<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar.g?targetBlogID\x3d7781701313948266033\x26blogName\x3dCOGNOTES:+Pygmalion\x26publishMode\x3dPUBLISH_MODE_BLOGSPOT\x26navbarType\x3dBLUE\x26layoutType\x3dCLASSIC\x26searchRoot\x3dhttps://cognotes-pygmalion.blogspot.com/search\x26blogLocale\x3den\x26v\x3d2\x26homepageUrl\x3dhttp://cognotes-pygmalion.blogspot.com/\x26vt\x3d-4833052025583478791', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script>

Pygmalion

Cognotes offers in-depth help with George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion

Navigation

Home

Analysis of Major Characters

Themes and Analysis

Summary and Analysis

Important Quotes Explained

Study Questions for Each Act

Reading Questions and Quiz

Possible Essay Questions

*Staff and Credits

Quotes

1. “I don’t think I can bear much more. The people all stare so at me. An old lady has just told me that I speak exactly like Queen Victoria…nothing can make me the same as these people.”

This quote demonstrates the key moment of Pygmalion, as it reveals Liza’s true characteristics. It shows that she doesn’t want to be queen; she only wants to be similar to everyone else. She only wants to be regarded as a duchess and a lady just like the other ladies in the upper class. This is ironic because it is before this point that Liza wanted to be regarded as the queen. However, she feels as if she stands out for the wrong reason and does not fit in. She states: “I’ll never be like these people”, but doesn’t realize how successful she actually is.


2. “…I tell you, Pickering, never gain for me. No more artificial duchesses. The whole thing has been simple purgatory.”

Higgins talks to Eliza as if she is a doll, as if she is not there and has no feelings. This shows the distinction she may feel exists between the two classes. She may stereotype the upper class as those who disregard the poor and feel as if they have no feelings and are lifeless. Because of this, Higgins’ statement may have strengthened Eliza’s stereotypes and angered her further.


3. “I sold flowers. I didn’t sell myself. Now you’ve made a lady of me I’m not fit to sell anything else. I wish you’d left me where you found me.”

Here the key difference between upper and lower women is emphasized; many believe that women in the upper class have nothing to offer while women in the lower class must work. They simply hold many more responsibilities than those of the upper class. It is Eliza’s turn to honor her statement, “I’m a good girl”, something she has always said in the beginning of the book. However, with her change in status, all she can do is marry and remain in the upper class with nothing to offer. She realizes the decrease in responsibilities and usefulness she will have, and regrets her having Higgins help her change her social status.


4. “I’m sorry. I’m only a common ignorant girl; and in my station I have to be careful. There can’t be any feelings between the like of you and the like of me. Please will you tell me what belongs to you and what doesn’t?"

This statement angered Higgins and actually provoked a response from him. He had ceased to ignore Eliza after she says this, and his responses indirectly demonstrate his affection towards her. When she said “the like of you and the like of me”, it emphasized once again the distinction between the two classes. Eliza believes herself to be “common” and “ignorant” and not worthy of Higgins. The fact that she provoked a response out of him by pointing this out showed that Higgins truly did care about her.


5. “Who asked him to make a gentleman of me? I was happy. I was free. I touched pretty nigh everybody for money when I wanted it, same as I touched you, Engry Iggings. Now I am worried; tied neck and heels; and everybody touches me for money.”

Doolittle is angry because of his newfound riches. He doesn’t want to be rich because he doesn’t want the responsibilities that come with his riches, once again emphasizing the distinction between higher class and lower class. In this sense, when he was poor, he only had to ask for money. Apart from doing that, there was nothing else he had to do. Now his money comes with responsibilities. However, he is now reluctant to bear these responsibilities and prefers his former life. Doolittle was quite content with asking for money, as he was less burdened. This shows the attitude of those in different classes; many may be content with their current status.


6. “Your calling me Miss Doolittle that day when I first came to Wimpole Street. That was the beginning of self-respect for me. And there were a hundred little things you never noticed, because they came naturally to you. Things about standing up and taking off your hat and opening doors-”

This shows the impact that society’s perspective can have on one individual. They can significantly help or heal one; that is why many people are proud in society. For example, the fact that Miss Doolittle was regarded with respect and was addressed with this polite name added to Liza’s self-respect. This shows the importance of society's view and opinions can have on an individual.


7. “The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls: in short, behaving as if you were in Heaven, where there are no third-class carriages, and one soul is as good as another.”

This is ultimately the main theme of the story where the author criticizes the class distinctions. He believes that there are all types of people in each class, both the good and the bad. Likewise, they should all be treated similarly which is why he says "one soul is as good as another." He believes that everyone can contribute to the wholeness of the world (ie: how he changed Eliza) and similarly, everyone has equal potential. This also reveals the good-heartedness of Higgins.


8. “You were a fool: I think a woman fetching a man’s slippers is a disgusting sight: did I ever fetch your slippers?...No use slaving for me and then saying you want to be cared for: who cares for a slave? If you come back, come back for the sake of good fellowship; for you’ll get nothing else. You’ve had a thousand times as much out of me as I have had out of you; and if you dare to set up your little dog’s tricks of fetching and carrying slippers against my creation of a Duchess Eliza, I’ll slam the door in your silly face.”

Higgins is emphasizing to Eliza her independence. The fact that he tells her to not find him his slippers is underlining the fact that she is free. He is telling Liza that she doesn’t need him or her father or anyone; she can do it by herself. By thinking or stating otherwise, she is disrespecting herself for affection. He is emphasizing to her the potential that she has.