In act 2 Alfred Doolittle is one of Shaw's great secondary character . What are the qualities that give him audience appeal?

Alfred
Doolittle enters the home of Mr. Higgins after finding out that Eliza is there. At this time,
Higgins and Col. Pickering are still having an avid conversation about Higgin's impressions of
women and relationships, when Mrs. Pearce enters the room and announces him.

Higgins refers to Doolittle as "the blackguard" and Pickering holds doubt
about that specific title. However, it is true that Doolittle is a dustman and he is described
quite vividly in the play:

Alfred Doolittle is an elderly
but vigorous dustman, clad in the costume of his profession, including a hat with a back brim
covering his neck and shoulders. He has well marked and rather interesting features, and seems
equally free from fear and conscience. He has a remarkably expressive voice, the result of a
habit of giving vent to his feelings without reserve. His present pose is that of wounded honor
and stern resolution.

The reason behind Doolittle's
greatness as a secondary character is that he serves as an intermediary between Eliza's old life
and her new beginning at Higgins's. We must keep in mind that Eliza's background has left a
strong impression in her manners, speech, and behavior. All these were a direct acquisition from
Doolittle.

Another great characteristic of Doolittle is that he embodies the
transition occurring in Victorian lower classes. In his case, he obtains money from Higgins,
after trying over and over to profit off Eliza's stay in his residence. Once Doolittle becomes
"middle class" after receiving the profits, he realizes what "being of
money" encompasses: With money comes the appearance of having money and living with the
highest moral and social codes of conduct. This is impossible for Arthur to do, and his
character sends out the message of how the lives of the Victorian middle classes are based on
snobbery and futility.

This is not a far vision of Shaw's own perception of
society. Doolittle is a sort of mouthpiece for the playwright. The fact that he exposes society
for what it really is through Doolittle is what makes the play almost three-dimensional: We can
almost hear Shaw laugh at society in plain view.