The Irony of Class in Pygmalion

Act Three may well be my favorite portion of Shaw’s immortal play Pygmalion.  The social statements made in this part of the play are so hilarious, so stunning, and so true that it is difficult not to enjoy the entire misadventure.  Henry Higgins, who seems to think himself perfectly superior to everyone else, creates a severe faux pas by showing up to his mother’s home unannounced when she is about to have a party.  He announces that he would like to try out his “project,” Eliza, on his mother’s distinguished guests.  Before his mother can refuse, some of the said guests appear– none other than the aristocratic trio from Act One.  Henry Higgins makes the risky mistake of opening his mouth, and is on the brink of horribly insulting his mother’s respectable acquaintances when he is saved by Eliza’s arrival.  This is, in itself, ironic because it reveals that Henry, who seems to think himself the only truly refines human being around, is actually devoid of etiquette and social graces that would have been common to all but the lowliest of his contemporaries.

To both Henry and Eliza’s credit, none of the three aristocrats recognize the flower girl they briefly interacted with before.  They are initially charmed by her ladylike behavior and language, but when she begins slipping into her old accent, and even mentioning her father’s alcoholism, both Freddy and Clara are absolutely taken with her.  They think she is making a hilarious joke, and speaking with the vogue “new speech.”  Clara even tries to imitate her, while Freddie is clearly becoming infatuated with her.  Again, the arrogant Henry is outshone by his supposedly inferior student.  This is ironic not only because the less-refined Eliza is more popular with the high-born guests than her better educated teacher, but also because the aristocrats are trying to imitate her.  This struck me as important because it still goes on today.  How many times have I heard college seniors, who are quite capable of speaking like educated people, trying to sound as if they came from a trashy trailer park or inner-city project housing?  Apparently now, as in the time of Shaw’s play, ignorance is in fashion.  Some things, I suppose, never change.