George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion: A Social Psychological Critique

Abstract

The current study aims at analyzing George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion as a play which investigates the influence of social hierarchy, language, and the theme transformation on the life of the central characters, Professor Higgins and Liza, in accordance with socio-psychological theories. It elucidates the role language plays in transforming Liza into a refined lady through a socio-psychological lens, taking into consideration the crucial role of language as a means of power and psychological manipulation. Thus, the paper analyzes both the social and psychological implications of Higgins’ experiment of transforming Eliza into a lady, and its impact on Liza’s identity and personality in the Victorian era; it explores the impact of social hierarchy upon the characters’ psychological states and the way the author highlights the crucial role of power, transformation, and self-perception in shaping the individual’s thoughts and behavior. In fact, the socio-psychological approaches employed highlight the discrepancies between the characters; Higgins, the evil and the manipulative teacher will live the rest of his life as a socially and psychologically alienated person, while Liza becomes a free and powerful woman and plans to marry Freddy.