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 .

Shaw points out the differences in pronunciation of language and how it varies from one place to another. You can spot an Irishman or a Yorkshireman by his brogue. An Irishman has a quite distinct accent, but it still makes the point of how pronunciation can reveal where someone lives. I can place any man within six miles. I can place him within two miles in London. This really emphasizes how much speech varies. Not only does it vary from country to country, but also from town to town. Remember that you are a human being with a soul and the divine gift of articulate

speech . . . Through this quote, Shaw shows that speech is nothing to take for granted. It is something that should not be abused, but used properly and when necessary. Shaw shows that within the English language, there are many different pronunciations that vary from one person to the next depending on the nature of their society.

Another thing Shaw points out is class structure and relationships. There can t be any feelings between the like of you and the like of me. Eliza says this because Higgins knows her true class. Also, He was Eliza s teacher and it would not be proper. I won t care for anybody that doesn t care for me. This is very common in relationships. If one person cares about the other more, it is hard to keep feelings from getting hurt. No use slaving for me and then saying you want to be cared for. Who cares for a slave? Though Eliza never has the intention of being a slave for Higgins, Higgins makes a good point in general. On the other hand, Higgins should never see her as trying to be his slave in the first place. Eliza is only trying to get a positive reaction out of Higgins. Shaw brings out these points that can make or break a relationship.

Good speech can sometimes determine class. Sometimes class can reject relationships. But class does not make one person better in a relationship. Shaw proves this between Higgins and Eliza.