Pygmalion, written by George Bernard Shaw, is a celebrated play that explores themes of class distinction, identity, and transformation. The play, first performed in 1913, tells the story of a Cockney flower girl who undergoes a dramatic metamorphosis under the tutelage of a phonetician. Inspired by the Greek myth of Pygmalion, Shaw uses humor and satire to critique societal expectations and the rigid British class system.
Act 1
The play begins in Covent Garden, London, where Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower girl with a thick Cockney accent, is selling flowers. A sudden rain shower forces a diverse group of people to take shelter, including Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, and Colonel Pickering, a fellow linguist. Higgins, an expert in speech, boasts that he can transform Eliza into a refined lady simply by teaching her to speak correctly. Eliza, intrigued by the prospect of a better life, decides to seek his assistance.
Act 2
Eliza arrives at Higgins' home to request speech lessons so she can work in a flower shop. Higgins, seeing an opportunity to test his skills, wagers with Pickering that he can pass Eliza off as a duchess in six months. Eliza reluctantly agrees, and her rigorous training begins. She struggles with pronunciation exercises and Higgins’ strict, often harsh, teaching methods. Despite the difficulties, she gradually begins to improve.
Act 3
Higgins decides to test Eliza’s progress by taking her to a high-society gathering at the home of his mother, Mrs. Higgins. Though she looks elegant and speaks with improved diction, she retains some of her lower-class mannerisms, amusing the guests with her unexpected outbursts. Freddy Eynsford-Hill, a young man from an upper-class family, is particularly taken with her. Although the test is not entirely successful, Higgins remains confident that Eliza will eventually master the refinement needed to pass in high society.
Act 4
Eliza finally succeeds in impressing high society at an ambassador’s ball, proving Higgins' experiment successful. However, Higgins treats the victory as his achievement, ignoring the effort and sacrifices Eliza has made. Feeling unappreciated and uncertain about her future, Eliza confronts Higgins. She realizes that while she has been trained to be a lady, she has not been given any independence or direction. She considers marrying Freddy, but Higgins dismisses the idea as foolish. Their argument intensifies as Eliza asserts her newfound self-worth, making it clear that she will not simply return to being Higgins' project.
Act 5
Eliza visits Mrs. Higgins, who sympathizes with her predicament. Meanwhile, her father, Alfred Doolittle, unexpectedly arrives. He has inherited a fortune that forces him into the very middle-class respectability he previously avoided. His transformation serves as a humorous contrast to Eliza’s struggles with class mobility.
Eliza ultimately declares her independence, rejecting Higgins' condescending attitude. Though he tries to maintain control over her, she insists on forging her path. The play ends ambiguously—Eliza asserts herself, but Shaw deliberately avoids a romantic resolution, leaving the audience to decide her ultimate fate.
Commentary
Pygmalion is a brilliant critique of social class and the superficiality of societal expectations. Through Eliza's transformation, Shaw challenges the notion that class is inherent rather than constructed. Higgins’ experiment demonstrates that language and mannerisms dictate social standing more than true merit. However, Shaw also emphasizes that transformation without empowerment is hollow; Eliza’s struggle for independence highlights the limitations placed on women and the lower class. The play’s open-ended conclusion underscores its central themes—while Eliza gains self-respect, her exact future remains uncertain. Shaw’s refusal to provide a conventional romantic ending defies audience expectations, reinforcing his message that true self-determination is more valuable than simply adopting upper-class manners. Pygmalion remains a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of identity, class mobility, and human dignity.