‘Pygmalion’ is a famous play by the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. In this essay, I want to talk about the personal development of the main character of the play – Eliza. I’m going to draw the contrast between Eliza from Act 1 to Act 4, as I believe these 4 acts are the most feasible route toward giving you an insight into how I believe Eliza developed.
“He’s no right to take away my character. My character is the same to me as any lady’s”. Eliza in Act 1 of ‘Pygmalion’ is shown to have a voice, she does not let anyone step over her, she justifies her actions whenever she feels threatened, and isn’t afraid of letting other people know of her intent and actions, although her English is quietly broken, she seems to show resilience, persistence, and most importantly, independence.
“I can't. I won't. I’m not used to it. I've never taken off all my clothes before. It's not right: it's not decent”. In this scene and others of Act 2 of the play ‘Pygmalion’, Eliza seems to be less reluctant to what Higgins and Pickering have said, and the contrast has become more evident, already from being the outspoken flower girl to a more obedient yet outspoken girl. Although minor, the contrast is still shown and should be highlighted as one of the stages in Eliza’s character development.
“The shallow depression in the west of these islands is likely to move slowly in an easterly direction. There are no indications of any great change in the barometrical situation”. In this scene of Act 3 of ‘Pygmalion’, Eliza’s speech pattern and even ideology have drastically changed, almost like it has been dissected and fiddled with. Her identity itself is completely gone leaving no traces in this scene, which is utterly terrifying because an individual’s identity always stays with them. Furthermore, it resembles a lack of life due to not thinking or acting on your own.
“I sold flowers. I didn't sell myself. Now you've made a lady out of me, I’m not fit to sell anything else. I wish you'd left me where you found me”. Finally, a climax and final link to connect all the main points I have made. In this scene of Act 4 of George Bernard Shaw's play, Eliza does not know what to do; although they made a woman out of her, they did not help her attain what she wanted in the first place, which was good enough English to work at a flower shop. Instead, she was treated like an object and was treated very dismissively by Henry Higgins. Eliza was willing to give her voice and act for her ambition, but Higgins left her clueless and was quite negligent towards her, not in the aspect of teaching English, but in other aspects of life and ambition. In the end, Eliza loses her independence and finds herself in a very confusing position, she is afraid and does not know what to do because of Henry Higgins' negligence.
This is my understanding of Elsa's personal development during the 4 acts of the play, which actually represents and symbolizes the most important message and life lesson of the play.