The most obvious change in Eliza is her progression from being a flower girl in act 1 to a poised, well spoken lady we see in acts 4 and 5. Shaw describes Eliza as not at all a romantic figure. Perhaps eighteen, perhaps twenty, hardly older. She is loud with a strong cockney accent. Her first words are unintelligible. And to show this Shaw has written it in the phonetic alphabet, to stress that the pronunciation and speech is crucial as people judge other people on the way they speak and act.
Shaw employs many dramatic techniques to effect this change. At the start of the play Eliza is naive and simple. She has grown up with the lack of a decent adult role model and most of the time has to fend for her self. Her father is among the undeserving poor. Despite this Eliza is ambitious, and desires to better herself. She the opportunity to do so when the other two main characters both studying phonetics.
The two men introduce themselves as and Mr. Higgins. This scene takes place in Covent Garden. The stage directions describe it to been having Torrents of heavy summer rain. Cab whistles blowing frantically in all directions. Pedestrians running for shelter into the Portico of St Pauls church.
Shaw does this cleverly; it gives him the chance to bring people from all classes together. She first notices Mr. Higgins when a bystander questions on what he is writing as she is talking to a gentleman. The crowd instantly think he is a policeman and is about to charge Eliza. But they soon realize that he is not as one-bystander comments on his boots. Its aw raw: es a gentleman: look at his b-boots.
She then gets introduced to colonel Pickering when he explains that he has come to England on a visit fro India to meet Mr. Higgins. In this scene Mr. Higgins is extremely rude to Eliza.
He treats her as a draggletailed gutter snipe and does not take her feelings into account. Whilst colonel Pickering treats her as her would any other person. During this encounter Higgins exclaims that he could trick people into thinking Eliza is a duchess. Well, sir, in three months I could pass that girl off as a duchess at an ambassadors garden party.
I could even get her a place as a ladys maid or shop assistant, which requires better English Although Elizas outward appearance and the way she presents herself change through out the play her morality never does. When she is accused of being a prostitute she defends her reputation and shows pride in what she does as many young girls in her position would often turn to prostitution to survive, but she is against this and will not go against what she believes is right. Ive a right to sell flowers if I keep off the curb Im a respectable girl so help me. She is appalled when Mr. Higgins continues to discriminate her appearance, life style and dignity. Although she has made it blatantly obvious that she is hurt by his thoughtless comments.
hes no right to take away my character. My character is the same to me as any ladys. Although she is lower class she has a sense of dignity and is proud of what she does. But still wishes to better her self. Here Eliza also gets introduced to the Eynsford Hills. Shaw uses them for contrast.
They themselves are upper class but poor. Eliza accidentally starts talking when the son of Mrs. Eynsford hills, Freddy bumps into her in a rush to get under the shade. She almost instantly replies with Nah then, Freddy; look wh y gowin, deah. Freddy is ineffectual and laid back.
He feels that he is too good to have a job, and even if he tried he would not be able to keep it. If Freddy had a bit of gumption he would of got a job at the theatre door. Stage directions describe him as a young man of about twenty, in evening dress, very wet around the ankles. His mother is curious on how Eliza knows her sons name. This encounter plays an important role later on in the play when she revisits them.
In this act it seems as if the Eynsford Hills are in a higher class of society than Eliza. Later on the tables turn. Shaw also uses the ladies for comparaison through their appearance, with Eliza. Compared to Mrs. Eynsford Hills and her daughter, Eliza has a scruffy and dirty look. However she is as clean and as tidy as she can afford to be.
Shaw has also taken Elizas costume into consideration as many people make their first judgments on a person based on what they choose to wear or in this case what they can afford to wear. He states in the stage directions that She wears a little sailor hat of black straw that has long been exposed to the dust and soot of London and has seldom, if ever been brushed. Her hair needs washing rather badly; its mousy colour can hardly be natural. She wears a shoddy black coat that reaches nearly to her knees and is shaped to her waist. She has a brown skirt with a coarse apron. Her boots are much the worse for wear.
She needs the services of a dentist! Eliza makes on final attempt to sell colonel Pickering a flower. After a brief argument Higgins throws a handful of coins into her basket. She picks up the coins with loud exclamations of delight. She falls to her knees scrubbing for coins and making uncouth noises. With this money she has gathered she takes a cab home, this shows that she is longing for a better life and change. Act 2 takes place in Mr.
Higgins laboratory; 27 A Wimpole Street Where Mr. Higgins is showing Colonel Pickering around his laboratory. This scene marks the beginning of Elizas progression towards change. Eliza had heard what Mr. Higgins had said the night before about how he has the ability to improve her speech so that even the most intelligible people would think that she was a duchess. She had decided to invest in this statement and offers to pay for speech classes.
I wont give more than a shilling, take it or leave it. Higgins is impressed, as this is a large part of her income. Pickering challenges Higgins to a bet claiming that he shall make a duchess of this draggle tailed gutter snipe. She shows ignorance when she is led to the bathroom; she thinks that the bathtub is for boiling clothes. However when Mrs.
Pierce finally manages to clean her up her appearance changes dramatically. So much so her own father doesnt recognize her and mistakes her for a lady. Well, I never thought shed clean up as good looking as that. Eliza continues to be modest and moral.
Ill tell you, its easy to clean up here. Hot and cold water tap, just as much as you like… She is shocked by the full-length mirror reflecting her nudity and insists that she covers it up with a towel. Im a good girl I am, I wont pick up no free and easy ways (part 3) She has changed so dramatically that the eynsford hills do not recognize her from the beginning of the play. Her appearance at the Embassy is a great success. She managed to lead people into believing that she is a princess.
She has learned to speak English so perfectly that Nepommuck, an expert in phonetics and foreign languages thinks that she is a Hungarian princess. Can you show me an English woman that speaks English as it should be spoken Only foreigners who have been taught to speak it speak it well. Shaw prepares us for Elizas reaction to the conversation between Pickering and Higgins Lets get out of this, Ive had enough of chatting to these fools In the stage directions Eliza is obviously hurt and distraught. Act 4 again takes place in Wimpole Street. Shaw uses this scene to show that even though her outward appearance has changed, her personality has not. She is still strong willed and prepared to defend herself; she shows pride.
However she is still venerable and is concerned about her future. She realizes that being educated to be a lady does not fit her to earn a living. At this point she is insecure and is in need for affection and is prepared eventually to accept Freddie’s proposal. She asserts her independence by leaving Wimpole Street.
Elizas body language is important when she responds to Higgins comments. She flinches violently; but they take no notice of her; and she recovers herself and sits stonily as before. Higgins is unaware of Elizas mounting anger. In this scene she dares to face Higgins.