A brief summary on the play Pygmalion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A brief summary on the play Pygmalion - Essay Example When Higgins reveals he can tell where someone is from based on his or her dialect, a secret is revealed, but even Shaw’s language and use of words tells the reader a lot: â€Å"Simply phonetics. The science of speech. Thats my profession: also my hobby. Happy is the man who can make a living by his hobby! You can spot an Irishman or a Yorkshireman by his brogue. I can place any man within six miles. I can place him within two miles in London. Sometimes within two streets.† Shaw’s use of dialect illustrates how accents differentiate people, and how an accent can mark you as a certain heritage and class. It is interesting how the note taker wrote down her words in such a gibberish manner that even she could not tell what it said. Shaw uses this to show that we don’t see ourselves as others see us. Shaw’s description of social classes is fascinating, as well. Not only does he use social structure as a medium for showing that class can be taught versus being bred, he shows the inner workings of various classes. By using social structure as a medium for showing that class is taught rather than bred, Shaw opens the reader to the possibility of eliminating pre-set judgments. He teaches that we are all equals. Not only does Shaw focus on social classes, but gender classes as well. Doolittle makes it clear when he says, â€Å"Listen here, Governor. You and me is men of the world, aint we?† By doing so he implies that they are in a similar class as men. That man is superior to woman simply because of association. Shaw’s subtle use of so few words to convey such a strong opinion is impressive. Another strength in Pygmalion is the way the play shows the power of another’s influence. It shows how others’ opinions or expectations influence others: That when someone projects their impression upon another, the person internalizes and accepts the behavior as true. Showing the extremes of society is a powerful way in