In five pages this tutorial considers the transformation of Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle in George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. One source is cited in the bibliography.
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into a successful musical and a movie - and in terms of societal description. A man, for example, who "molds" a woman into another image is considered to be a
Pygmalion. The original Pygmalion, in fact, was a Greek artist who carved a beautiful woman out of a piece of marble, than brought her back to life. While that Pygmalion
had some success in realizing his dreams, Henry Higgins, the protagonist of Shaws work, went through a lot more conflict and, in the end, while he did achieve his goal,
he did so while suffering some heartache and loss. In addition, his "creation," Eliza Doolittle, learned that being converted from "marble" (i.e., a flower girl) into a duchess involved more
than learning how to pronounce words correctly; that in her conversion, she lost a way to make a legitimate living. In
discussing Elizas transformation from poor flower seller to apparently wealthy royalty (which, of course, was an illusion), and in discussing Higgins reaction to the whole transformation, the student should, first
of all, consider the entire theme of the play, which can range from "manners do not the gentlewoman or gentleman make" to "dont judge a book by its cover." Throughout
the play, for example, as Eliza becomes more independent and rebellious as she gains her polish and veneer, Higgins becomes more boorish and unmannered, despite his own background of wealth
and privilege (Shaw). Higgins is such an oaf, that he is crass enough to boast to his mother about the "experiment" of passing off a flower girl as a duchess,
and in Act II, foists the young lady, unannounced, on his mother during Mrs. Higgins "at home" visiting day (Shaw). The student needs to note, through quotes from the play,