Studies in Modern British and American

Drama 1

Week 7

Revision of Pygmalion, Act IV

Last week we studied Act IV.

Can you remember who the characters were in it, and what

happened?

Revision of Pygmalion, Act IV

Midnight at Higgins’s Wimpole Street laboratory, several months later. Eliza enters the room first “in opera cloak, brilliant evening dress, and diamonds”. She is upset. Higgins and Pickering follow; both men are in good spirits.

As the two men chat amiably about the evening’s activities, it emerges that Eliza has achieved a notable success: “The garden party, a dinner party, and the opera!” Pickering excitedly recounts, adding that, “Youve won your bet, Higgins.” The latter responds with relief (“Thank God it’s over!”), at which “Eliza flinches violently”. Announcing that, “The whole thing has been a bore”, Higgins rises to retire saying, “Now I can go to bed at last without dreading tomorrow”.

Revision of Pygmalion, Act IVThis last remark produces a “murderous”

expression on Eliza’s face, but the men remain oblivious to her mood. Pickering then retires for the evening. Higgins fol-lows, but pauses to advise Eliza that he requires tea rather than coffee in the

morning from Mrs Pearce. Now alone in the room, Eliza struggles to retain her

composure before throwing “herself furi-ously on the floor, raging”. Higgins sud-denly returns, looking for his slippers.

Eliza violently throws them at him. Shocked by this outburst, Higgins asks

her if anything is bothering her. “Ive won your bet for you, havnt I?” Eliza replies. “Thats enough for you. I dont matter, I

suppose.”

Revision of Pygmalion, Act IVCalling her a “presumptuous insect”,

Higgins informs Eliza that it was he who won the bet and not her. Eliza cries out in

despair: “Whats to become of me?”

“How the devil do I know whats to become of you?” Higgins replies. He

reassures her that she has “nothing more to worry about”. He suggests that she find

a husband, observing that, “all men are not confirmed old bachelors like me and

the Colonel”. When he mentions the possibility of his mother finding Eliza a

husband, Eliza responds: “We were above that at the corner of Tottenham Court

Road.”

Revision of Pygmalion, Act IVEliza then asks whether her clothes

belong to herself or to Colonel Pickering. This makes Higgins furious. Eliza then

takes off a ring that Higgins had purchased for her in Brighton. Seizing

this object, Higgins angrily tosses it into the fireplace, almost striking Eliza in his

rage. He storms away, but after he is gone Eliza looks for the ring in the fireplace. She finds it, and then throws it on the

dessert stand.

In the optional scene that follows, she leaves Wimpole Street, and meets Freddy

on the street. They kiss and run away together.

Act V: Questions for Discussion

1/Mrs Higgins tells off her son for his behavior toward Eliza. What

does she say?

2/ What has happened to Alfred Doolittle? Is he happy in his new

situation? Why or why not?

3/ What happens during the long conversation between Higgins and

Eliza? What does Higgins admit about his feelings for Eliza?

4/ How do you interpret the ending of the play? Will they marry, or will

Eliza choose an independent life (with or without Freddy)?

Presentations on PygmalionWould you like to choose your

Presentation Day?

Remember that you can choose any one of the follow-

ing days:

28 April

12 May

19 May

26 May

2 June

We will be studying Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire from April 28

A Streetcar Named De-sire (1947)

Marlon Brando & Vi-vian Leigh

Please make sure you buy the edition with the cover on the

right!It’s available from yes24.com and

other online sellers.

Before Next Time (28 April)

Please start working on your mid-term assign-

ment (due 5 May) Please read Scene 1 of A

Streetcar Named Desire

See youin two weeks!

Have a good week!