Saturday, January 30, 2010

What has Eliza learned by the end of Pygmalion?

Eliza has
learned to have a sense of self worth by the end of the play. She has succeeded at becoming a
lady, despite her working-class origins.

This leads her to two realizations.
First, she learns that by becoming a lady, she has unfitted herself for earning her own living.
All a respectable lady can do is get married. Whereas before, it was perfectly reasonable for
her to earn a living selling flowers, money-making would now destroy her new status. She chafes
under this restraint, thinking it senseless.

Second, she realizes she can
stand up to Henry Higgins. She no longer needs to put up with his arrogant commands and
ceaseless verbal abuse. She does challenge him, showing she is fully human and demanding he
acknowledge that, which surprises him greatly.

Eliza grows in self-esteem and
assertiveness as a result of her experiences.

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