psychology plays a significant role in Higgins' relationship with Eliza. Although everybody wants somebody to love, they don't seem to be capable of a close relationship. Higgins on the one hand can be described as a rude, careless and impolite character, but at the same time likeable because of his fascination and dedication to his work. His mother holds a great fascination for him, she speaks properly, has good manners and is the only woman Higgins adores. In general, he appears small-minded and doesn't reflect about problems Eliza might be confronted with. Eliza, on the other hand, is willing to learn and does her best to please Higgins. When she becomes aware of Higgins' goals she eventually gets disappointing and angry. She feels as the subject of the experiment, while Higgins, never reflecting about her feelings, treats her in an impersonal way and can't understand her. There can't be a relationship, in which both obtain an equal position. Henry and Eliza don't fit together because of their strong characters. Eliza knows that she can't go back to her old life, but otherwise, she has no firm position in society. Instead of fetching Higgins's slippers, she marries Freddy who has a weaker character. Perhaps Freddy would fetch her slippers, but she is keen to work, too. Her rebellion becomes more obvious in comparison to Higgins. She shows that she is not a mere subject, but a freethinking individual. In a realistic manner, she finds Higgins' weak point and overrules his subjections. She doesn't want to be intimidated. So in conclusion, we can say that it was not Higgins who has created a new woman by himself. Indeed, Eliza has changed her personality through her own efforts. This is due to Higgins' treatment: he didn't consider her feelings. [296]
At the start of the novel, Eliza Haywood places her protagonist in a very interesting, unique position, with regards to society of the time. The nameless main character is first illustrated in a playhouse, observing the interactions of the strangers around her. She notices a prostitute, surrounded by a swarm of men. “She could not help testifying her contempt of men who...threw away their time in such a manner, to some Ladies...the greater was her wonder, that men, some of whom she knew were accounted to have wit, should have tastes for very depraved” (257-258.) “Fantomina”, as she later comes to be called, oversees all of this. Haywood seems to put her above this crowd of men and prostitutes, while she observes and makes judgments on the nature of their behaviors. She expresses that she is disgusted by the mindlessness of the men in this situation. One might argue that this depicts a reversal of gender roles. Typically, men would look at women in this way, and the male character wo...
...good man, which she ruined by running away with Sanford. Eliza made her own choices and caused her own demise.
One might question if Eliza really had any choice in her situation. Early in the novel she declares, "What a pity . . . that the graces and virtues are not oftner united!" (Foster 22). While Sanford possessed all the suavity she desired and Reverend Boyer all the integrity, she could find no companion who possessed both. This lack of options seems to be what truly destroys Eliza. It may have been within Eliza's power to be a True Woman, but due to the societal constraints imposed upon her, it does not seem at all possible for her to have been a happy woman.
On April 30, 1970, when Nixon gave a speech announcing his invasion of Cambodia, anti-war factions rose up across the United States. In the speech he stated that, “If, when the chips are down…the world’s most powerful nation, the United States of America, acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and institutions around the world. I would rather be a one term president and do what I believe is right than to be a two term president at the cost of seeing America become a second rate power.” Students did not agree with Nixon and protests cropped up on university campuses in the days that followed his speech. Amongst these protesters were students of Kent State University, “The Cambodian invasion defined a watershed in the attitude of Kent students toward American policy in the Indochina War.” At this point, the first two days of May, the students were protesting Nixon’s actions. While the cou...
Before overhearing the conversation, Lizabeth already has a sense of guilt as she finishes attacking Miss Lottie: “Suddenly I was ashamed, and I did not like being ashamed.” The conflict of not being either a child or an adult yet both together has been in her mind badgering her. After overhearing the conversation, she realizes that she is the oldest kid of all the kids she plays with, and she should be aware of her responsibilities for their
After completion of this story a reader can clearly see a defense stance upon Mrs. Hale’s character and see that after twenty years she would like to see Minnie have a second chance. Through her apologetic attitude in pushing Minnie to the side, her un-realization of duty within her duty to continue housework, and her rational excuses to offer the readers that Minnie’s actions were justified. Martha could be assumed as a pivotal character that releases Minnie from certain life within further walls of stifling control that she has already suffered with for the last twenty years.
She lived in the prairie and in a community where everyone knew each other, making it impossible for her to leave Frank because the community would not accept if a married woman were to leave her husband for another man. Also, women did not have much rights and tacit rules were set regarding the acceptable decorum of women. For example, when Marie introduced the idea that Alexandra might have feelings for Carl, Emil was amused by the thought that his sister, who lived as a spinster for most of her life, would actually have feelings for someone. Likewise, Alexandra’s other brothers were opposed to the idea of her getting married because they were fearful about what others in the community would think. If this is the way people treat Alexandra, who has always made her own decisions, consider the consequences, Marie, who is not as assertive as Alexandra would have faced if she acted on her feelings. Cather writes that Marie “had lived a day of her new life of perfect love, and it had left her [exhausted]”(102). She had tried to deny her desire by continuing to live with her husband who had intentionally “tried to make her life ugly”(Cather 105). In the late nineteenth century, which is the setting of this novel, the society tried to promote the idea that women belonged in homes to care for their husbands and children in order to give citizens a sense of security. Marie’s decision to punish
At the beginning, people didn’t think highly of her but now, people do. When she came in Higgins’ laboratory, she came dressed differently and she looked good and looked like she kept up with herself. She is starting to have a different mindset of her appearance. For example, on page 74 of Pygmalion, it states, “ Eliza, who is exquisitely dressed, produces an impression of such remarkable distinction and beauty as she enters that they all rise, quite fluttered. Guided by Higgins’s signals, she comes to Mrs.Higgins with studied grace.” This proves that Eliza is changing her mindset, which occurs to affect her thoughts about herself, her speech, and her appearance. Eliza, first described as "not at all attractive," has become incredibly desirable thanks to some nice clothing, jewelry, and a few months of training. Also, Eliza has learned to that people who treat her with no respect cannot bring her down or allow her to go back to where she was in the beginning. Based on Act V in Pygmalion, Eliza has learned that nobody can bring her down. It states, “You know I can’t go back to the gutter, as you call it, and that I have no real friends in the world but you and the Colonel. You know well I couldn’t bear to live with a low common man after you two; and it’s wicked and cruel of you to insult me by pretending I could.” This means that no matter what anybody has to her, she will never go back down the path she was just on.
Martha's realization of the love and the power George has over her, gives her opportunity to change her ways. No more will George and Martha exist in a land of fantasy and make-believe. Martha fears the amount of reality involved in her life. She is afraid, and her being afraid of reality in her life, makes her want control. After this night, where their masks have been removed, they are now living in their reality, and there is no longer a need for one person to have control.
Dorothea Brooke is a very bright and beautiful young lady that does not much care for frills or getting ahead in society. She wants more than anything to help those around her, starting with the tenants of her uncle. She desires to redesign their cottages, but Arthur Brooke, her elderly uncle with whom she and her younger sister Celia Brooke lives with, does not want to spend the money required. So Dorothea shares her dream with Sir James Chettam, who finds her fascinating, and encourages her to use the plans she has drawn up for the tenants on his land instead. He falls in love with her, but does not share his feelings for her quickly enough. Edward Casaubon, an older scholarly clergyman asks Dorothea to marry him, she does not accept until she finds out Sir James means to seriously court her, then turns around and tells Casaubon yes. What she does not te...
At the beginning of the story, Anna is refusing Mr. Gordon’s proposal. Her refusal creates tension and conflict between her mother and herself. Then why can’t you marry Mr. Gordon, and make me happy?” “Because,” and Anna’s voice was firm decided and honest, “Because I do not love him, and to marry him would make me very unhappy.” (King 16) Mrs. Mansfield points out to Anna that Mr. Gordon would make an excellent husband with financial benefits. “Oh, my dear,” said Mrs. Mansfield, “You know how poor we are now. Here I am with you four girls and an income not much larger than your dear father’s time I spent upon my own dress. Is it wonderful that I long to see you settled?” (King17) What she is really saying, I do not have money for the family so get marry to this rich man .Mrs. Mansfield persuasion tactics demonstrate to Anna what she learned from her mother. Make good choices in life, marry, and love will come afterwards. In other words, sell yourself girlie! The author, Susan King, writes this statement, “What of the end of all this? Is this grand automation really dead, or does a heart, young and still untouched, lurk-strong, free and dangerous-in that quiet, unmoved and stately figure.” (King 40) Anna heart is not in love with Mr. Gordon and remains close to any emotions he has for her. Anna stands her ground to her mother.
Ann Veronica is a twenty-two-year-old woman who lives with her undeniably strict father, Mr. Stanley. The fact that Ann Veronica’s father is so strict may be the reasoning as to why she is compelled to rebel against his demands and wants to become a “new woman”. For example, in the beginning chapters on the novel, readers quickly discover Ann Veronica’s intense desire to attend the Fadden Dance, which is a ball in London. Of course, her father forbids her from attending the ball despite her asking him several times. Mr. Stanley even goes as far as physically locking Ann Veronica in the house to prevent her from attending the ball. This is a major turning point in the novel for Ann Veronica; this is in fact the point in which she realizes that she yearns for independence and wants to truly become a new woman. So, Ann Veronica leaves her home in Morningside Park to live on her own in an apartment in London. However, once she arrives in London, Ann Veronica quickly learns that it is not exactly as easy as she thought it would be to find employment as a woman in London. So of course, she is hurting for money. Luckily for Ann Veronica, Mr. Ramage, a hot-blooded womanizer who sees Ann Veronica in a sexual way, offers her 40 pounds and she accepts not knowing that she has compromised what she’s come to London in the first place for: her independence. However, with the money Ann Veronica is able to begin her studies in biology at the Central Imperial College (she is now living her dream). At the Central Imperial College, Ann Veronica meets and falls in love with her biology professor, Capes. Eventually, Ramage forces himself onto Ann Veronica and rapes her. Being of course distraught over this terrible incident, Ann Veronica decides to te...
Anna and Elizabeth both come from humble beginnings; however, Elizabeth marries for love, while Anna desires to marry solely for financial need. Elizabeth rues her decision to decline Darcy’s proposal once she becomes cognizant of her love for him. Elizabeth contemplates, "A man who has once been refused! How could I ever be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love? Is there one among the sex, who would not protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman? There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!" (Austen 308). Elizabeth progresses as a character as she is no longer naive to her feelings for Darcy and is wishful for another proposal. Austen emphasizes that love supersedes one’s need for social status as Elizabeth only accepts Darcy’s proposal once she genuinely knows she is in love and, as a result, lives a fulfilled life. Anna is the antithesis of Elizabeth as when she visits her family after her marriage, “Her father and the boys [look] at her in a peculiar way, as though just before she came in they had been blaming her for having married for money a tedious, wearisome man she [does] not love; her rustling skirts, her bracelets, and her general air of a married lady, [offends] them and [makes] them uncomfortable” (Chekhov 3). Anna parades her ostentatious new life, reminding her family of her fortune. Despite Anna’s apparent
Tucker, R. C. (1978). In “Wage Labor and Capital” in The Marx-Engels Reader. New York, NY:
I don’t matter, I suppose’” (Berst 99). Eliza’s actions can be felt as a Cinderella impulse coming from her (Berst 99). Eliza worked hard to get through the lessons with Higgins and had won that bet, so she deserves the credit for the hard work she put in. It seems that Eliza at this point is lonely and probably wanted someone in her life to tell her she was doing the right thing, she has accomplished things she wanted to do for herself.