I really enjoyed reading Act 3! It was entertaining and made me laugh as well as do a little thinking. I think that Shaw did a really good job of drawing the reader in with all of the events that took place within a period of six months. In the act, I really enjoyed reading the scene between Mrs. Higgins and her son as well as Colonel Pickering. I thought that this was a classic example of “mothers know best”. Throughout the last few lines of the scene, both Higgins and Pickering were rambling on and on about how Eliza was making such good progress and that she is starting to become a lady with each new lesson. All the while, Mrs. Higgins is saying that they are pretty much excited for the idea of Eliza turning into a lady. In one of her lines, she says “you certainly are a pretty pair of babies, playing with your live doll” (65). Not only did this line make me laugh, but it also made me think a little bit. This metaphor does a great job of putting the excitement of Higgins and Pickering in perspective for me. They truly are like little kids playing with a new toy; trying ever so hard to do what they tell it to do. And that’s exactly what Eliza is doing; acting as a puppet for these two men. However, these two upper class men can’t see that they are being blinded by their own fantasies. And when Mrs. Higgins tries to tell them this, they just brush her off and leave her alone in her study. This brings forth her outburst at the end of the scene screaming “men! Men!! Men!!” (68).
I thought that line (about playing with their live doll) was neat for a couple of reasons. You're right, it does demonstrate that Elizaisnt a real person to either man. It also recalls the description of Higgins as being baby-like and child-like in his dealings with women. And another reason (as if we need more) that it stuck out to me was that it calls back into play the original Pygmalion myth, wherein a man fashions a woman after his own needs. Smart lady, that Mrs. Higgins.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing about "mother knows best!" I can't understand how Higgins became such an irritable, rude person when his mother is obviously so proper and decent. I wonder if he has any other family - a father or siblings? Characters are always more interesting when you know where they've come from and what happened to shape them into who they are in the story.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the men have no idea what they are getting themselves into. They are simply playing games with Eliza and it causes her great hurt. It was really funny to see them so excited, like children contrasted with Mrs. Higgins who is the aggravated parent.
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