One of the most memorable lines in Act V, for me at least, is when Eliza and Pickering are speaking,
Eliza It was just like learning to dance in the fashionable way: there was nothing more than that in it. But do you know what began my real education?
Pickering What?
Eliza Your calling me Miss Doolittle that day when I first came to Wimpole Street. That was the beginning of self-respect for me. [She resumes her stitching]. And there were a hundred little things you never noticed, because they came naturally to you. Things about standing up and taking off your hat and opening doors— (5.137-9)
I love this conversation because it really made me think about Eliza's transformation. I'm sure when Pickering called her 'Miss Doolitle' it had been the first time anyone had addressed her in this way. Not only that but I honestly believe that Eliza, as a flower girl, had very little self respect before she began to work with Higgins, just as she states in this conversation. Eliza's statement also seems somewhat anti-feminist, which I feel as though she could have been considered before she began working with Higgins. I also feel that this statement could have been said to upset Higgins, who was present in the room.
Later in Act V Eliza says, "I want a little kindness. I know I'm a common ignorant girl, and you a book-learned gentleman; but I'm not dirt under your feet. What I done [correcting herself] what I did was not for the dresses and the taxis: I did it because we were pleasant together and I come—came—to care for you; not to want you to make love to me, and not forgetting the difference between us, but more friendly like. (5.248)" To me this shows he wanting to live a somewhat simple life, to not marry rich or live a life entirely of wealth. I think she knows she is better than a common flower girl now but she realizes that she can achieve her hopes and dreams without being rich. Eliza did not come to Higgins' expecting to end up wealthy, but she came with the hopes of being a shop girl, living a simple life.
I agree with you about Eliza just wanting to live the simple life of a shop girl. She didn't care about the money, taxis, dresses, or the fancy parties. What she signed up for was to be taught how to speak properly so that she could complete her dream of working in a flower shop instead of selling them on the street. In my opinion I don't think that Eliza would have stayed around as long as she did if Pickering hadn't been there. In many of the acts Higgins is blunt about everything and he does not care about what the other person thinks or feels about what is being said. SO when this happens it seems that Pickering steps up and calms the situation down and makes sure everyone can chill out.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that Eliza wanted nothing more than a simple life. Although she did want lessons, she constantly says that it's because she wants to be able to own a flower shop. I think that if Eliza had known all the trouble that lessons were going to cause her, she would have never wanted them in the first place. But, I think that she definitely did want to get out of the lifestyle that she was living in. It would have been hard for her either way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when you said that she didn't want to marry rich, we know this to be true because she says that she doesn't want to "sell herself" and that the girls where she is from did NOT do that.