Eliza Doolittle and Higgins: Phonetics, Social Class, and Transformation in 'My Fair Lady'

Eliza Doolittle is delighted at the idea of living in Wimpole Street

False

Colonel Pickering is a specialist in phonetics like Higgins

False

Alfred Doolittle inherits a fortune from Colonel Pickering

False

The professor's primary goal is to marry Eliza

False

Mrs. Higgins often disapproves of her son's behavior toward Eliza

True

Phonetics is defined as the study of spoken language and accents

True

Higgins views Eliza as more than just an experiment by the end

True

Eliza's transformation leads her to feel out of place in both worlds

True

The Ambassador's Garden Party marks the climax of the experiment

True

Higgins sings "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" because of loneliness

True

Where Eliza stays after leaving Higgins

Mrs. Higgins

Eliza's main motivation for speech lessons

To open a flower shop

Irony of "Poor Professor Higgins

" Alfred Doolittle inherits money despite irresponsibility

Who says "What is to be done with her afterwards?"

Mrs. Higgins

How Alfred Doolittle describes himself

Undeserving

Key to Eliza's transformation (according to Higgins)

Her accent

Major theme explored in Eliza's journey

Social class barriers

Meaning of "Galatea

" A statue brought to life

What convinces Eliza to stay at Higgins' home

Taxi rides and chocolates

Final conflict between Eliza and Higgins

Eliza's independence

Higgins' view of English language

Speech determines class and identity

How Doolittle's inheritance changes him

Forces him into middle-class morality

Why the Ambassador's Garden Party is pivotal

It proves Eliza can pass as a lady

Irony of Eliza's lessons

Speech raises her class but costs her belonging

Higgins-Eliza relationship shows

Class does not define personal worth

Who believes phonetics transforms people

Higgins

How Colonel Pickering treats Eliza

With respect and courtesy

Who acts as moral compass for Higgins

Mrs. Higgins

Who becomes wealthy by chance

Alfred Doolittle

Who is Eliza's romantic admirer

Freddy

Higgins refuses to admit emotional connection to Eliza

True

Pickering bets Higgins he cannot make Eliza a lady

True

Freddy is captivated by Eliza immediately

True

Higgins mocks Doolittle after his inheritance

True

Eliza ultimately chooses to remain with Higgins

False / ambiguous

Doolittle's view of middle-class morality

A burden he never wanted

Where Higgins first meets Eliza

Selling flowers outside Covent Garden

What Mrs. Pearce reminds Higgins to do

Attend to his personal hygiene

Setting of opening scene

Covent Garden

Eliza's transformation is "complete" when

She confronts Higgins about her future

Why Doolittle thinks he's "undeserving

" He avoids responsibility and morality

How Pickering boosts Eliza's self-respect

Treats her as a lady from the start

Significance of returning Higgins' ring

She rejects being controlled

Mrs. Higgins' role in Eliza's growth

Offers guidance and moral direction

How Higgins justifies his behavior

Claims he treats everyone the same

Contrast: Eliza & Higgins vs Eliza & Freddy

Higgins challenges her; Freddy adores her

Why Eliza feels "not fit to sell anything else

" She no longer fits working-class life

Meaning of "I Could Have Danced All Night

" Shows her emotional awakening

Importance of Ambassador's Ball

Final test proving Eliza's transformation

Appearance vs substance in social mobility

Looks allow access but do not create identity

"I created this thing out of the squashed cabbage leaves..."

Higgins

"Your calling me Miss Doolittle... beginning of self-respect"

Eliza

"You are a pretty pair of babies..."

Mrs. Higgins

"The majesty and grandeur of the English language..."

Higgins

"The new small talk... you do it so awfully well"

Clara

My Fair Lady is based on

Pygmalion

Alfred Doolittle's profession

Dustman

Eliza throws at Higgins

Shoe (slipper)

Who persuades Eliza to learn English

Pickering

How the play ends

Higgins and Eliza reconcile ambiguously