Bernard Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’ displays late England and its division based on one’s speech. With an eagerness to break the barriers and receive an “elementary education,” Eliza Doolittle finds herself abused and used by the men in her life. It was apparent to me that Eliza and Alfred Doolittle; her father did not have a close relationship. I conclude that this must be because Mr. Doolittle did not fulfill his fatherly duties. A father should provide for his children. However, Eliza from a young age made a living by selling flowers, providing for herself. This was seen in Act I when Eliza said “Buy a flower kind gentleman, I’m short my lodging.” In Act II Alfred Doolittle provides evidence that wasn’t involved much in Eliza’s life much. He said “Me! I never brought her up at all, except give her a lick of scrap now and again.” Later I thought it ironic that instead of Alfred providing for his daughter, yet he wanted Higgins to give him his “nights” as a father. Alfred and Eliza’s relationship is based on what he can benefit from her. He goes to the extent of making arrangements for Mr. Higgins to keep her for money. To add to this he gave Mr. Higgins permission to punish Eliza in a violent way if she was to get out of hand.
Professor Higgins, the man who was successful in the art of English language, was indeed the man that abused Eliza the most. From their first encounter he describes Eliza as a creature “with her kerbstone English.” In my belief that was a foreshadow of the verbal abuse yet to come.