’s Higgins Essay, Research Paper
Bernard Shaw shows and describes Professor Higgins throughout Pygmalion as a very rude man. While one may expect a very well-educated man, such as Higgins, to be a gentleman, he is far from being a gentleman. Higgins believes that the way you treat someone is not important, as long as you treat everyone equally. The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls: in short, behaving as if you were in Heaven, where there are no third-class carriages, and one soul is as good as another (Shaw. Act V Pygmalion).
Higgins presents this theory to Eliza, in hope of justifying his rude treatment of her. This theory would be fine if Higgins himself lived by it. Henry Higgins, however, lives by a variety of variations of this philosophy. It is easily seen how Higgins follows this theory. He is consistently rude towards Eliza, Mrs. Pearce, and his mother. His manner is the same to each of them, in accordance to his philosophy. However the Higgins we see at the parties and in good times with Pickering is very well-mannered and a true gentleman. This apparent discrepancy between Higgins’ actions and his words, may not exist, depending on the interpretation of this theory.
There are two possible translations of Higgins’ philosophy. It can be viewed as treating everyone in the same manner, all the time, or treating everyone equally at a particular time. It is obvious that Higgins does not treat everyone equally all of the time, as witnessed by his actions when he is in one of his states” (as Mrs. Higgins’ parlor maid calls it). The Higgins that we see in Mrs. Higgins’ parlor is not the same Higgins we see at the parties. When in “the state” Henry Higgins wanders aimlessly around the parlor, irrationally moving from chair to chair, highly unlike the calm Professor Higgins we see at the ball. Higgins does not believe that a person should have the same manner towards everyone all of the time, but that a person should treat everyone equally at a given time (or in a certain situation). When he is in “one of those states” his manner is the same towards everyone; he is equally rude and disrespectful to all. Yet when minding his manners, as he does at the parties, he can be a gentleman.
If the second meaning of Higgins’ theory, that he treats everyone equally at a particular time, is taken as his philosophy, there is one major flaw. Higgins never respects Eliza, no matter who is around. In Act V of Pygmalion, Eliza confronts him about his manner towards her. “He [Pickering] treats a flower girl as duchess” (Act V, 1140). Higgins, replying to Eliza, “And I treat a duchess as a flower girl” (Act V, 1140). In an attempt to justify this Higgins replies “The question is not whether I treat you rudely, but whether you ever heard me treat anyone else better” (Act V, 1140). Eliza does not answer this question but the reader knows that Higgins has treated others better than Eliza. At the parties, for example, Higgins is a gentleman to the hosts and other guest, but still treats Eliza as his “experiment.” Higgins could never see the “new” Eliza. Higgins only saw the dirty flower girl that had become his “experiment”, as Eliza states He [Pickering] might want them for the next girl you pick up to experiment on (Act IV, 1127).
Much like an author never sees a work as finished, Higgins could not view Eliza lady or duchess. Since Higgins knew where Eliza came from it was difficult for him to make her parts fit together as a masterpiece that he respected. Part of Higgins’ problem in recognizing the “new” Eliza is his immaturity. He does not see her as what she is, he only sees her as what she was. This immaturity is representative of Higgins’ childish tendencies that the reader can see throughout the play. Higgins’ child-like actions can partially explain the variations in his philosophy. If you imagine a young teenage Higgins, or any teenage boy for that matter, they have a very limited outlook. They always treat everyone the same; and depending on the situation and who is in their midst, they may be very gentlemen-like or very rude kids. When around parents the teenager is rude and inconsiderate yet when among his friends he is usually a complete gentleman and vice-versa, as teens can be immature while with their friends, and gentlman-like to make a good impression among their parents and older guests. The adult Higgins’ actions are the same as the child.
Другие работы по теме:
Бертрада де Монфор
План Введение 1 Биография 2 Брак и дети Введение Бертрада де Монфор (фр. Bertrade de Montfort; ок. 1070 — ок. 1116/1117, Фонтевро). Дочь Симона I, сеньора де Монфор от второго брака с Агнес, дочерью Ричарда, графа д’Эврё.
Малый Шатле
Малый Шатле (фр. Petit Chвtelet) — замок в Париже, построенный в конце IX века для охраны проложенного в южной части острова Сите через реку Сена Малого моста.
In what way is pygmalion a shavian play
Bernard Shaw – the outstanding English playwright, one of the founders of a realistic drama of XX century, the talented satirist, the humorist, the wittiest paradox composer. The Shavian forethought is felt in the whole play, he has confirmed at theatre.
The Division Of Society In Pygmalion Essay
, Research Paper Since almost the beginning of civilisation, people have been divided into social classes. There was always an upper class; rich, powerful and in control. Then there was a middle class; less comfortably off than the upper class, and certainly less powerful, but respected nonetheless. Last of all (and usually least) the lower working class making up the majority of people, rarely having the necessities of life and never considered by other classes no matter how long or hard they worked on improving their situation.
Bernard ShawS Pygmalion Essay Research Paper An
Bernard Shaw?S Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper An interpretation of Class Relations in Pygmalion by, Bernard Shaw In Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, there is a distinct variance in class relations and the way that early 20th century Britains were perceived as being different by their speech, money, wealth, style, manners, and appearance.
Pygmalion And Its Characters Essay Research Paper
Choose a character and analyze the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists; how the character is affected by and responds to those standards; and how the character s reactions develop meaning in the work.
Pygmalion Essay Research Paper I chose the
Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper I chose the archetype ?The prostitute with a heart of gold?. An archetype is defined as a universal idea that can take many forms, appearing ?spontaneously, at any time, at any
From Dirt To Duchess Essay Research Paper
How could a lowly flower girl make such a drastic change into a refined lady? She could not have possibly pulled it off herself; she would need help. Thus is the case in the play Pygmalion, by G.B. Shaw. The poor flower girl, Eliza, is turned into a “duchess,” so to speak, by the other characters in the play. The characters responsible for the change in Eliza throughout the play were Henry Higgins, Mrs.
PygmalioA Essay Research Paper Higgins
Pygmalio(A) Essay, Research Paper Higgins’ Philosophy Professor Higgins is seen throughout Pygmalion as a very rude man.While one may expect a well educated man, such as Higgins, to be agentleman, he is far from it. Higgins believes that how you treatedsomeone is not important, as long as you treat everyone equally.
Middle Class Morality Essay Research Paper MIDDLE
Middle Class Morality Essay, Research Paper MIDDLE CLASS MORALITY Values and morals of the Victorian era are quite different than those that our society upholds today. The satirical plays, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, and Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, examine the problems with certain beliefs held by the people, both men and women, of the Victorian age.
The Man Of Hypocrisy Analysis Of Higgins
In Shaws Pygmalion) Essay, Research Paper The Man of Hypocrisy Manners are the happy way of doing things according to Ralph Waldo Emerson. According to Emerson people use manners as a front to make themselves look better. Inherently, this will lead to a contradiction of the front and the reality. One such man who is most concerned with manners is the protagonist of Shaw s Pygmalion, Professor Henry Higgins.
Themes In George Bernard Shaw
’s Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper George Bernard Shaw s play Pygmalion is the story of Henry Higgins, a master phonetician, and his mischievous plot to pass a common flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, off as a duchess at the Embassy Ball. In order achieve his goal, Higgins must teach Eliza how to speak properly and how to act in upper-class society.
George Bernard Shaw And Pygmalion Essay Research
Paper George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland on July 26, 1856. He lived with his lower middle class parents as the first son of three children. His father owned a failing corn milling business and had a serious drinking problem. Shaw realized the effect of his father?s poor money management and alcohol addiction at an early age. (Mazer 1) Although the family claimed gentility their precarious money situations and Shaw?s poor education caused an ever growing tension in his family. (Ganz 6-9)
Artificial Creation Essay Research Paper Artificial CreationThe
Artificial Creation Essay, Research Paper Artificial Creation The word Artificial, derived from the Latin word artificialis is defined as Made by humans; produced rather than natural. Since the beginning of time man has always been enthralled by a magnificent sight; however what is beautiful to one person may be uncanny to another.
Pygmalion Vs Educating Rita Essay Research Paper
Entertainment from today’s astounding visual effects in movies to men acting as women in Shakespearean plays some centuries ago, have always been and will always be appreciated by many. Even George B. Shaw’s play Pygmalion, has given a few laughs, but not only made for engaging an audience in something fun and making money, instead to a noticeable extent for people to learn.
Pygmalion Act III Essay Research Paper It
Pygmalion Act III Essay, Research Paper It is Mrs. Higgins’ at-home day, and she is greatly displeased when Henry Higgins shows up suddenly, for she knows from experience that he is too eccentric to be presentable in
Pygmalion Essay Research Paper is an element
Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper is an element of comedy in the sThere tory Pygmalion and in the film My Fair Lady. In the play and the film alike, a woman of the streets named Liza
Comparison Of Movies And Books Essay Research
Paper Many people compare an English literary work to different movies of their time. An example of this is Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw. A story about a woman transformed into a spectacular beauty pushed into royalty, but never loses her identity, is very similar to a movie directed by Don Bluth called Anastasia.
Management Questions Essay Research Paper 1 What
Management Questions Essay, Research Paper 1. What are the four functions of management? ? Leading – Motivating others to work toward the goal. ? Controlling – Monitoring and regulating progress toward the goal.
Creation Of Eliza Essay Research Paper PygmalionShawBernardPygmalion
Creation Of Eliza Essay, Research Paper PygmalionShaw,Bernard.Pygmalion. Creation of Eliza can be viewed from two completely different angles dependent on if you look at Eliza’s side or Professor Higgins side. Beginning with Eliza we see that she was a poor flower girl who sold penny bunches to afford a living.
Copmparing Catcher In The Rye And Pygmalion
And Their Themes Essay, Research Paper Comparing Catcher in the Rye and Pygmalion and the Themes They Represent In J. D. Salinger?s novel The Catcher in the Rye, the main character, Holden Caulfield,
Educating Rita Essay Research Paper Although Rita
Educating Rita Essay, Research Paper Although Rita knows that intellectual enlightenment is important, to Rita, education provides much more to her in Willy Russell?s Educating Rita. Rita?s education is not restricted to scholastic learning alone, her transformation from the uneducated Rita to the educated Susan is all encompassing.
Pygmalion Act IIII Essay Research Paper The
Pygmalion Act IIII Essay, Research Paper The trio return to Higgins’ Wimpole Street laboratory, exhausted from the night’s happenings. They talk about the evening and their great success, though Higgins seems
Pygmalion 2 Essay Research Paper During
Pygmalion 2 Essay, Research Paper During the time of the play, Pygmalion, classes in England were seemingly artificial. It is shown very well in Act III during one of Mrs.
Pygmalion Essay Research Paper In the play
Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper In the play Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, lessons regarding speech, relationships, and the nature of society are taught. It is intensely and deliberately didactic .
Pygmalion Essay Research Paper Pygmalion and My
Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper Pygmalion and My Fair Lady are a modern parallel of the story of Pygmalion, legendary sculptor and King of Cyprus, who fell in love with his own statue of Aphrodite. At his prayer, Aphrodite brought the statue to life as Galatea. George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion is the story of Henry Higgins, a master phonetician, and his mischievous plot to pass a common flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, off as a duchess at the Embassy Ball.
Pygmalion Essay Essay Research Paper According to
Pygmalion Essay Essay, Research Paper According to a Greek myth, Pygmalion, an ancient sculptor living on Cyprus Island, worshipped the goddess of love, Venus. The local women disgusted him, so he sculpted himself the perfect one for him; Galatea. Higgins undertakes a similar project, to sculpt a duchess by changing the appearance and the manners of a flower girl.
Pygmalion Essay Research Paper Pygmalion Higgins
Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper Pygmalion: Higgins’ Philosophy Professor Higgins is seen throughout Pygmalion as a very rude man. You would expect a well-educated man, such as Higgins, to be a gentleman, however, he is far from it. Higgins believes that how you treat someone is not important, as long as you treat everyone equally.
Pygmalion Essay Research Paper Comparing Pygmalion to
Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper Comparing Pygmalion to My Fair Lady Numerous times a piece of literature is changed into a movie or musical it s plot and or theme has been changed to suit the director s thought of what would appeal to the public. One such example is Bernard Shaw s play Pygmalion. In this play Shaw s purpose and ideas were horribly misconstrued to the point at which he was forced to write an Epilogue to try to reconcile the injustice done to his masterpiece.
Comparison Of Doolittle And Higgins In Pygmalion
Essay, Research Paper William Golding?s ?Lord Of The Flies?: Tension Between the Enemy?s It is obvious from the first time that Ralph and Jack meet that there will be a struggle between them. In chapter one when the two meet Jack automatically proclaims himself the leader while Ralph has himself in mind for the position (22).
Pygmalion Essay Research Paper DiscriminationSociety has been
Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper Discrimination Society has been split apart since renossance England. The novel Pygmalion written by Bernard Shaw demonstrates that proper speech and a fake appearance can easily fool the upper class English. Different levels of society are usually seperated because of money, appearance and speech, and attitude.