No. "You
certainly are a pretty pair of babies, playing with your live doll," Mrs. Higgins quips to
her son, Henry, in Act III of . Though Mrs. Higgins is a woman of society
and though she cares for her son, she does not believe that Henry and Colonel Pickering are
considering Eliza as a person. Pointing out that both men are looking at Eliza like a doll
clearly shows that she does not approve of their experiment. At the end of Act III, Mrs. Higgins
asks Henry if he's thought about what will happen to Eliza after his experiment is over. Henry
shrugs it off, saying she'll be fine and that there is no need to worry over such triviality.
"The advantages of that poor woman who was here just now! The manners and habits that
disqualify a fine lady from earning her own living without giving her a fine ladys income!"
Shaw uses exclamation points to emphasize Mrs. Higgins' outrage at Henry's attitude and
disregard for Eliza's welfare outside of his experiment. She points out that if elevated in
society through her speech, dress and manner, Eliza will no longer have an easy time of finding
employment. She is already removed from her former social class and, if not taken care of, may
end up destitute. Mrs. Higgins is not at all happy with her son. Henry has little time to think
on the matter. He has to complete his social experiment and prove he can make a duchess out of a
flower girl from Covent Garden through the power of speech.
Sunday 6 September 2009
Does Mrs. Higgins approve of Pickering's and Higgins' attitude toward Eliza?
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