Previous
Similes
Style
Explanation and Analysis:
The style of Pygmalion is straightforward, as much of the play is focused on the importance of communication and language. Because characters engage directly with the way their speech indicates class and good manners, the dialogue is written so that each character's origins are clear. Social class is not supposed to be a mystery in Pygmalion; it is the largest differentiation between characters and is therefore communicated early in the play. The clarity of the various characters’ language is dependent on their role in society. Characters who are from a higher class background have a larger vocabulary and put together sentences smoothly. The members of the working class, on the other hand, speak in a less sophisticated, less formally correct manner that reveals their lack of education. Eliza’s transition from one class to the other also highlights the differences between these ways of speaking.
The best example of the straightforward style functioning between characters takes place in the opening scene. A crowd of characters of various backgrounds assembles in Covent Garden, and their dialogue is the initial means the play uses to establish each character's background. When the character of Higgins is introduced as a linguist, he begins to diagnose each speaker. He showcases his remarkable ability to reveal the origins of each bystander’s accent. This sequence at the beginning of the play makes it clear that speech is of critical importance, and that by paying attention to how various characters speak, it is possible to determine who holds power in society and who only aspires to such power.
Related Themes:
