THE

SEQUEL
Eliza
Eliza and Freddy get married. Shaw explains that even though
Eliza's 'instinct tells her not to marry Higgins',
her instinct 'does not tell her to give him up'.
She knows that he is 'one of the strongest personal interests in
her life', so she holds onto their friendship.
Eliza and Freddy open up a flower shop, with assistance from
Colonel Pickering.
Besides flowers, they also sell newspapers and tobacco.
Owning a shop like that is not something that is seen as
sophisticated or worthy of the middle class.
In fact, Freddy is initially afraid to tell Clara about his new
Doolittle
business venture because of how she'll react. He thinks that
she'll see his shop as 'damag[ing] to her matrimonial chances'. Alfred Doolittle lives an exciting life 'being
Eliza constantly asks for Colonel Pickering's help to 'make the ends consulted by cabinet ministers' and sitting 'on the
meet over and over again'. right-hand of the Duchess' at dinners.
Tired of having to beg Pickering for help and unwilling to deal
What happened to He is 'extremely popular in the smartest
with Higgins constantly mocking Freddy's lack of success, What happens to Themes
Eliza accepts the 'fact that business, like phonetics, has to be Doolittle society' but finds that the money he earns is
learned'. Eliza? not enough to pay for all his activities.
With Pickering's help, they learn the important aspects of
He certainly cannot maintain that life and
running their business – and they even hire people to work for
them instead of trying to do everything by themselves. support Eliza.
Although Eliza has 'secret mischievous moments' in which she
'wishes she could get [Higgins] alone' to see what he is like as a
romantic partner,
their relationship is still the same as it was in the play.
The only difference is that Eliza 'snaps his head off on the
faintest provocation', to the point that 'the Colonel has to ask
her from time to time to be kinder to Higgins Romanticism Socialism

Shaw includes the characteristics of Romanticism in one main Shaw is a socialist, and that Pygmalion can be considered a socialist
way, and this is what makes the play a Romance or Romantic in play.
nature. Socialism is a political and economic theory where the land, labour
it is important to note that Shaw balances the Romantic elements and capital needed to produce goods are controlled by the
Shaw includes the characteristics of Romanticism in one
with the opposite – Realism. community
main way, and this and notmakes
is what by private
the play acompanies
Romance or or individuals.
He constantly wants to immerse us in the realities of life in 1912 . It is the hope of socialists that people living in a socialist society will
Romantic in nature.
it is important to note that Shaw balances the Romantic
and doesn't want us to go with what is easy or what will make us have equal access to things like good-quality education, homes,
elements with the opposite – Realism.
happy, if it's at the expense of reality. profitable
He constantly jobs and
wants to the same
immerse us in theopportunities
realities of life to thrive.
in 1912
As and doesn't
an Irish personwant living
us to go in
with what is easyShaw
England, or also faced prejudice based
Here we see the fusion of Romanticism and Realism. It does seem
what will make us happy, if it's at the expense of reality.
illogical that someone from a poor or working-class background on
Herehis accent
we see andofsocial
the fusion class.
Romanticism andSuch
Realism.a Itsociety places characters like
can become a member of the upper class in less than a year. Eliza
does seem Doolittle at asomeone
illogical that disadvantage.
from a poor or So, instead of writing a play where
working-class background can become a member of the
But, to Shaw, it was not impossible. This idea will become clearer this unfair reality was
upper class in less than a year.
recreated, Shaw wrote a play that could mirror
when we return to the socialist elements of the play. his
But, socialist beliefs.
to Shaw, it was not impossible. This idea will
become clearer when we return to the socialist elements
of the play.
The Sequel Character Sketch
Eliza Henry Pickering
FOIL to Higgins
Feisty, strong-willed and determined Sexist
Gentleman because of how he dresses and acts
She is savvy or street smart He is a bully
He signifies how Henry should behave instead of the way that he does
Can be childish and naive Higgins' character defies the stereotype that all upper-class men are
that is problematic
As a flower girl from a working-class background, no one gentlemen and respectful.
Even though Him and Henry Higgins are polar opposites they have
assists her when Freddy bumps into her. his actions show us that being a gentleman should actually be
similarities
Eliza is meant to figure things out for herself. based on your actions, not your status.
Because of their closeness and the fact that they're both bachelors,
The idea is that, unlike upper-class women, working-class When Pickering questions his character he dismisses him and calls
we're meant to compare them.
women are expected to be fine performing physical labour. woman Jealous and suspicious
Eliza thanks Pickering for teaching her 'really nice manners' and
It also seems that working-class women are not expected He even tells her that his idea 'of a lovable woman is somebody as like
showing her the 'difference between a lady and a flower girl'.
to be intelligent. [her] as possible'. Women simply aren't up to the standard of his
Pickering's language is also more respectful and we don't hear him use
When she explains to Pickering and Higgins why she is upset mother.
swear words like Higgins.
she says that they don't understand 'what anything in the
we have also seen how Pickering behaves problematically at times.
nature of brain work means to a girl of her class'.
Mrs. Pearce He goes along with the experiment – and even offers to pay for it! –
The stereotype that poor and working-class people can
and he doesn't see why Eliza would be hurt after the bet has been
only do physical labour and not work that requires mental When we are first introduced to her, she tells Higgins that 'a young
won.
abilities, is incredibly harmful. woman' is waiting to see him. -
Have you no morals, man?'
Unfortunately, it is not the first time Eliza is up against such She even describes Eliza's accent as something dreadful'.
We're meant to see that upper-class men are also capable of being
stereotypes. Mrs Pearce judges Eliza based on her accent and her appearance
flawed and behaving immorally.
The Taxi Driver initially rejecting Eliza, we see the role of social She becomes protective over Eliza
In asking this question, Pickering sets himself apart as a moral
class and manners. Because of how Eliza dresses, the taxi We see her step into the role of a nurturing woman
character.
driver assumes that she is from a lower social class Regardless Mrs Pearce comes off as someone who is harsh and
He would never do something like this. Higgins is equally horrified
In a full circle moment, we see that when Eliza belongs to the straightforward but kind. by telling Eliza she does not want her to
and agrees that 'it's a positive crime to give' Doolittle any money.
upper classes, a taxi stops for her when she leaves Wimpole become a “frowzy slut” not to offend her but to care for her
In terms of morality, it seems like Doolittle is in the wrong, and
Street. Mrs Pearce tells Higgins that he can't take Eliza in as if he is 'picking up
Higgins and Pickering are correct.
Although Eliza changes her language, accent and manners, a pebble on the beach'.
It's surprising then that Higgins agrees to pay Doolittle the money
she still largely has the same personality as from the start of She is practical and explains to Higgins that he doesn't 'know anything
and Pickering goes along with it.
the play. about her'.
When Higgins is adamant that Eliza will stay at Wimpole Street, Mrs
Pearce asks Higgins to behave properly in front of Eliza.
Mrs Pearce pointing out his shortcomings is not just humorous, it is
incredibly significant as it is considered satire,
it shows us that Mrs Pearce doesn't treat Higgins differently
because of his social class.
If he is going to teach Eliza manners, Mrs Pearce expects him to
show those same manners
The Sequel Character Sketch
Doolittle Clara and Mrs. Eynsford Hill
we are meant to compare Eliza to Clara and Mrs Eynsford Hill
At first we see him as an alcoholic middle class man
It is clear from the way they are described as 'a lady and her daughter in evening dress' that they are
However as time goes on we see that he is good at persuasive
not from the working class.
talk
Because of their social class, they are treated respectfully.
He also has interesting ideas based on morality
Confusingly, the two women complain about 'getting chilled to the bone' while waiting for Freddy to get
He is a man of confidence in what he does, he does things
a cab for them. We see here that one of the roles of upper-class women is to be looked after by men.
against the way of other people even though he points out that
When Freddy returns and complains that he will 'simply get soaked for nothing' if he goes looking
sometimes in order to be successful he may need to
again, Clara calls him a 'selfish pig'.
compromise his wants.
It is incredibly ironic that Mrs Eynsford Hill claims that Freddy is 'very helpless' when it's her and
He is troubled as he shrinks himself into middle class society
Clara who don't help themselves.
Doolittle is a confusing man and he does not want to fit into a
Although the Eynsford Hills appear to be wealthy, in reality, their finances are in a bad place.
specific box
Desperate to fit in, Clara is ready to accept Eliza's Cockney language as the 'new small talk' and
He is neither a good or bad person
criticises her mother's 'old-fashioned' ways.
He is savvy
From the way Clara speaks to Higgins, it seems that she hopes she can marry someone wealthy
He was wrong for selling Eliza and not standing up for her
who can then take her back to a position of wealth.

Mrs. Higgins Freddy

Although he dresses like a wealthy upper-class 'gentleman', he does not
She is typical but not so typical representative of women in
actually have any money.
high society as she is becomes very defensive over Eliza
Higgins gives us the impression that Freddy does not have the skills to
She is cool and calm when she is not irritated by Pickering and
look after himself or anyone else.
Higgins
When Eliza tells Higgins that she'll marry Freddy, Higgins describes
The men do not listen to what she has to say
Freddy as someone 'who couldn't get a job as an errand boy even if he
She thinks differently and pushes her son to think differently
had the guts to try for it!’
She is intelligent
Elizas love interest
She does not encourage her sons misbehavior
Eliza seeks comfort from Freddy and they declare that there's 'nobody in
She likes fancy things
the world now' but them.
she represents a door, when she is closed off she does it
In choosing to be with Freddy, Eliza shows how much of her own person
based on the fact that she is protective and she knows what is
she is.
better to open up to, as she opens up to Eliza later on
she makes a decision to be her own person. This also means making
Her color would be purple, she is a feminist of some sort and
her own decisions – and Freddy is one of those decisions, even though
actually stands up for Eliza unlike anyone else
Higgins disapproves.
Apologetic