Importance of Women in Pygmalion

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In Pygmalion women play some of the most important roles. Eliza Doolittle, Mrs. Higgins and Mrs. Eynsford-Hill are very interesting strong women roles. In the play women are perceived as a lower class and as an audience we are exposed to the way women are treated differently in society very much so at the time the play was set for; 1914. In the play the audience views how men treat women differently and with this they are able to see the difference when shown through the roles of the women through the play. This is the point or message Shaw is trying to prove or show making the role of women very important. In the play we are introduced to Mrs. Higgins professor Higgins' mother. Mrs. Higgins a lady in her sixties. In the play when she is introduced to Liza Doolittle and learns of the plan to experiment with the young girl, she has concerns for the girl and her future. “No, you two infinitely stupid male creatures: the problem of what is to be done with her afterwards.” (Shaw, 65) Mrs. Higgins shows she doesn’t see the girl as some experiment un like the men in the play who do not seem to view women as the same value. Having a women who respects and has morals for other women is very important for this play. “Do without, I’m afraid, Henry. The girl has a perfect right to leave is she chooses.” (Shaw, 84) This is Mrs. Higgins explaining to her son that he can’t control the young women that she has some rights of her own, and he is to blind to see this on his own. Making the role of women important to see that the young Liza Doolittle has some rights of her own. Eliza Doolittle proves to be a `street savvy women, who understood her way of life. She did what she had to she supported herself. Without Eliza who was able to pick up the pronunciation quickly the experiment would not have happened. In the end of the play we hear Mr. Higgins claiming he had one the bet.
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