Metamorphosis of Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw Es

The Metamorphosis of Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw The benefits of acquiring an education are not limited to the academic aspects often associated with it. Part of the mundaneness it bestows includes being enabled to reach young insight, being empowered to cultivate a new awareness, and being endowed with a new understanding of life and of self. In Bernard Shaws Pygmalion, Eliza Doolittle experiences this type of enlightenment as the result of undergoing a forceful change in social status. With the sponsorship and guidance of Colonel Pickering, Eliza, a common street flower vendor, receives phonic instruction from Professor Henry Higgins and is transformed into an elegant and refined duchess (817). Eliza Doolittle is highly emotional and has dauntless reserve however, her level of confidence increases as she gains a new perception of herself and a new outlook on life through the instruction she receives. Although in the beginning of the play Eliza Doolittl e possesses a lordliness of self that has persevered notwithstanding the lowliness of her social status as a draggletailed guttersnipe (817), she has little confidence and a low sense of worth. By describing Elizas emotional states throughout the play, Shaw illuminates the evolution of Elizas fibre. In the opening act when Eliza receives the impression that she is being charged for taking advantage of a gentlemans proximity to persuade him to buy a flower, Shaw describes that she becomes terrified and claims, I aint done vigour wrong . . . Ive a right to sell flowers . . . (806). Elizas initial feeling of fear points to a momentary sense of self-doubt in her character however, her solid pride leads her to make a declaration in def... ...f as she sweeps out (864). Too proud to be bossed around, Eliza is confident enough to stand her ground and defend her dignity without being timid. Although it was in Elizas sensitive nature to fetch slippers, now she wont care for anybody that d oesnt care for her (860). Eliza Doolittle continually manifested pride and a touchy sensitivity however, once educated, the drastic change of experiencing a substantially improved social standing caused the development of visual confidence in her character. Armed with self-esteem, Eliza had the necessary force in her character to face adversity without doubting herself or relying on the strength of others. Works Cited Shaw, Bernard. Pygmalion. Introduction to Literature Reading, Analyzing, and Writing. 2nd ed. Ed. Dorothy U. Seyler and Richard A. Wilan. Englewood Cliffs Prentice, 1990. 800?64.