Essay About Higgins Laboratory And Mrs. Higgins Drawing Room

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A man who lived in the dark world to bring out a smile but was confornted by one other than pigmaillio KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS
SETTING
Pygmalion is set in London in the early 1900s. The physical settings of the play include the Portico at St. Pauls in
Covent Garden, Higgins laboratory and drawing room at Wimpole Street and Mrs. Higgins drawing room in a flat on
Chelsea Embankment. However it must be kept in mind that in the theatrical context the word setting may refer to
the physical effects of a production, the scenery and properties, or it may refer to the scenery alone. Although
some critics find Pygmalions setting to be naturalistic, others tend to disagree.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Major Characters
Henry Higgins
He is a mature, robust and authoritative single man in his forties. In his first appearance in the play he reveals his
single-minded devotion to his career as a phonetician. During the course of the play he transforms a common
flower girl into a duchess by teaching her how to speak correctly. However, he is surprised to learn that his
creation has acquired human emotions and has fallen in love with him.
Colonel Pickering
Shaw describes the colonel as “an elderly gentleman of the amiable military type.” Colonel Pickering is the author of
Spoken Sanskrit and an expert on the subject. His caution and good manners serve to highlight Higgins more
abrasive and volatile characteristics. Pickering thus functions as a foil to Higgins. In fact Eliza insists in the last act
that it was Pickerings courteous gentlemanly conduct and kindness of heart that really transformed her into a lady.
Eliza Doolittle
She is a young, Cockney flower girl of about twenty who is transformed in the course of the play from a
“draggletailed guttersnipe” into a duchess. The play charts her growth and development from a helpless being into
an independent woman of strength and character.
Alfred Doolittle
Elizas father is an elderly but vigorous dustman. He first appears in the play in the stock role of an aggrieved
father who intends to blackmail Higgins. When Higgins bullies him he instantly assumes the role of a pimp and
sells his daughter for a worthless sum of merely five pounds. By his second appearance in the play, he has become
a gentleman by virtue of a legacy of several thousand pounds a year left by an eccentric American millionaire.
Minor Characters
Mrs. Higgins
Higginss mother is over sixty years old. She possesses exquisite elegance and refinement of manners. Her
intelligence, personal grace and dignity of character are idealized by her son to such an extent that he is indifferent
to young women. She thus unwittingly poses a formidable rival to any young woman who wishes to acquire her
sons affection. She also disapproves of her sons behavior and manners.
Mrs. Eynsford Hill
She is a well-bred lady who lacks money but clings to gentility. She lives in the fashionable Earls Court even
though she does not have the financial capacity to sustain the kind of lifestyle expected of a lady.
Clara Eynsford Hill
Her daughter who wants to keep up with contemporary trends in society. By the plays end she comes under the
influence of Wellsian philosophy and goes to work in an old furniture shop in Docer Street.
Freddy Eynsford Hill
Her son who is a good-looking man of about twenty. He comes across as weak and worthless, not having money
or an occupation. Ironically, it is Freddy (and not Higgins) who captivates Eliza because he cares about her.
Mrs. Pearce
She is Higginss housekeeper and representative mother figure in his bachelor establishment at the Wimpole Street
laboratory. She is an extremely lovable character who ceaselessly chides Higgins for his incurable swearing,
disgusting table manners and general slovenliness.
Parlormaid
A maid at Mrs. Higginss house, she performs the minor functions of announcing guests and following orders.
CONFLICT
Protagonist
Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, is the protagonist of the play. He represents the legendary character
Pygmalion who transforms a piece of marble into a beautiful woman who then comes to life. In this version,
Higgins transforms an uncouth flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a genteel lady by teaching her how to speak
correctly. While this whole exercise is nothing more than an experiment for him, he is amazed to discover that his