Education And Class System In Pygmalion By George Bernard Shaw

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England was entering an age of reform during the reign of Queen Victoria. During this time, many traditional systems such as education and parliament and social conventions were under scrutiny by the English people. English authors of that period perfectly represent the common voice of the Victorian people. They used their work as a channel to openly state their criticisms of their government; a luxury that few others had. George Bernard Shaw, author of Pygmalion and other works, also took advantage of the leniency that came with writing of social reform, but in a more dramatic form. Pygmalion is an unconventional rag-to-riches story of Eliza Doolittle and her mentor, Professor Higgins. Eliza, a flower girl, goes to Higgins, a professor in linguistics, to receive lessons in order to change her dialect. Higgins accepts Eliza’s offer after making a bet to pass Eliza off as a member of the upper class. The play in its entirety is a satire of educational and social norms in Victorian England. In Pygmalion, George Bernard Shaw utilizes characterization and character relationships to show the flaw of domination in education and class systems. The educational system and the class system lacks individualism for the lower or submissive members of society. Eliza Doolittle’s characterization is a stereotypical member of the poor working class from her occupation of being a flower girl to her incomprehensible Cockney dialect: “Ow, eez ye-ooa san, is e?” (I, 55). Her distinct diction allows the reader to easily identify what social class Eliza belongs to. Fitzgerald also utilizes this characterization in his novel The Great Gatsby to show the separate social classes of each character by the difference of diction in Gatsby and Mr. Wolfsheim (... ... middle of paper ... ... do not allow proper learning to take place. Dominance, however, is not only utilized by the higher members of society but simply a human trait. However, others argue that the lack of an easy and common language is the real problem that is being illustrated, but the assertion of one main dialect over other is simply another display of dominance. In order for a fairer society, the use of control or dominance of another person must be eliminated. Such feelings of superiority, which is seen in today’s society, lead to bigger problems such as long-lasting prejudices and the widening of economic gaps. However, Shaw does not suggest that the English System is completely removed but made so mobility in the system is not as rigid through the removal of dominance. Unfortunately a human quality cannot be easily removed which leaves the question: what can be done instead?

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