Feminism
Feminism is a social and political movement that aims to achieve economic, political, and social equality of the sexes. Feminist literary criticism is an approach that applies the principles and philosophy of feminism to critique the language of literature. This approach examines how literature portrays the history of male domination by exploring the social, economic, political, and psychological forces embedded in the literature.
Background
Pygmalion is a play written by George Bernard Shaw in 1912 that depicts the transformation of a poor flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a refined lady under the guidance of two phonetic experts, Henry Higgins, and Colonel Pickering. The play is set in the Victorian era of England when women were subjected to many stereotypes and restrictions. Women were expected to behave in a certain way, dress in a certain way, and speak in a certain way. They were also denied many basic rights, such as the right to vote, the right to divorce, the right to inherit property, and the right to choose a career. Shaw, who was born and raised in this era, reflects these social realities in his play. However, he also challenges them by presenting strong female characters who defy the patriarchal norms and assert their independence.
Feminism element in the text
The title of the play itself is a reference to the myth of Pygmalion from Ovid's poem Metamorphoses. In this myth, Pygmalion is a sculptor who scorns all women and decides to live alone. He creates a statue of a woman that is so perfect that he falls in love with it. He names the statue Galatea and prays to Venus to bring it to life. Venus grants his wish and Pygmalion marries Galatea.
Shaw adapts this myth to the Victorian context by making Higgins and Pickering the creators of Eliza, who is their Galatea. They teach her how to speak properly, how to dress elegantly, and how to behave gracefully. They mold her into their ideal woman, who can pass as a duchess at a high society party. However, unlike the original myth, Eliza is not a passive object of their creation. She is an active agent who resists their manipulation and asserts her identity.
Evidence from the text
One of the main aspects of feminist criticism is to analyze how language is used to construct gender roles and power relations. In Pygmalion, language is a key tool for Higgins and Pickering to transform Eliza into their desired product. However, language is also a source of conflict and resistance for Eliza, who challenges their authority and expresses her feelings.
In Act I, Higgins insults Eliza for her low-class accent and manners. He says: "A woman who utters such depressing and disgusting sounds has no right to be anywhere–no right to live." He also calls her "bilious pigeon" and "squashed cabbage leaf". He treats her as an inferior being who needs his help to become a respectable person. However, Eliza does not accept his insults quietly. She defends herself by saying: "I'm a good girl I am" and "I've a right to be here if I like the same as you". She also demands fair treatment from him: "I want to be a lady in a flower shop stead of selling at the corner of Tottenham Court Road. But they won't take me unless I can talk more genteel. He said he could teach me. Well here I am ready to pay him—not asking any favor—and he treats me as if I was dirt."
In Act II, when Eliza arrives at Higgins's house for lessons, he continues to belittle her for her lack of manners. He says: "Remember: that's your handkerchief; and that's your sleeve. Don't mistake the one for the other if you wish to become a lady in a shop". He implies that she is dirty and uncivilized and that she needs to learn how to act like a lady. However, Eliza does not agree with his standards of femininity. She says: "I don't want no gold and no diamonds. I'm good enough for Freddy Eynsford Hill; and I'm good enough for you." She asserts her self-worth and her right to choose her own partner.
In Act III, Clara Eynsford Hill is another example of a woman who rebels against the patriarchal norms of language and behaviour. Her mother forbids her from using slang words that are considered unladylike. She says: "Don't dare use that word again". However, Clara is fascinated by Eliza's speech and wants to adopt it as a fashion. She says: "How awfully nice of you to say that. How quaint. I shall always say quaint now." She also listens to Higgins's advice to use slang words at home with her younger siblings. She says: "I shall certainly do it. It will be such a relief." She shows a spark of revolution and a desire to break free from the constraints of society.
In Act IV, Eliza's feelings are hurt by Higgins and Pickering's indifference and ingratitude after she wins the bet for them. They ignore her efforts and her emotions and only focus on their own achievements. They treat her as an object of their experiment, not as a human being. Pickering says: "We have taken this girl and made her fit to consort with a king's ambassador." Higgins says: "You won my bet! You! Presumptuous insect! I won it." Eliza realizes that they do not care about her as a person and that they have no plans for her future. She says: "What am I fit for? What have you left me fit for? Where am I to go? What am I to do? What's to become of me?" She also expresses her anger and frustration by throwing Higgins's slippers at him and saying: "I don't care how you treat me. I don't mind your swearing at me. I shouldn't mind a black eye; I've had one before this. But I won't be passed over."
In Act V, Eliza shows her independence and strength by rejecting Higgins's offer to stay with him or marry someone else. She decides to marry Freddy, who loves her and respects her, even though he is poor and impractical. She also decides to work as a teacher of phonetics, using the skills that Higgins taught her. She says: "I'll marry Freddy, I will, as soon as he's able to support me." She also says: "I can teach them, and I can teach them better than you can." She challenges Higgins's authority and his claim to have created her. She says: "The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she's treated." She asserts her identity and her dignity as a woman.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw is a fine example of feminist criticism in literature. It shows the patriarchal behaviour against females in the Victorian era, but also the feminist resistance and empowerment of the female characters. The play highlights the issues of language, gender roles, power relations, and social class that affect women's lives. It also challenges the readers to question their own assumptions and prejudices about women. Pygmalion is a play that speaks for the rights and respect of women and urges the society to change its attitude towards them.
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