Play Romance

Pygmalion
Author First Performed Original Language
George Bernard Shaw 1913 English

OVERVIEW

From Flower Girl Eliza Doolittle, an illiterate flower girl in London's Covent Garden,
dreams of becoming a proper lady who works in a real flower shop.
to Liberated Lady Professor Higgins takes on the challenge to tutor her in speech and
manners, wagering that in six months, the "squashed cabbage leaf"
will pass for a duchess. However, Eliza becomes much more.

Act I: The Flower Girl Act II: The Wager Act III: A Garden Party
Eliza intrigues Professor Higgins wagers with Pickering Eliza struggles to be ladylike,
Higgins with her dreadful that he can pass Eliza off as a and Mrs. Higgins rebukes
"kerbstone" English. duchess in six months. Higgins and Pickering.

Act IV: "A Heartless Act V: Metamorphosis

Guttersnipe" Eliza emerges as a lady—
Higgins has won the bet—but is in speech, manners, and soul.
shocked when his gloating
drives Eliza away.

Main Characters Pygmalion

by the Numbers

Love Interest Family Friendship Teacher / Student

1
Shillings per hour
Eliza offers Higgins
for language lessons

Eliza Doolittle
1914
Flower girl;
Year Pygmalion
wants to be a lady
premiered at His
Majesty's Theatre in
London
Freddy Eynsford Henry Higgins
Hill Professor of phonetics;
Young gentleman;
loves Eliza
tutors Eliza 8
Academy Awards
won for the 1964 film
adaptation My Fair
Lady, starring Rex
Harrison and Audrey
Hepburn

Alfred Doolittle Mrs. Higgins Colonel Pickering

Eliza's lazy Henry Higgins's wise Kindly language expert;
dustman father and stately mother helps Higgins

Themes Author

Transformation
From a poor flower girl, Eliza
becomes a strong, self-reliant lady.

Language
Eliza breaks through
class barriers by learning
the language of the upper class.
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
1856–1950

The Irish playwright was one of

the most successful early 20th
Appearance & Identity century writers. He brought a new,
realistic style of drama to theater that
Language and clothes change
took aim—with wit and sincerity—at
Eliza's appearance, but she must
controversial social topics. His works,
find inner strength.
including Man and Superman, earned
him recognition, including a Nobel
Prize and an Oscar.

Symbols

Slippers Flower Shop Mirror

Represent class differences and Symbolizes Eliza's hopes Represents the moment Eliza
Professor Higgins's disregard for and dreams "sees" she can improve herself
Eliza and her life

sold flowers. I didn't sell myself. Now you've made

a lady of me I'm not fit to sell anything else.
Eliza, Act IV

Sources: Broadway Musical Home, Encyclopaedia Britannica,

New World Encyclopedia, The Telegraph

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