‘Pygmalion’

1. ‘Pygmalion’ Key Quotations

2. Key Themes of the drama • Transformation – Eliza, Higgins and Mr Doolittle • Myths of Creation – Eliza and Higgins • Class – Eliza and Higgins • Conflict – Eliza and Higgins • Relationships – Eliza and Higgins/Eliza and Freddy

3. Areas of Study – Conflict/Relationships • 2013. Choose a play in which the breakdown of a relationship between main characters is an important feature. Discuss the cause(s) of the breakdown and show how it goes on to have a significant impact on the rest of the play. • 2010. Choose a play in which there is conflict between two characters in a family or a group. Show how the conflict occurs and explain how it affects the characters and the events of the play. • 2009. Choose a play in which there is an important relationship between two of the main characters. Describe the nature of the relationship, and explain how it is developed throughout the play.

4. Areas of Study - Sympathy • 2011. Choose a play in which a main character’s actions have a significant effect on the rest of the play. Show how this character’s actions have affected the other characters and/or the outcome of the play. • 2010. Choose a character from a play whose fate is unfortunate or unhappy. Show how much of the character’s misfortune is caused by the personality and decisions of the character and how much by other circumstances in the play. • 2009. Choose a play in which a central character feels increasingly isolated from those around her or him. Explain why the character finds herself or himself isolated, and show what the consequences are for the character concerned.

5. Areas of Study – Final Scene/Dramatic Scene • 2011. Choose a play which you feel has a dramatic final scene. Describe briefly what happens and explain how effective the ending is in bringing to a conclusion the central concerns of the text. • 2012. Choose a play in which there is a scene which could be described as a turning point in the fate of one or more of the characters. Show how this scene could be described as a turning point and explain how it increased your understanding of the character or the characters in the rest of the play. • 2009. Choose a scene from a play in which suspense or tension is built up. Show how this suspense or tension is built up and what effect this scene has on the play as a whole.

6. CONFLICT/RELATIONSHIPS • Higgins: Oh, Lord knows! I suppose the woman wants to live her own life; and the man wants to live his; and each tries to drag the other on to the wrong track. • HIGGINS [moodily]: Have you ever met a man of good character where women are concerned? • HIGGINS. Somebody is going to touch you, with a broomstick, if you don't stop snivelling.

7. CONFLICT/RELATIONSHIPS - • HIGGINS. Oh, I cant be bothered with young women. • MRS. HIGGINS. You certainly are a pretty pair of babies, playing with your live doll. • LIZA [snatching up the slippers, and hurling them at him one after the other with all her force] There are your slippers!

8. CONFLICT/RELATIONSHIPS • HIGGINS. If you come back I shall treat you just as I have always treated you. • LIZA [with sudden sincerity] I don't mind a black eye: I've had one before this. But [standing up and facing him] I wont be passed over. • HIGGINS. You never asked yourself, I suppose, whether I could do without you LIZA [earnestly] Don't you try to get round me. You'll have to do without me.

9. FINAL SCENE / DRAMATIC SCENE • Higgins bursts in. He is, as the parlor-maid has said, in a state. HIGGINS. Look here, mother: here’s a confounded thing! • MRS. HIGGINS. You didn't thank her, or pet her, or admire her, or tell her how splendid she'd been. • HIGGINS. We didn't make speeches to her, if that’s what you mean. 3. Eliza enters, sunny, self-possessed, and giving a staggeringly convincing exhibition of ease of manner.

10. FINAL SCENE / DRAMATIC SCENE • HIGGINS. If you come back I shall treat you just as I have always treated you. • LIZA I don't care how you treat me. I don't mind your swearing at me. I don't mind a black eye: I've had one before this. But [standing up and facing him] I wont be passed over. • HIGGINS. You never asked yourself, I suppose, whether I could do without you LIZA [earnestly] Don't you try to get round me. You'll have to do without me.

11. Final Scene / Dramatic Scene • Liza: I'll marry Freddy, I will, as soon as he's able to support me. • HIGGINS. What'll you teach, in heaven's name?    LIZA. What you taught me. I'll teach phonetics. 3. Liza: Aha! That's done you, Henry Higgins, it has. Now I don't care that [snapping her fingers] for your bullying and your big talk.

12. SYMPATHY • Higgins: A woman who utters such depressing and disgusting sounds has no right to be anywhere - no right to live. • HIGGINS You’re an ungrateful wicked girl. This is my return for offering to take you out of the gutter and dress you beautifully and make a lady of you. • MRS. HIGGINS. The advantages of that poor woman who was here just now! The manners and habits that disqualify a fine lady from earning her own living without giving her a fine lady's income!

13. SYMPATHY • HIGGINS. How the devil do I know what's to become of you? What does it matter what becomes of you? • Liza: I sold flowers. I didn't sell myself. Now you've made a lady of me I'm not fit to sell anything else. • Liza: You know well I couldn't bear to live with a low common man after you two; and it's wicked and cruel of you to insult me by pretending I could.

14. SYMPATHY • MRS. HIGGINS. You didn't thank her, or pet her, or admire her, or tell her how splendid she'd been. HIGGINS. We didn't make speeches to her, if that's what you mean. 2. LIZA [with sudden sincerity] I don't care how you treat me. I don't mind your swearing at me. I don't mind a black eye: I've had one before this 3. HIGGINS. Good-bye, mother. [He is about to kiss her, when he recollects something]. Oh, by the way, Eliza, order a ham and a Stilton cheese, will you?