Literary Analysis Essay on Pygmalion

Pygmalion is a five-act romance play done by George Bernard Shaw in 1913. The Greek mythology revolves around a sculptor who created a beautiful sculpture and later fell in love with her. Even though there are several other main characters in the play, Alfred Doolittle is a minor character that is manipulated by Shaw for his own dramatic purpose. Thus, this paper critically discusses the vivid contribution of Alfred Doolittle to Shaw’s didactic message in Pygmalion regardless of his minor role in the play.

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To begin with, through Alfred Doolittle, Shaw makes several satirical thrusts of the morality within the middle class. He also uses Doolittle to make more comments on class manners and class distinction. As suggested by his name, Doolittle literally does as little as he can to carry along with life. For instance, he becomes a dustman because it appears simpler to him than doing ‘real work’. It is essential to note that a dustman was simply the person who collected ashes put out by various people. Due to the fact that refuse was usually added to the ashes by Shaw’s time, Alfred Doolittle could be referred to as a garbage collector. As demonstrated in the play, 'Alfred Doolittle is an elderly but vigorous dustman, clad in the costume of his profession, including a hat with a back brim covering his neck and shoulders. He has well marked and rather interesting features and seems equally free from fear and conscience (Shaw 29).

Again, Shaw uses Alfred Doolittle to demonstrate the impact and essence of class transformations within individuals. For instance, when Alfred is first introduced within the play, he approaches Professor Higgin as the ‘virtuous father’ with a hypocritical aim of rescuing his ‘compromised daughter’. When it is realized that he had thrown his daughter to the streets to earn her living, Doolittle abruptly deviates his pitch to becoming the ingratiating pimp since he attempts to sell out his daughter for any price. Although Doolittle is not interested in making changes to his behaviour, he is forced to accept certain responsibilities that he would rather decline just through large sums of money. Interestingly, the immoral blackmailer is then forced into being a lecturer on ethical reforms. In my opinion, Alfred Doolittle displays very strong beliefs and views regarding the ‘middle- class morality’. For instance, upon being asked by Pickering whether he had any morals, he responds, ‘can’t afford ‘em’. He proceeds to note that the middle class is mere 'an excuse for never giving me anything' (Shaw 33). His role in the play demonstrates the beliefs about the working class; even though it also challenges some of the presumed stereotypes about the working class by the middle class.

Most importantly, Shaw uses Alfred Doolittle to differentiate the low class and the middle class. This is clearly demonstrated when Alfred sells his daughter for only five pounds which are described by Pickering and Higgins as insane. Alfred notes that he is not willing to do actual work since that would make him a middle class with an implication that he follows middle-class morals. Again, Alfred highlights that the middle class are often unwilling to help the undeserving low class due to their morals. It simply implies that class and wealth do not necessarily mean good life, and there are evident pros and cons of each class. As such, Alfred would prefer the lower class due to its lack of morals. He is annoyed with Higgins in Act 5 for forcing him to middle class since now loses his privileges for having many morals. He tells Higgins, ‘Done to me! Ruined me. Destroyed my happiness. Tied me up and delivered me into the hands of middle-class morality (Shaw 86).

Finally, Alfred Doolittle has been used by Shaw as a source of humour in the play. For instance, his attitudes and values create some sense of paradoxical humour. This is because his humour is opposite to what the middle class expects of a working-class man. For instance, he says, 'I want a bit of amusement, ‘cause am a thinking man.’ I find that his cheerfulness and confidence throughout the play creates a major focus for the play. I find his humour essential in the play since Pygmalion is essentially a romantic comedy. It is also interesting how Alfred uses his social stigma as a mere compliment. His life values typically challenge the beliefs of the middle class. In his submissions, Alfred notes that he was happier in his loafing and drinking, where nobody cared about whether he died or lived. I find it essential to note that the reactions of various characters to Alfred Doolittle give a clear indication of his character more than even his own words. Doolittle takes what is given to him and fails to work in what is not given to him. In the play, his oratory skill is his greatest strength.

In conclusion, Shaw has indeed used Alfred Doolittle skillfully to portray the essential didactic message in the play -'Pygmalion'. For instance, Alfred has been used to lighten the play due to his oratory skill and humour. It is also evident that he has been included in the play to comment on the low-class as well as demonstrate the essence of class distinctions.

Reference

Shaw, George Bernard. "Pygmalion. Ed. Dan H. Laurence." (2000).