ISC Pygmalion Workbook Answer : Act 4

PLOT DEVELOPMENT

The End of an Eventful Evening: The fourth act opens at midnight in Higgins’s home on Wimpole Street. The trio-Higgins, Pickering and Eliza-has just returned after an eventful day totally exhausted. They reflect on the long day which included the garden party, a formal dinner and the reception. The men talk about the success of their experiment. Higgins, however appears to be rather bored and more concerned about his slippers. At this Eliza glares at him and suddenly leaves the room. While Higgins is talking to Pickering, Eliza returns with his slippers and lays them on the floor before him, without his noticing them.

Eliza is Ignored: The two men continue to speak as if Eliza were not present there. They do not even bother to acknowledge Eliza’s role in the success of their experiment. They are just happy that the entire experiment is over, agreeing that it had become rather boring in the last few months. Higgins even accepts that it was a terrible mistake to get involved in such a tiresome project. It seems that it does not matter to them who has won the wager but only that their experiment has succeeded. Suddenly, Higgins notices his slippers and stares at them as if they have materialised of their own accord. He fervently declares, “Thank God it’s over!”

Eliza is Furious: Eliza flinches violently at this. Neither of the men notice her reaction and she recovers her composure and sits silently as before. The two of them then proceed to leave the room to go to bed. Before leaving, Higgins instructs Eliza to put out the lights and to tell Mrs Pearce that he shall have tea instead of coffee in the morning. Eliza is seething with anger and is almost on the verge of screaming. After switching off the lights, she suddenly flings herself on the floor in rage. Higgins pops back in, mystified over what he has done with his slippers. Eliza, despite her attempts to calm down, becomes furious and throws Higgins’s slippers at his face and curses that he may never have any luck with them.

Eliza’s Confusion: When Eliza claims that she has won Higgins’s bet for him, he gets angry and calls her a Presumptuous insect’. He believes that he has won his bet on his own as he considers the victory solely a result of his hard work. Eliza says that she is no more important to him than his slippers and that it is Higgins who has been a ‘selfish brute’. Higgins then asks her if anyone has behaved badly with her. Eliza replies that no one has treated her badly, but that she is still left confused about what is to happen to her now that the bet has been won. She fears that she will be thrown back in the ‘gutter’.
Higgins feels that Eliza is tired after the stress of the day and this has resulted in her being in low spirits. Eliza is obviously angry at Higgins’s lack of feelings or concern for her. She is incensed by his attitude and rebukes him for being only concerned about winning his bet without any regard for her. Eliza is worried about her future as she realises that she has been made a lady and is fit for nothing else.

Options given to Eliza: Higgins treats Eliza’s problems as trivial and suggests that she can get married or revisit the old idea of a flower shop. He is certain that Pickering can set her up in one. Eliza disagrees and views the common practise of marriage for money, as selling oneself. She says that she did not stoop down to such a measure even when she lived in poverty and squalor. Eliza wishes that she had been left where she was before. Convinced that Eliza is needlessly worrying, Higgins tells her that he is feeling extremely sleepy and is going to bed.

The Crisis Increases: Eliza stops Higgins to ask him whether the clothes she wears belong to her or to the Colonel. Higgins is surprised by her apparently illogical question. Eliza retorts that they might need the clothes for the next girl they want to experiment on. Eliza is in no mood to hear anything and only wants to know what belongs to her so that she is not accused of stealing later on. Higgins angrily replies that she might as well take the entire household except for the jewels since they were hired. As Higgins is about to leave, Eliza stops him and hands over the jewels for safekeeping. Eliza further provokes Higgins by telling him the difference in their social ranks.

Her statement: “There cant be any feelings between the like of you and the like of me” highlights the reality of their relationship.

Higgins has a ‘Heart’: Their argument leaves Higgins not only furious but genuinely wounded to the heart’, something that does not happen to him often. For the first time, it appears as if the detached Higgins has feelings as well. Eliza is pleased that she has ‘got a little of my (her) own back, anyhow.’ Eliza then returns to him the ring he had bought for her, but he throws it into the fireplace. Finally, Higgins leaves slamming the door savagely behind him.

Eliza Decides: Eliza kneels down to look for the ring and on finding it she contemplates what to do with it. Finally, she decides not to take the ring with her and flings it down on the dessert stand. She then furiously goes upstairs. Eliza’s Room: The scene changes to Eliza’s room, now upgraded with a big wardrobe and a lavish dressing-table. (This scene cannot be acted on stage, it was added to the movie and the print version). When Eliza gets ready, she bears no resemblance to her shabby self from Act I. Her possessions have greatly increased. She is dressed well and with a certain firmness of intent, walks out of the door.

Eliza and Freddy: Eliza meets Freddy. He apparently has made it a habit to stand at the street outside, gazing up at her window pining for her. The upset Eliza asks him if he, like Higgins, thinks that she is a ‘heartless guttersnipe’. He is shocked by it, denies it and calls her loveliest, dearest’. Just at that moment, they are forced to run away till Cavendish Square due to the arrival of a police constable. Eliza finally seems to get some happiness. She does not mind Freddy’s lack of money because she is able to afford a taxi herself. Deciding to go to Mrs Higgins’s the next morning to seek her counsel regarding her future and to tell Freddy about it all in the cab, Eliza and Freddy leave for Wimbledon Common.