I. Prof. Higgins appears to be an ill-mannered person. How does it come forth ? What kind of a contradiction does this reveal in Higgins’ character ?

Answer :-In George Bernard Shaw’s *Pygmalion*, Professor Henry Higgins clearly appears to be an ill-mannered and rude person, and this is shown in many ways throughout the play.

First, Mrs. Pearce, who is Higgins’ housekeeper, often shows concern about his behaviour. She feels that Higgins speaks harshly, uses bad language, and has no proper manners when dealing with others. She tries to remind him that he should behave politely, especially with a young girl like Eliza Doolittle. Her views show that even his own household member finds his behaviour improper.

Second, Mrs. Higgins, who is Henry Higgins’ mother, also expresses disappointment in her son’s behaviour. She knows that he is intelligent and educated, but she is not happy with his lack of social manners. She feels that he behaves like a child who never learned how to respect people in society.

Third, Higgins’ own conversation and behaviour with Eliza Doolittle clearly show his ill manners. He often treats her as an experiment or object rather than a human being. He speaks to her in a rude, commanding tone and ignores her feelings. He does not show proper respect or kindness, even though he is teaching her to become a lady.

This creates a strong contradiction in Higgins’ character. On one hand, he teaches Eliza correct pronunciation, language, and social etiquette. He tries to transform her into a well-mannered lady. But on the other hand, he himself does not follow the basic rules of politeness. This shows that he propagates good manners but does not practice them in his own life, making his character both ironic and inconsistent.

II. How does the conversation between Prof. Higgins and Eliza express Shaw’s treatment of class differences in society of his times ?

Answer :-In George Bernard Shaw’s *Pygmalion*, Eliza Doolittle’s language and speech at the beginning of the play clearly show that she lacks sophistication. She speaks in a rough London dialect, which is often called a “gutter” accent. Her way of speaking is full of slang and incorrect pronunciation, which makes her sound uneducated and lower class in society.

Because of her poor speech, Eliza is unable to get a proper job as an assistant in a flower shop. The shop owner judges her based on her language and appearance, and he refuses to hire her. This shows how strongly society connects good speech with respect and employment opportunities.

Professor Higgins often points out Eliza’s “gutter-snipe” accent in a very direct and sometimes insulting way. He repeatedly says that her speech is dirty and unacceptable for a lady. Although he is trying to teach her, his words are often harsh, and he treats her speech as something to be corrected scientifically rather than emotionally.

However, after Eliza undergoes training under Higgins, her speech and manners change completely. She learns to speak proper English, improves her pronunciation, and behaves with confidence in social situations. Because of this transformation, society begins to accept her as a lady. People who earlier ignored her now respect her.

This change highlights the importance of language and manners in shaping identity in society. Eliza’s journey shows that speech can determine social status, and with proper training, a person can move from a lower position to a respected one.

III. G.B. Shaw’s treatment of language brings out the significance of correct pronunciation and sophistication in the use of language. Does he propagate the idea that only language makes a person good-mannered ? Give arguments based on the text to support your views.

Answer :- In George Bernard Shaw’s *Pygmalion*, language and correct pronunciation play a very important role in shaping a person’s identity in society. Shaw clearly shows that proper speech and sophistication in language can change how a person is treated, but he does not suggest that language alone makes a person well-mannered.

Correct pronunciation is shown as highly significant in the character of Eliza Doolittle. At the beginning, Eliza speaks in a rough and incorrect dialect, which makes people treat her as a lower-class girl. However, after she is trained by Professor Higgins, her pronunciation improves greatly. Because of this change in speech, she is accepted as a decent and respectable lady in high society. This proves that language has a strong effect on social acceptance.

Sophistication in language is also important. After her transformation, Eliza is able to mix with upper-class people and is taken seriously in social gatherings. This shows that refined speech helps in building a new identity.

However, Shaw also clearly shows that language alone does not make a person truly good-mannered. At Mrs. Higgins’ house, Eliza’s choice of topics and her behaviour reveal that she still lacks proper manners and emotional maturity, even though her speech has improved. She sometimes speaks carelessly and does not fully understand upper-class etiquette.

Similarly, Professor Higgins is an expert phonetician and has perfect knowledge of language, yet he is not a good-mannered person. He behaves rudely, ignores social politeness, and often insults others, especially Eliza.

Thus, Shaw’s message is clear: correct language and pronunciation can change social status, but true good manners depend on behaviour, respect, and character, not just speech.

IV. Bring out the contrast between Pickering and Higgins on the basis of your reading of Act II of Pygmalion.

Answer :-In Act II of *Pygmalion*, George Bernard Shaw clearly brings out a strong contrast between Colonel Pickering and Professor Henry Higgins, especially in their behaviour and attitude towards Eliza Doolittle.

First, their attitude towards Eliza is very different. Higgins treats Eliza as an object of experiment. He is more interested in testing his skills in phonetics than caring for her feelings. He speaks to her in a commanding and often rude manner. He does not show sympathy or kindness. In contrast, Pickering treats Eliza with respect from the very beginning. He addresses her politely and makes her feel comfortable, even though she comes from a lower class.

Higgins clearly lacks consideration and sympathy. He does not think about Eliza’s emotions and often ignores her dignity. On the other hand, Pickering appears more respectable, gentle, and well-mannered. His behaviour shows true sophistication, not just in speech but also in actions.

Another point of contrast is their interest in language. Higgins is very passionate about language and speech. He sees Eliza mainly as a subject for his experiment in improving pronunciation. Pickering, however, is less obsessed with language and more concerned about behaving properly and treating others with kindness.

Eliza herself understands this difference between the two men. She realizes that while Higgins teaches her how to speak like a lady, it is Pickering’s polite behaviour that truly makes her feel like one. Thus, Shaw highlights that real gentility comes from respectful behaviour, not just correct speech.

V. How does Doolittle come to know about his daughter’s visit to Higgins’ laboratory at his house ? Does he come to take his daughter back home ? How do you know ? What does it reveal about him as a father ?

Answer :- In *Pygmalion*, Alfred Doolittle comes to know about his daughter Eliza’s visit to Professor Higgins’ house through the son of Eliza’s landlady. The boy informs Doolittle that Eliza has gone to Higgins’ place and also tells him about the situation. This shows that Doolittle does not already know or keep track of his daughter’s movements, which hints at his careless nature as a father.

Doolittle goes to Higgins’ house, but it is important to understand that he does not go there out of concern or love for Eliza. Instead, he comes mainly for his own benefit. He even brings Eliza’s luggage with him, which shows that he is ready to leave her there if he gets some money in return. His main aim is to take advantage of the situation and gain some financial benefit from Higgins.

He does not seriously try to take Eliza back home. Instead, he accepts money from Higgins and seems satisfied with that arrangement. This clearly shows that he is not a responsible or caring father. He does not think about Eliza’s safety or future.

Doolittle’s behaviour reveals that he is selfish and irresponsible. He is more concerned about his own needs than his daughter’s well-being. Shaw presents him as a comic character, but at the same time, he represents a person who avoids responsibility and prefers an easy life without duties.

VI. Describe Higgins’ encounter with Alfred Doolittle. What does it reveal about Higgins’ ability to handle people like him ?

Answer :- In *Pygmalion*, the encounter between Professor Henry Higgins and Alfred Doolittle takes place in Act II and is both humorous and revealing. Doolittle comes to Higgins’ house with the intention of extracting money from him. He pretends that he has come to take his daughter Eliza back home, but his real aim is to get some financial benefit from the situation.

Higgins, however, quickly understands Doolittle’s true intention. He is a sharp observer of people and situations. When Doolittle brings Eliza’s luggage with him, Higgins immediately realizes that he is not genuinely interested in taking her back. Instead, Doolittle is ready to leave her there if he is paid. This shows Higgins’ intelligence and his ability to judge people correctly.For Full Workbook Answers – Get The Solutions PDF ( View )

VII. What do you learn about Eliza’s relationship with her father ?

Answer :- In *Pygmalion*, Eliza Doolittle’s relationship with her father, Alfred Doolittle, is shown to be weak and strained. There is no sense of warmth, care, or responsibility between them.

Eliza has been left to fend for herself. She lives separately from her father and earns her own living by selling flowers on the street. This shows that Doolittle has not fulfilled his duty as a father. He does not provide her with support, protection, or guidance. As a result, Eliza becomes independent, but her life is also full of struggle.For Full Workbook Answers – Get The Solutions PDF ( View )

VIII. How is Eliza initiated to learn speaking at Higgins’ laboratory ? What is the dramatic significance of Eliza’s undergoing this training ?

Answer :- In *Pygmalion*, Eliza’s initiation into learning proper speech begins at Professor Higgins’ laboratory in Act II. Higgins starts her training in a strict and scientific manner. He focuses on correcting her pronunciation, teaching her how to produce sounds properly, and removing her “gutter” accent. Eliza is made to repeat words again and again, and she finds the process difficult and tiring. Sometimes Higgins is harsh and impatient, which makes her training even more challenging. However, Colonel Pickering treats her kindly and encourages her, which helps her feel more comfortable.For Full Workbook Answers – Get The Solutions PDF ( View )