Pygmalq Study Guide Questions
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Acl1
'1.
2.
What dramatic purpose does the rain shower serve?
Whai tensions already show in the relations beiween the Mother (laier named as Mrs'
Eynsford Hill), the Daughter (later named as Clara), and the son, Freddy?
3.
Shaw's Preface indicates enthusiasm for phonetics' but what "dark side" might we infer from
the opening scene in which everyone misconstrues Henry Higgins' motives for taking down
Eliza the Flower Girl's speech? The note taker is assumed to be of what profession? What
is his actual profession?
4.
What does the note taker sa-y about a "woman who utters such depressing and disgusting
sounds"? What does he claim to be able to do with herwithin three months?
5.
6.
7.
What coincidences in ihe first act seem likely to structure the rest ofthe play?
Act 2
Who takes the cab Freddy brings? Why?
What do Higgins and Pickering have in common?
1.
When Higgins recognizes the flower girl, what is his reaction? Why does Eliza want to
improve her speaking skills and lose her accent? What does she expect to gain?
2.
3.
Even after he agrees to teach her, what is Higgins' attitude towards Eliza?
What concerns do Colonel Pickering and Mrs. Pearce raise about Higgins'scheme to
educate Eliza? How does he respond to their concerns?
4.
Eliza determines to leave ratherthan to be further insulted How does Higgins persuade her
to stay?
5.
6.
7.
Descr;be Mrs. Pearce's role in the play (i.e. not herjob).
What is the dramatic purpose ofthe bath scene?
How does Higgins treat Eliza and her desire for educaiion? Discuss a few instances-what
assumptions does he make about her, and why do you think he makes them?
B.
Why did Alfred Dootittle come to see Professor Higgins?How would you sum up the creed of
Eliza's father, the dustman Alfred Doolittle? What does he have against "middle-class
morality," and why?
L
Dooliftle says, "l'm undeserving, and lmean to go on being undeserving." Why does he not
want to better himself?
10.
Why does Doolittle want only five pounds instead ofthe ten he is offered?
Act
3
1.
Shaw offers rather full stage descriptions and directions and includes a long explantion
about Henry Higgins' personaliiy. What do you ihink he is up to by all the references io
Wiiliam l\4orris decorations? And why provide an account of a character's personaljty when,
in most plays at least, we get a sense of that from the events and dialogue of the play
?
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Who are Mrs. and Miss Eynsford Hill?
Higgins says, "We want two or three people. You'll do as well as anybody else." What does
the fact that he says that tell us?
What does Liza do wrong at Mrs. Higgins, home?
How does Clara take Eliza's inbredible attempt to 'talk proper" during an accidental meeting
with the Hills at l/rs. Higgins' "at home" social occas;on? How do Freddy and l\4rs. Eynsford
Hilr i.terpret El;za's performance?
What do you think of Higgins' relationship with his mother, as it is developed in this ihird act?
And how does she view her son's scientific experiment with Eliza?
What do you think of Higgin's own attitude towards his experiment with Eliza, up to this point
in the play? What does he reveal towards the end ofthe third act?
Who is Nepommuck?
ls Eliza successful at the ambassador,s reception?
Act 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
ln the 1930's film production we plan to watch, we actually see Eliza dazzle the audience at
a big party, and pass herself off as royalty. ln the play, we don,t see her performance. Whai
difference does the change make, if any?
What does Higgins say he has accomplished when Eliza succeeds? What does pickering
apparently think has been accomplished?
Why does Eliza throw Higgins'slippers at him? What cogent criticism of Higgins and his
ideas about class and language does she offer in this fourth act?
What is Higgins'advice to Liza when he realizes she is upset (although he cannot
understand why she is upset)?
5.
6.
Why does Liza tell Freddy, "Don't you
7.
What was Freddy doing below Eliza,s window?
Why does Liza wish Higgins had left her where he had found her?
ca
me lvliss Doolitfle . . . Liza is good enough for
Act 5
1.
2.
Higgins boasted earlier in the play that he would be able to transform Eliza's very being and
make her anything he wanted. Judging from this fifth aci, would you say he was right or
wrong? ls Ellza still the "Eliza" we met at the beginning, or is she another person altogether?
Explain.
How does Alfred Doolittle's transformation into a married qenfleman reflect on the
"
3.
4.
5.
lesson are
exploration of class and Iinguistic variety wefr:ld in Pygmalion as a whole? What
we supposed to learn from what happens to him?
Why is Henry Higgins concerned about Liza's being gone?
Why is Alfred Doolittle upset?
gave her the slightest
Higgins says, "She behaved in the most outrageous way l never
provocation." ls he lying or telling the truth?
Sequel
can guess what Shaw is going to
i-Before reading the sequel that follows Act 5' see if you
your guesses as a response Then
down
;t;""i;";irture for some ofthe characters set
check to see if he agrees with You
2.
good art is always didactic'
General questions: Shaw 6ays in his Preface before Act 1 that
Pygmalion?
What is the ultimate "lesson" he probably wanted us to take away ircfi
3.
home some
Do you agree with Shaw thai art should be didactic (i e ihat it should drive
the oiher
ignore
don't
moll poit, tat<e a stand on current issues, etc )? ln your response'
favor of it
in
siae oi tne question-consider argument/s against didacticism and argumenus