Play
Written by George Bernard Shaw in 1912
Title
Based on Greek Mythology Pygmalion
Characters
Eliza Doolitle
Flower girl; commoner; “dirty, shabbily dressed, in need of dentist” has a cockney accent / southern accent subject of a bet between Henry and Pickering quick-witted strong, will stand up for herself based on Eliza Sheffield (?)
Eliza Sheffield
Eliza Sheffield -
Professor Higgins - Henry Higgins
Linguist; studies phonetics and different dialects and ways of speaking Lacks empathy rude inconsiderate Rude, brash, classist, misogynist, parallel between Pygmalion and Henry
wants to “mould” Eliza into refined and sophisticated woman from a ‘rough’ person, makes a bet w Pickering
Colonel Pickering
friend of Henry’s author of Spoken Sanskrit elderly gentleman; military background bet was between him and Higgins was kind and friendly
helps her set up shop moral and financial support; and motivates wealthy
Freddy
upper class true gentleman good-natured
love interest of Eliza, in love w Eliza
writes to her daily
meets her during Eliza’s first trial
used to wait every night to catch a glimpse of her
courts w Eliza via letters
runs away w Eliza
Alfred Doolitle
Eliza’s father Dustman turns his daughter in for five pounds
Mrs Pearce
Higgins’ housekeeper makes sure Eliza is cared for properly while in house
Synopsis
Professor Higgins sees flower girl Eliza; mocks her accent
”If I can’t have kindness, I’ll have independence”
see also
- Pygmalion Effect / Rosenthal Effect
Joseph Weizenbaum named his chatterbot computer program ELIZA after the character Eliza Doolittle