There are
several themes in :
appearance vs.
reality
social snobbery
social transformation
phonetics and language
education
the marginalization of women
the inadequacy of myth
The main theme, and one to which the others relate, is that of appearances versus
reality. This theme of appearances is developed primarily through theof
Eliza Doolittle, but the others also come into play. For instance, as Professor Higgins works on
his experiment with the flower girl from Lisson Grove, he instructs Eliza in elocution, and she
learns how to speak as he does and to conduct herself as a lady [theme of
education]. Then, with the proper clothes and expressions, Higgins plans to introduce
her to society and observe whether anyone notices that she gives only the appearance of a lady
of refinement and breeding [appearance vs. reality]. When Eliza attends a
parlor party, Higgins's experiment is a success, even when Eliza unknowingly speaks of her
aunt's death and her father's drinking because she speaks with such finesse [language
education and appearances vs. reality] that Freddy, who gave her
no audience in the beginning as she was but a flower girl, is now fascinated, believing that she
is using the latest "small talk." However, before she departs, in the most famous line
of the play blurts out, "Not bloody likely." This expletive shocks her listeners into
reality.
Eliza's father also acquires a new appearance: that of a higher
economic status since a wealthy American has left Mr. Doolittle enough money that the dustman
can become a man of the middle class. [socio-economic
transformation] However, he has not acquired the language skills that his
daughter has, so that the reality of his beginnings is yet apparent. Still, he moves into a
better class as he marries Eliza's mother.
In the Act IV of Shaw's play,
there is an examination of the position of women in the Victorian
society. Certainly, Eliza has been marginalized as she has been treated as a mere
experiment and not a person with feelings. For, after Higgins returns home and Higgins
congratulates him on winning his bet. When Higgins asks Eliza to find his slippers, she hurls
them at him.
HIGGINS. What on earth--...Anything wrong?
ELIZA.
[breathless] Nothing wrong--with you. I've won your bet for you, havn't
[sic] ....I don't matter, I suppose.
HIGGINS. You won my bet! You! Presumptuous insect!
I won it. What did you throw those slippers at me for?
ELIZA. ....I'd like to kill you,
you selfish brute....You thank God it's all over, and that now you can throw me back again
there, do you?....
HIGGINS. Ah! would you?....How dare you shew [sic]your temper to
me?
ELIZA. ....Whats [sic] to become of me? Whats [sic] to become of
me?
HIGGINS. How the devil do I know....What does it matter what becomes of
you?
Further in this act, Higgins is cruel and uncaring,
as well. In the final act, Act V, Eliza informs Higgins that she is leaving him to marry Freddy.
Higgins scoffs at this. But, in the , Shaw narrates that Eliza does, indeed, marry
Freddy.
These confrontations between Eliza and Higgins illustrate not only
the theme of the marginalization of women, but they
also depict the inadequacy of myth. Like the story of Pygmalion, Higgins
forms a beautiful woman, but because his is real flesh and blood, conflicts occur and perfection
is not reached as there are problems that must be addressed, such as what is Eliza to do with
the rest of her life after the bet is won.
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