Changing Gender Roles and the Pygmalion Motif – Shaw’s "Pygmalion" and the Musical "My Fair Lady" in their contexts

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Victorian Society

2.1. Industrialisation

2.2. Women and Feminism in England in the 18th and 19th Century

3. George Bernard Shaw

3.1. Parallels between his Biography and Pygmalion in Respect to Women

3.2. Shaw’s Philosophy Concerning Gender Roles and its Impact on Pygmalion

4. Feminist Realisation in Pygmalion

4.1. Eliza’s Inner Change

4.2. The Relation between Higgins and Eliza

4.3. Mrs. Higgins and Mrs. Pearce

4.4. Higgins’ Development

4.5. The Theme of Prostitution and Slavery

4.6. The Importance of Clara Eynsford-Hill

5. My Fair Lady

5.1. The Development from the Play to the Musical-Film

5.2. The Role of Women in the 1950’s and 1960’s

5.3. The Audience of My Fair Lady

5.4. Differences between the Musical and Pygmalion

5.4.1. Intention

5.4.2. Genre Changes

5.4.3. The Theme of Love and Cinderella

5.4.4. Eliza’s Development in My Fair Lady

5.4.5. Higgins’ Character in My Fair Lady

6. Conclusion

Objectives and Themes

This thesis examines how changing ideas about women and gender roles are represented in George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion and its musical adaptation My Fair Lady. It asks how the two works relate to their respective social contexts, comparing their portrayals of Eliza, Higgins and the relationship between them.

• Victorian society, industrialisation and the women’s movement
• Shaw’s biography and ideas about gender
• Eliza’s transformation and economic independence
• Power and dependency in relationships between women and men
• Postwar gender roles and the audience for My Fair Lady
• Changes in genre, characterisation and the Pygmalion and Cinderella motifs

Excerpt from the Book

Chapter Summaries

1. Introduction: The thesis introduces the Pygmalion myth and outlines its comparison of Shaw’s play and My Fair Lady through changing gender roles.

2. Victorian Society: This chapter discusses industrialisation, class differences and the development of feminism in England.

3. George Bernard Shaw: The author explores possible parallels between Shaw’s life and Pygmalion and examines his views on women and gender roles.

4. Feminist Realisation in Pygmalion: The analysis considers Eliza’s development, her relationship with Higgins and the roles of other characters. It also examines economic dependency and the themes of prostitution and slavery.

5. My Fair Lady: This chapter traces the adaptation’s development and places it in the context of postwar gender roles and audience expectations. It compares the play and musical in their intentions, genre, characters and use of romance.

6. Conclusion: The thesis brings together its comparison of the two works and reflects on gender roles, audience preferences and women’s freedom to choose their lives.

Keywords

George Bernard Shaw, Pygmalion, My Fair Lady, gender roles, feminism, Eliza Doolittle, Henry Higgins, Victorian society, women’s independence, musical adaptation, Cinderella motif, social class, postwar society

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the thesis about?

It compares representations of gender roles in Shaw’s Pygmalion and My Fair Lady in relation to their social contexts.

What are its central themes?

Its themes include feminism, women’s independence, class, relationships between women and men, and the adaptation of a play into a musical.

What is the main research question?

The thesis asks how changing ideas about women are reflected in the two versions of the Pygmalion story.

What method does the author use?

The author uses comparative literary and contextual analysis, examining the play and musical-film alongside historical background and published scholarship.

What does the main analysis cover?

It examines Shaw’s ideas and characters, particularly Eliza and Higgins, before comparing their presentation in My Fair Lady with that of the play.

Which keywords characterise the thesis?

Key terms include gender roles, feminism, Pygmalion, My Fair Lady, social class and women’s independence.

How does the thesis use the Pygmalion myth?

It introduces Ovid’s version of the sculptor’s story and uses the motif of a created woman to frame its discussion of Shaw’s play.

Why does the thesis discuss Cinderella?

It compares the use and transformation of Cinderella motifs in Pygmalion and My Fair Lady, including the ball and the significance of footwear.

What role do songs play in the analysis?

The author discusses songs from My Fair Lady as part of the musical’s characterisation and treatment of relationships. Complete song texts are included in the appendix.