The rain at
the start of Act I of Shaw's is a convenient and convincing device that
allows the conversations and interactions between Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins and other
characters to be believable.
Rain showers encourage people who know each
other, and even some who don't, to huddle close together under shelter to avoid getting wet.
This close proximity encourages conversation as perfect strangers are now privy to one another's
dialogue, just because they happen to be seeking a refuge from the rain in the same place at the
same time. In Pygmalion, Mrs. Eynsford Hill and her daughter both question
Eliza with a familiarity that could possibly be explained by this proximity. Mr. Higgins hovers
in the background, noting every detail of the exchange, and his lurking may seem less suspicious
because of the cover of the rain.
Though rain is a frequent phenomenon in
Britain, the choice to begin the play with a rainstorm would not have been a casual one. Though
only Shaw can explain the purpose with any accuracy, the reasons above may explain the purpose
of the rain as a literary device within the play.
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