Pygmalion, Act 3

Annotations

You will continue to create annotations as you read the rest of the play. Download a new annotation sheet, and as you read Act 3, read with a pen in your hand! You can review the guidelines in the section titled "Pygmalion Annotation Guide." 

Remember to record a minimum of eight (8) annotations for Act 3.

Pygmalion Annotations Chart.docx

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Act 3

When we left Eliza, she was suffering through lessons with Higgins, apparently being brought to tears often because of his manners towards her. 

Based on what you know of Higgins and Eliza so far, what do you think will happen in Act 3?

Pygmalion, Act 3 

From Project Gutenberg 

READ ACT 3(OPENS IN A NEW TAB)

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Mrs. Higgins

Act 3 begins in Mrs. Higgins' drawing room. Read through the stage directions and note how the stage is set to differentiate her from her son. 

Higgins tells his mother he has invited Eliza over for her to see if Eliza is ready to be passed off as a duchess in polite society yet. He wants his mother to vouch for Eliza's speech: does she come across as a lady of high social class? Or do her topics of conversation reveal that she is a common flower seller?

Right before Eliza comes in, the Eynsford Hill family visits. You might remember Freddy and his mother and sister from the first scene of the play.

Reading Questions

As you read, consider the answer to the following questions:

Higgins is focused on teaching Eliza to behave correctly in social situations so she can be passed off as a duchess. How does he behave in social situations?

What words would you use to describe Eliza during her meeting with Mrs. Higgins?

Pickering tells Henry that he "must learn to know [himself]." What do you think it means to "know yourself?"

Why does Higgins say he has been enjoying teaching Eliza? Do you think his motives are right or wrong?

What is the difference between how Higgins and Pickering view the problem of Eliza versus how Mrs. Higgins views her and her problem?

How is Nepommuck similar to his former teacher?

How does Eliza help Higgins win the bet?

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Dramatic Irony

Irony is a literary technique where the expectations of a situation do not meet the actual outcomes.

One type of irony is dramatic irony. This is when the audience knows a key piece of information that the characters do not, creating tension for when the information will be revealed.

Sometimes dramatic irony is used to create suspense or uncomfortable tension. Often, it is used to create a humorous situation.

In Act III, the audience remembers Freddy and his family and how they met Eliza outside of the church in Act I. Higgins, Freddy, his mother, and sister all seem to recognize each other but can't place exactly where they have met. In a live performance, this might cause the audience to laugh as they wait for the characters to recognize each other and see if it will unravel Higgins' plans.

Can you find other examples of dramatic irony in this act?

You have no idea how frightfully interesting it is to take a human being and change her into a quite different human being by creating a new speech for her. It's filling up the deepest gulf that separates class from class and soul from soul. - Professor Higgins, Act III

Inventing New Elizas

Higgins and Pickering tell Mrs. Higgins that they are enjoying the lessons with Eliza. They seem to enjoy it because they are fascinated with the power to remake her in their own image. They like the feeling of taking a human and changing her entirely.

They mention that they have changed her:

Speech

Dress

Person

While Higgins and Pickering see the only problem in the situation is how to achieve their goal, Mrs. Higgins sees Eliza as a whole person needing help. Mrs. Higgins worries that Eliza will be a woman without a class status: too rough to blend into society and get a good job but too refined to return to her life as a flower seller.

Have you ever been in a situation where you wish you could re-create someone in your own image? Maybe a sibling you wish you could change or a loved one you wish would drop bad habits? Perhaps you have felt the burden of others wanting to change you to be more like them.

We know from Scripture that God made us in His image—He created us to be like Him and reflect His goodness in creation. Considering that God is a creator and made us to reflect Him, it makes sense that we would enjoy creating other things, like art, music, or delicious food. However, considering that the world is under the burden of sin, it also makes sense that our good desire to create can be twisted into something evil or hurtful.

When Higgins and Pickering want to re-create Eliza into a new human being, they are not doing it out of a desire to honor God and His creation and honor Eliza as an image-bearer. Instead, they are pursuing this out of pride and a desire for control.

What are some good ways you reflect God as a creator? Do you need to consider any things to honor God's creation and other image-bearers better?