Get summay, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF, competency-based questions of George Bernard Shaw’s poem Pygmalion (Act II): ISC Class 11 Modern English (Goyal Brothers Workbook), which is part of the present syllabus. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
Summary
The next day, Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering are in Higgins’s laboratory. Their housekeeper, Mrs. Pearce, tells them a young woman is there to see them. The visitor is Eliza Doolittle, the flower girl from the night before. Higgins is not interested at first because he has already recorded her way of speaking. Eliza insists she has come to pay for speech lessons. She wants to learn to speak well enough to work in a flower shop. She offers to pay one shilling for a lesson. Higgins is amused by her offer and calculates that a shilling is a large part of her daily earnings.
Pickering makes a bet with Higgins. He offers to pay for all of Eliza’s lessons and expenses if Higgins can teach her to speak so well that she can pass for a duchess at a fancy party in six months. Higgins accepts the challenge. He tells Mrs. Pearce to take Eliza to have a bath and to burn her old clothes. Eliza is very upset by this and protests that she is a good girl. Higgins calls her names like “baggage,” which means he sees her as an object or a problem to be handled, not a person with feelings. Mrs. Pearce scolds Higgins for being unkind and reminds him to behave better himself.
Eliza’s father, Alfred Doolittle, arrives. He is a dustman and says he has come to take his daughter. When Higgins agrees, Doolittle admits he really came for money. He asks for five pounds to let Eliza stay. He explains that he is one of the “undeserving poor” and that he does not believe in middle-class rules about how people should act. Higgins finds his ideas interesting and offers him ten pounds. Doolittle refuses the larger amount, saying it would bring too much responsibility. He takes the five pounds and prepares to leave.
Just then, Eliza enters, clean and wearing a nice Japanese robe. Her father does not recognize her at first. Eliza is happy with her new cleanliness and argues with her father, accusing him of only wanting money. After Doolittle leaves, Eliza gets excited about trying on new clothes. Higgins and Pickering are left alone and agree that they have started a very difficult task.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. HIGGINS: “Has she an interesting accent?” Why does Mrs. Pearce hesitate before allowing the young woman to meet Higgins?
(a) She thinks Higgins is too busy.
(b) She believes the girl is too common.
(c) She knows the girl is lying.
(d) She wants to ask Pickering first.
Answer: (b) She believes the girl is too common.
2. LIZA: “Don’t you be so saucy. You ain’t heard what I come for yet.” Why has Eliza Doolittle come to Higgins’ house?
(a) To demand compensation.
(b) To complain about Higgins’ treatment.
(c) To ask for lessons to improve her speech.
(d) To work as a maid.
Answer: (c) To ask for lessons to improve her speech.
3. HIGGINS: “Sit down.” What does Eliza offer to pay Higgins for lessons?
(a) A shilling an hour.
(b) Five pounds a week.
(c) Nothing, as she expects it for free.
(d) A guinea per lesson.
Answer: (a) A shilling an hour.
4. HIGGINS: “If I decide to teach you, I’ll be worse than two fathers to you.” What does Higgins give Eliza when she starts crying?
(a) A chocolate.
(b) A handkerchief.
(c) A coin.
(d) A lesson book.
Answer: (b) A handkerchief.
5. PICKERING: “You shall go to Buckingham Palace in a carriage, beautifully dressed.” What does Higgins promise Eliza if she succeeds in her lessons?
(a) A job in a flower shop.
(b) A place in Buckingham Palace.
(c) A grand party with the King.
(d) A husband from the aristocracy.
Answer: (b) A place in Buckingham Palace.
6. MRS. PEARCE: “Come with me, Eliza.” What does Mrs. Pearce insist on before Eliza can begin her lessons?
(a) That she sign a contract.
(b) That she take a bath and change clothes.
(c) That she meet the Queen.
(d) That she pay in advance.
Answer: (b) That she take a bath and change clothes.
7. DOOLITTLE: “I want my daughter: that’s what I want.” Why does Alfred Doolittle come to Higgins’ house?
(a) To take Eliza back home.
(b) To ask for money.
(c) To enrol Eliza in lessons.
(d) To scold Eliza for leaving.
Answer: (b) To ask for money.
8. DOOLITTLE: “What’s Eliza to me?” How much money does Doolittle ask from Higgins?
(a) One pound
(b) Five pounds
(c) Ten pounds
(d) Fifty pounds
Answer: (b) Five pounds
9. LIZA: “I should look all right with my hat on.” How does Eliza look after she is cleaned up?
(a) Elegant and well-dressed.
(b) The same as before.
(c) Worse, according to Higgins.
(d) Unrecognisable to everyone.
Answer: (a) Elegant and well-dressed.
10. HIGGINS: “Have some chocolates, Eliza.” Why does Eliza hesitate before eating the chocolate?
(a) She does not like sweets.
(b) She thinks it might be poisoned.
(c) She does not want to appear greedy.
(d) She is allergic to chocolate.
Answer: (b) She thinks it might be poisoned.
11. PICKERING: “Higgins: we have taken on a stiff job.” What is Pickering’s reaction to Higgins’ decision to train Eliza?
(a) He is amused.
(b) He is doubtful but supportive.
(c) He is completely against it.
(d) He does not think it is difficult.
Answer: (b) He is doubtful but supportive.
12. LIZA: “I won’t go near the King, not if I’m going to have my head cut off.” What does Eliza misunderstand about Higgins’ joke?
(a) She thinks he is serious about sending her to Buckingham Palace.
(b) She believes she will have to marry the King.
(c) She assumes she must leave immediately.
(d) She worries she has to meet a Queen instead.
Answer: (a) She thinks he is serious about sending her to Buckingham Palace.
13. HIGGINS: “By George, Eliza, the streets will be strewn with the bodies of men shooting themselves for your sake before I’ve done with you.” What does Higgins mean by this statement?
(a) He believes Eliza will become irresistibly attractive.
(b) He is mocking Eliza’s current appearance.
(c) He is encouraging Eliza to study harder.
(d) He is warning her about future dangers.
Answer: (a) He believes Eliza will become irresistibly attractive.
14. MRS. PEARCE: “You must be reasonable, Mr. Higgins: really you must.” Why does Mrs. Pearce criticise Higgins’ behaviour?
(a) He is treating Eliza unfairly.
(b) He refuses to pay Eliza.
(c) He is too kind to Eliza.
(d) He ignores Pickering’s advice.
Answer: (a) He is treating Eliza unfairly.
15. DOOLITTLE: “What am I, Governors both? I ask you, what am I?” How does Alfred Doolittle justify asking for money?
(a) He claims to be part of the “undeserving poor.”
(b) He says he needs to provide for Eliza.
(c) He is blackmailing Higgins.
(d) He wants to prove he is a good father.
Answer: (a) He claims to be part of the “undeserving poor.”
16. HIGGINS: “The mere pronunciation is easy enough.” What does Higgins believe is the hardest part of Eliza’s training?
(a) Pronunciation.
(b) Learning grammar.
(c) Dressing like a lady.
(d) Controlling emotions.
Answer: (b) Learning grammar.
17. LIZA: “I never asked to go to Bucknam Palace, I didn’t.” What does this line reveal about Eliza’s understanding of the experiment?
(a) She believes she is being taken to the palace.
(b) She does not fully understand Higgins’ intentions.
(c) She is excited to meet the King.
(d) She is eager to be a princess.
Answer: (b) She does not fully understand Higgins’ intentions.
18. PICKERING: “Better wait till we get you something really fashionable.” Why does Pickering discourage Eliza from taking a taxi immediately?
(a) He does not want her to waste money.
(b) He thinks she should be fully transformed first.
(c) He believes she should remain humble.
(d) He worries about the cost.
Answer: (b) He thinks she should be fully transformed first.
19. HIGGINS: “Oh, very well, very well. Is that all?” What does this response reveal about Higgins’ personality?
(a) He dislikes being corrected.
(b) He is eager to follow rules.
(c) He enjoys listening to Mrs. Pearce.
(d) He does not care about Eliza’s feelings.
Answer: (a) He dislikes being corrected.
20. DOOLITTLE: “She wouldn’t have the heart to spend ten.” Why does Doolittle refuse more than five pounds?
(a) He does not want to be wasteful.
(b) He fears it would make him too cautious.
(c) He does not trust Higgins.
(d) He wants to ask for more later.
Answer: (b) He fears it would make him too cautious.
21. HIGGINS: “We’ll start today: now! this moment!” What does this statement reveal about Higgins’ approach to teaching?
(a) He is highly disciplined and structured.
(b) He is impulsive and excited by challenges.
(c) He is reluctant to teach Eliza.
(d) He only teaches wealthy students.
Answer: (b) He is impulsive and excited by challenges.
22. LIZA: “I’m a good girl, I am!” Why does Eliza keep repeating this phrase throughout Act 2?
(a) She is insecure about her status in society.
(b) She wants Higgins and Pickering to respect her.
(c) She is worried about her father taking her away.
(d) She is refusing to learn Higgins’ lessons.
Answer: (b) She wants Higgins and Pickering to respect her.
23. DOOLITTLE: “I’m one of the undeserving poor.” How does this statement reflect Doolittle’s views on morality?
(a) He believes morality is only for the rich.
(b) He thinks the poor should behave better.
(c) He claims that morality prevents people from enjoying life.
(d) He wants to work hard to improve his status.
Answer: (c) He claims that morality prevents people from enjoying life.
24. PICKERING: “Miss Doolittle-” (Liza gasps in surprise) Why is Eliza so affected when Pickering addresses her formally?
(a) She realises she is being treated with respect.
(b) She is nervous about her new role.
(c) She does not want to be seen as upper-class.
(d) She is offended by his tone.
Answer: (a) She realises she is being treated with respect.
25. HIGGINS: “If I decide to teach you, I’ll be worse than two fathers to you.” What does this statement suggest about Higgins’ role in Eliza’s life?
(a) He will be strict but protective.
(b) He will replace her father, Alfred Doolittle.
(c) He will be indifferent to her progress.
(d) He sees himself as her employer rather than a mentor.
Answer: (a) He will be strict but protective.
26. MRS. PEARCE: “You can’t take a girl up like that as if you were picking up a pebble on the beach.” What concern is Mrs. Pearce expressing about Higgins’ decision?
(a) She believes Eliza is being treated like an object.
(b) She thinks Eliza will refuse the lessons.
(c) She wants Eliza to have better working conditions.
(d) She fears that Pickering will oppose the experiment.
Answer: (a) She believes Eliza is being treated like an object.
27. HIGGINS: “Women upset everything. When you let them into your life, you find that the woman is driving at one thing and you’re driving at another.” What does this statement reveal about Higgins’ view on relationships?
(a) He believes men and women always misunderstand each other.
(b) He resents women for interfering with his life.
(c) He is only interested in his work.
(d) He enjoys being challenged by women.
Answer: (a) He believes men and women always misunderstand each other.
28. LIZA: “I wouldn’t have ate it, only I’m too ladylike to take it out of my mouth.” What does Eliza’s response to Higgins’ chocolate trick suggest about her character?
(a) She has a natural sense of dignity despite her background.
(b) She enjoys arguing with Higgins.
(c) She is easily manipulated.
(d) She already considers herself upper-class.
Answer: (a) She has a natural sense of dignity despite her background.
Fill the blanks/Complete Sentences
1. Higgins is excited to see Eliza in his laboratory because ______
Answer: he is eager to study and make a record of what he assumes will be a new and interesting accent.
2. Mrs. Pearce is hesitant about letting Eliza meet Higgins because ______
Answer: she believes Eliza is a “very common girl” with a “dreadful” accent and feels she should have sent her away.
3. Eliza insists on paying for her lessons because ______
Answer: she wants to improve her speech so she can work in a flower shop and is conducting a business transaction, not asking for a favor.
4. Higgins refuses to record Eliza’s voice at the beginning of the scene because ______
Answer: he recognizes her from the previous night and claims he already has enough records of the “Lisson Grove lingo.”
5. Mrs. Pearce orders Eliza to take a bath because ______
Answer: Higgins has instructed her to clean Eliza up, and Mrs. Pearce believes personal cleanliness is a necessary first step in the transformation.
6. Pickering finds Higgins’ experiment fascinating because ______
Answer: he is intrigued by the challenge of transforming a flower girl into a lady who could pass for a duchess and makes a bet with Higgins about the outcome.
7. Doolittle refuses to take more than five pounds because ______
Answer: he believes ten pounds is too much money and would make him feel “prudent,” which would mean the end of his happiness.
8. Higgins finds Eliza’s transformation amusing because ______
Answer: he is entertained by the contrast of her new, clean appearance and tells her she looks “damned silly” when she tries to act fashionable.
9. Eliza does not want to return to her old home because ______
Answer: her old acquaintances used to ridicule her, and she now wants to “get a bit of my own back” by showing them how much she has risen in the world.
10. Pickering expresses concern about Higgins’ treatment of Eliza because ______
Answer: he feels responsible for her well-being and believes Higgins is being unreasonable and careless with her feelings.
11. Eliza gasps in surprise when Pickering calls her “Miss Doolittle” because ______
Answer: the formal title sounds “so genteel” to her, representing a level of respect she has never experienced before.
12. Mrs. Pearce criticises Higgins’ table manners because ______
Answer: she believes his poor habits, like using his dressing-gown as a napkin, set a bad example for a girl who is supposed to be learning how to be a lady.
13. Higgins insists that Eliza will not need money while she is under his care because ______
Answer: he claims she will be provided with food and clothes and that if she had money, she would only use it to drink.
14. Eliza feels humiliated when Higgins laughs at her because ______
Answer: he insults her by calling her names like “baggage” and “draggletailed guttersnipe” and treats her as a subject for his amusement rather than as a person.
15. Pickering believes Higgins’ treatment of Eliza is unfair because ______
Answer: Higgins acts without any regard for Eliza’s feelings, treating her as a scientific subject to be studied rather than as a human being.
16. Higgins tries to convince Eliza to stay by offering chocolates because ______
Answer: he is tempting her with luxuries that represent a better life, knowing that such an offer would be hard for a poor girl to refuse.
17. Doolittle justifies his demand for money from Higgins because ______
Answer: he claims it is his “rights as a father” to be paid for the daughter he has raised, especially since she is now of interest to Higgins.
18. Mrs. Pearce argues that Higgins should consider Eliza’s future because ______
Answer: she knows Higgins gets absorbed in his experiments and never thinks about the long-term consequences for the people involved.
19. Eliza refuses to believe Higgins’ promises at first because ______
Answer: she thinks he is mad, calling him “off his chump,” and is suspicious of his intentions, even fearing that he might drug her.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Describe Mrs. Pearce’s initial reaction when Eliza arrives at Higgins’ house. In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Her hesitation in allowing Eliza inside.
- Her observations about Eliza’s appearance.
- Her concerns about Higgins’ reaction.
Answer: When Eliza arrives, Mrs. Pearce’s initial reaction is one of hesitation and perplexity. She is reluctant to let Eliza in, stating that she would have sent her away if not for the thought that Higgins might want to study her speech for his machines. She hopes she has not made a mistake in admitting such a person.
Mrs. Pearce describes Eliza as a very common girl with a dreadful accent. She expresses confusion about Higgins’s interest in such things.
She is concerned about Higgins’s reaction and whether she has done the right thing, remarking that he often meets unusual people. She feels the need to excuse herself for allowing Eliza to wait, showing her worry about the propriety of the situation.
2. What offer does Eliza make to Higgins for her lessons? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- The amount of money she is willing to pay.
- Her reasoning for the price she offers.
- Higgins’ response to her proposal.
Answer: Eliza offers to pay Higgins a shilling for her lessons, telling him to take it or leave it.
She reasons that this is a fair price by comparing it to what a friend pays for French lessons. Her friend pays eighteenpence an hour to a real French gentleman, and Eliza argues that Higgins should not have the face to ask for the same amount for teaching her English, her own language.
Higgins is not offended but rather amused and impressed by her offer. He calculates that a shilling is a significant percentage of her daily income, equivalent to sixty or seventy guineas from a millionaire. He declares it a handsome and enormous offer, the biggest he has ever received, which shows he understands its value relative to her earnings.
3. How does Alfred Doolittle react when he sees Eliza after her transformation? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- His initial impression of her new appearance.
- His comments about her cleanliness.
- His attitude towards her changed behaviour.
Answer: Alfred Doolittle’s initial reaction to seeing the transformed Eliza is complete shock, as he does not recognize her at all. He sees a dainty and exquisitely clean young lady in a Japanese kimono and steps aside deferentially, apologizing and addressing her as “miss.” Only when she speaks does he exclaim in surprise that it is Eliza.
After recognizing her, he expresses fatherly pride in her cleanliness and appearance. He comments that he never thought she would clean up so well and calls her a credit to him.
His attitude towards her changed behaviour is mixed. He dismisses her claims of being a good girl, suggesting she will soon pick up free-and-easy ways. However, when she is disrespectful to him, he becomes incensed and warns her not to give him any of her lip, reasserting his paternal authority.
4. What conditions does Higgins set for teaching Eliza? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- What he promises if she succeeds.
- The duration of the lessons.
- Higgins’ expectations of Eliza’s behaviour.
Answer: Higgins sets several conditions for teaching Eliza. The duration of the lessons is six months, during which she is to live in his house.
He expects complete obedience from her. He states that if she is good and does whatever she is told, she will be rewarded. However, if she is naughty and idle, she will be punished by having to sleep in the back kitchen with the beetles and being walloped with a broomstick by Mrs. Pearce.
If she succeeds, Higgins promises her a life of comfort, including a proper bedroom, plenty of food, and money for chocolates and taxi rides. The ultimate promise is that at the end of the six months, she will be able to go to Buckingham Palace in a carriage, beautifully dressed. If she passes as a lady, she will receive seven-and-sixpence to start her new life in a shop.
5. Why does Mrs. Pearce insist that Eliza must take a bath before beginning her lessons? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Mrs. Pearce’s concerns about hygiene.
- Eliza’s reaction to the demand.
- How Higgins supports or opposes Mrs. Pearce.
Answer: The instruction for Eliza to take a bath originates from Higgins, who, upon accepting Pickering’s challenge, finds her “so horribly dirty” and orders Mrs. Pearce to “Take her away and clean her.” Mrs. Pearce, as the practical housekeeper concerned with cleanliness and propriety, carries out this order and later tells Higgins they must be very particular about Eliza’s personal cleanliness.
Eliza reacts with extreme protest and humiliation. She insists that she is not dirty and that she washed her face and hands before coming. She feels that the command is an insult and accuses Higgins of not being a gentleman for talking of such things.
Higgins fully supports the bath and the need for cleanliness. He is the one who gives the initial, blunt command and even suggests using harsh soap if necessary. He shows no concern for Eliza’s feelings on the matter, viewing her cleaning as a necessary first step in the experiment. He later agrees with Mrs. Pearce that her cleanliness is of the utmost importance.
6. How does Higgins explain Eliza’s financial offer in relation to a millionaire’s wealth? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Higgins’ calculation of income proportions.
- How he justifies Eliza’s payment.
- Pickering’s response to this comparison.
Answer: Higgins explains Eliza’s financial offer by putting it into perspective as a percentage of her income rather than a simple amount. He tells Pickering that while a shilling seems small, it is a significant portion of what Eliza earns.
He calculates that a millionaire earns about 150 pounds a day, whereas Eliza earns only about half-a-crown. Eliza’s offer of a shilling represents two-fifths of her daily income. Higgins then compares this to what two-fifths of a millionaire’s daily income would be, which he estimates at around 60 pounds.
By this logic, he justifies her payment as being not only acceptable but extraordinarily generous. He declares that her offer is handsome, enormous, and the biggest he has ever received. Pickering’s initial response is to ask “How so?”, which prompts Higgins to provide this detailed calculation.
7. How does Higgins’ attitude toward Eliza reflect his views on social class? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- How he speaks to her initially.
- His assumptions about her intelligence and worth.
- His belief in the power of transformation.
Answer: Higgins’s attitude toward Eliza initially reflects his view that the lower class is almost a different species, suitable for scientific study but not for personal respect. He speaks to her brusquely and dismissively, calling her “baggage” and a “draggletailed guttersnipe.” He finds her commonness amusing, describing her as “deliciously low—so horribly dirty,” which shows he sees her as a curious object rather than a human being.
He assumes that she lacks intelligence and feelings that are worth considering. He states that she is “incapable of understanding anything” and that she does not have “any feelings that we need bother about.” This reveals his prejudice that people from her social class are intellectually and emotionally inferior.
However, Higgins’s core belief is that social class is not innate but is defined by external markers like speech and manners. His confidence that he can transform a flower girl into a duchess shows his view that class distinctions are superficial and can be overcome with scientific training. For him, class is a performance, and he believes he can teach anyone the part, reducing social hierarchy to a matter of phonetics.
8. Pickering is more considerate towards Eliza than Higgins. Justify the given statement. In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- His manner of speaking to Eliza.
- His concerns about her treatment.
- How he contrasts with Higgins in his approach
Answer: Pickering is demonstrably more considerate towards Eliza than Higgins, serving as a moral contrast to the professor’s callous behaviour. His manner of speaking to her is consistently gentle and courteous. From the beginning, he addresses her kindly, asking “What is it you want, my girl?” and later politely invites her to sit. He is also the first to call her “Miss Doolittle,” a formal title that acknowledges her dignity and surprises her.
Pickering shows genuine concern for Eliza’s feelings and well-being. He directly challenges Higgins by asking if it occurs to him that “the girl has some feelings.” Furthermore, he ensures her position will not be taken advantage of, showing a sense of responsibility for her. His offer to pay for the lessons and the experiment’s expenses stems from a genuine interest in her potential as a person.
This approach is in sharp contrast to Higgins, who is rude, bullying, and completely dismissive of Eliza’s humanity. Higgins calls her names, threatens her, and treats her as a mere subject for his experiment. While Higgins is absorbed in the scientific challenge, Pickering consistently reminds him of Eliza’s humanity, treating her with the respect and kindness that Higgins fails to provide.
9. Why does Eliza react emotionally when Higgins offers her chocolates? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Her suspicion about Higgins’ generosity.
- Her past experiences with kindness.
- How this moment impacts her trust in Higgins.
Answer: Eliza reacts emotionally to Higgins’s offer of chocolates primarily out of suspicion rooted in her life experiences. Her immediate response is not gratitude but fear, as she asks, “How do I know what might be in them? I’ve heard of girls being drugged by the like of you.” This shows her deep-seated distrust of such generosity from a man of his class.
Her suspicion suggests that her past experiences on the streets have taught her to be wary of kindness that comes without a clear, and often dangerous, motive. She has learned that such offers can be traps, and her emotional reaction is a defense mechanism born from a harsh and precarious existence where she had to protect herself.
This moment is pivotal in shaping her trust in Higgins. He overcomes her fear with his “Pledge of good faith,” where he cuts the chocolate in two and eats one half himself before giving her the other. This act, combined with his grand promises of a life filled with chocolates and taxis, begins to break down her defenses. Her emotional state is a complex mix of fear, temptation, and the dawning hope for a better life, which makes her vulnerable to his persuasion.
10. How does Doolittle justify asking Higgins for money? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- His argument about the “undeserving poor.”
- His views on morality.
- His reasoning for requesting five pounds instead of more.
Answer: Doolittle justifies his demand for money with a clever and cynical argument about his status as one of the “undeserving poor.” He claims that this identity puts him in constant conflict with “middle class morality,” which he sees as nothing more than an excuse for wealthy people to deny him assistance. He argues that his needs are just as great as any “deserving” person’s, and therefore he is entitled to his share.
He openly rejects conventional morality, stating that he has no intention of being “deserving” because he enjoys his current lifestyle. He presents his request not as begging but as a straightforward claim for his “rights as a father,” suggesting that Higgins owes him for taking his daughter for the experiment.
Doolittle’s reasoning for requesting exactly five pounds, and refusing ten, further supports his philosophy. He explains that ten pounds is too much because it would make him feel “prudent” and responsible, which would ruin his happiness. He wants just enough for a “good spree” for himself and his partner, an amount that can be enjoyed without the burden of saving or changing his carefree way of life.
11. Why does Mrs. Pearce warn Higgins about his behaviour in front of Eliza? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Higgins’ habits and speech.
- Mrs. Pearce’s concerns about Eliza’s dignity.
- How Higgins responds to her warning.
Answer: Mrs. Pearce warns Higgins about his behaviour because she is concerned about setting a proper example for Eliza and protecting the girl’s dignity. She points out his bad habits, such as swearing a great deal, specifically using a word that begins with the same letter as bath. She also criticises his slovenly personal habits, like coming to breakfast in his dressing-gown and using it as a napkin, eating everything off one plate, and putting the porridge saucepan on the clean tablecloth. Mrs. Pearce insists that he must be more particular before the girl. Higgins initially reacts with indignation, denying that he swears, but then dismisses it as “mere alliteration.” After being confronted with his other faults, he is shocked to be thought unamiable and agrees to be particularly careful in front of Eliza.
12. How does Eliza’s confidence change throughout Act 2? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Her initial fear when speaking to Higgins.
- Her persistence in asking for lessons.
- Her reaction to being treated differently.
Answer: Eliza’s confidence grows significantly throughout Act 2. Initially, she is fearful, running away in terror when Higgins threatens her and standing half rebellious and half bewildered when he orders her around. However, she shows persistence by insisting she has come for lessons and is ready to pay, standing up to Higgins’s rudeness. She boldly states her terms, offering a shilling and refusing to pay more. A key change occurs when she is treated with respect; she gasps in surprise when Pickering addresses her as “Miss Doolittle,” noting that it sounded genteel. After her bath, her confidence is visibly transformed. Dressed in a clean kimono, she walks across the room with a fashionable air and expresses a desire to show off her new status to her old acquaintances.
13. What role does Mrs. Pearce play in mediating between Higgins and Eliza? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100–150 words.
- Her attempts to ensure Eliza is treated fairly.
- Her insistence on proper behaviour from Higgins.
- Her influence on Eliza’s transition into her new life.
Answer: Mrs. Pearce plays the role of a mediator and a moral guide, attempting to ensure Eliza is treated fairly as a human being rather than just an experiment. She repeatedly insists that Higgins must be reasonable and not “walk over everybody,” reminding him that Eliza has feelings. She questions the ethical implications of the arrangement, asking what will become of Eliza in the future. Furthermore, she insists on proper behaviour from Higgins, confronting him about his swearing and poor table manners so he will set a better example. Mrs. Pearce is also central to Eliza’s physical transition, taking her to bathe, arranging for new clothes, and providing a steadying, motherly influence against Higgins’s chaotic and often cruel behaviour.
14. How does Higgins try to persuade Eliza to stay for the lessons? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- His promises of wealth and comfort.
- His threats about what will happen if she refuses.
- His manipulative approach to making her stay.
Answer: Higgins uses a manipulative combination of promises and threats to persuade Eliza to stay. He tempts her with promises of wealth and comfort, offering her chocolates by the barrel, daily taxi rides, and fantasies of gold, diamonds, and marrying an officer in the Guards. His manipulative approach is clear when he eats half a chocolate himself as a “pledge of good faith” to gain her trust. At the same time, he uses threats to scare her into compliance. He warns that if she is naughty, she will sleep in the back kitchen with beetles and be beaten with a broomstick. He invents a terrifying story that if she fails to pass as a lady, she will be taken to the Tower of London and have her head cut off.
15. Why does Pickering insist that Eliza must understand the terms of the experiment? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- His ethical concerns about the arrangement.
- His role in ensuring Eliza is treated fairly.
- Higgins dismissive attitude towards these concerns.
Answer: Pickering insists that Eliza must understand the terms of the experiment due to his ethical concerns and his sense of responsibility for her welfare. He believes that if she is to place herself in Higgins’s hands for six months, she must thoroughly understand what she is doing. He ensures she is treated fairly by questioning Higgins’s intentions and stating that no advantage should be taken of her position. This contrasts sharply with Higgins’s dismissive attitude. Higgins believes Eliza is incapable of understanding anything and argues that she should simply be given orders. Pickering’s insistence on informed consent and fair treatment establishes him as a moral counterpoint to Higgins’s purely scientific and careless approach.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Evaluate how Higgins’ treatment of Eliza in Act 2 reflects his views on women and social hierarchy. Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: In Act 2, Higgins’ treatment of Eliza reveals his deeply ingrained views on women and social hierarchy, which are characterised by objectification and a sense of superiority. He sees women not as equals but as nuisances or objects. He states that when a woman befriends him, she becomes a “damned nuisance,” and he has taught scores of beautiful American millionairesses whom he regards as mere “blocks of wood.” His only other way of interacting with women is to coax them like a child coaxes its nurse to get what it wants. This condescending attitude is directly applied to Eliza.
His perspective on social hierarchy is equally dismissive. He views Eliza, due to her lower-class status, as a scientific subject rather than a person. He refers to her with dehumanising terms such as “baggage,” a “draggletailed guttersnipe,” and is tempted by the experiment because she is so “deliciously low—so horribly dirty.” He shows no concern for her feelings and believes he can simply “throw her back into the gutter” once his experiment is over. For Higgins, class is a performance that can be taught, and he uses his expertise as a tool of power, treating Eliza’s life and future as a mere game or an “inspired folly” for his own amusement. His treatment of her is a clear reflection of his belief that both women and the lower class are inferior and exist to be studied or manipulated.
2. Does Alfred Doolittle’s argument about the “undeserving poor” provide a valid critique of society, or is it merely an excuse for his behaviour? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Alfred Doolittle’s argument about the “undeserving poor” serves as both a sharp critique of society and a convenient excuse for his own irresponsible behaviour. As a critique, his philosophy cleverly satirises the British class system and exposes the hypocrisy of what he calls “middle-class morality.” He argues that this morality is simply an excuse for the wealthy to deny help to those in need. By proudly identifying as “undeserving,” he challenges the rigid social structures that judge a person’s worthiness for aid, pointing out that his needs for food, drink, and cheerfulness are just as real as those of a “deserving widow.” His witty logic critiques a system that expects the poor to be morally upright while offering them little in return.
However, this same argument is also a self-serving excuse for his personal failings. He arrives at Higgins’ house not out of fatherly concern for Eliza but to extract money from the situation. He is perfectly willing to sell his daughter for five pounds, showing he does not care for her well-being and only thinks of what he can gain. He openly admits he will spend the money on a “spree,” justifying his lack of prudence as a way to avoid the responsibilities that come with money. Therefore, while his speech offers a valid and humorous critique of social unfairness, it simultaneously functions as a justification for his own selfishness, laziness, and lack of morals.
3. Evaluate the ethical implications of Higgins’ experiment with Eliza. Is it a noble pursuit of education or a self-serving display of power? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Higgins’ experiment with Eliza is overwhelmingly a self-serving display of power, with deeply troubling ethical implications, rather than a noble pursuit of education. While he frames his actions as being “kind” and helping Eliza “fit herself for her new station in life,” his true motivations are rooted in ego and amusement. The experiment begins not from a desire to help Eliza, but as a response to a challenge from Pickering, turning her life into a bet. Higgins himself calls the venture one of a “series of inspired follies,” showing he sees it as a game.
The ethical problems are clear in his complete disregard for Eliza as a human being. He treats her as a “subject” or an “experiment,” referring to her as a “guttersnipe” and showing no concern for her feelings. Mrs. Pearce highlights this when she says he cannot take a girl up “as if you were picking up a pebble on the beach.” Most tellingly, Higgins shows a shocking lack of foresight or care for Eliza’s future, casually stating that when he is done, they can “throw her back into the gutter.” This reveals that the experiment is not about her betterment but about proving his own scientific skill. It is a clear exercise of power over a vulnerable person, making it an ethically questionable act driven by personal vanity.
4. Does Pickering’s politeness towards Eliza make him a genuinely better person than Higgins, or is he merely more refined in his treatment of others? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Colonel Pickering is certainly more refined in his treatment of Eliza than Higgins, but whether this makes him a genuinely better person is a more complicated matter. His politeness and consideration are evident throughout Act 2. He is “touched” by Eliza’s sad appearance, speaks to her gently, and addresses her respectfully as “Miss Doolittle.” He acts as a moral counterbalance to Higgins, reminding him that Eliza has feelings and expressing concern that no advantage be taken of her. This demonstrates a sense of decency and responsibility that Higgins completely lacks.
However, Pickering is still a willing and active participant in the experiment. It is his bet with Higgins that formalises the plan to transform Eliza for the ambassador’s garden party, effectively turning her life into a sporting challenge. While he objects to Higgins’ rudeness, he does not object to the fundamental premise of treating a human being as a project for their own entertainment. He is intrigued by the scientific challenge and views the situation with some amusement. Therefore, while his refined manners make him kinder and more humane than Higgins, he still embodies an upper-class perspective that sees the transformation of a lower-class girl as a fascinating game. He is more refined, but his participation in her objectification suggests his goodness is more a matter of social grace than a fundamental moral opposition to the experiment itself.
5. Evaluate Mrs. Pearce’s role in the scene. Is she truly protective of Eliza, or is she merely reinforcing Higgins’ authority? Answer in 200-250 words. Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Mrs. Pearce’s role in the scene is primarily that of a protective figure and a moral compass, rather than a simple enforcer of Higgins’ authority. As a practical and responsible housekeeper with strong values, she immediately questions the rightness of Higgins’ experiment with Eliza. She consistently reminds Higgins that Eliza is a person with feelings, not just a subject for study. Mrs. Pearce warns him about his responsibility and points out his lack of manners and thoughtfulness, urging him to consider the consequences of his actions on Eliza’s future.
She acts as a motherly figure to Eliza, insisting that she be cleaned and treated with a level of respect. She also directly confronts Higgins about his own behaviour, correcting his rude language and careless habits to set a better example. Although she is a servant in his house and must follow some of his instructions, Mrs. Pearce is not afraid to stand up to him. Her role is important because she highlights Higgins’ weaknesses and ensures that Eliza’s transformation is not completely heartless. She is a voice of reason, ensuring that basic kindness and humanity are not forgotten.
6. To what extent does Eliza’s decision to stay reflect personal ambition versus desperation? Answer in 200-250 words. Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Eliza’s decision to stay reflects a combination of both personal ambition and desperation, which are manipulated by Higgins’ temptations. Her ambition is clear from the outset; she proactively comes to Higgins’ laboratory with the specific goal of improving her speech so she can work in a respectable flower shop. This shows her determination to improve her life, escape her lower-class background, and earn respect through her own efforts. She is not merely seeking a handout but is prepared to pay for her lessons, demonstrating a clear and ambitious plan for her future.
However, this ambition is rooted in the desperation of her current situation as a poor flower girl. Her life is one of poverty, and the desire to escape it is a powerful motivator. Higgins exploits this vulnerability. While Eliza is initially cautious and frightened by his intentions, she is ultimately tempted by the luxuries he promises, such as chocolates and taxi rides. These symbols of wealth represent a life far removed from her own. Higgins’ playful warnings that she will be imprisoned if she fails also add pressure. Therefore, her decision is a complex one, driven by a strong ambition for a better life but ultimately sealed by a desperate hope to escape her current poverty, a hope that Higgins skillfully manipulates.
7. Evaluate how Higgins’ comments about Eliza’s financial offer demonstrate his perception of class and wealth. Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Higgins’ comments about Eliza’s financial offer reveal a perception of class and wealth that is purely academic, detached, and objectifying. When Eliza offers a shilling for her lessons, Higgins does not see the personal sacrifice it represents. Instead, he turns it into an intellectual exercise for Pickering’s benefit. He calculates that her offer, as a percentage of her income, is equivalent to sixty or seventy guineas from a millionaire.
While he calls the offer “handsome” and “enormous,” this is not an expression of empathy but rather a statement of scientific fascination with the mathematical proportion. He reduces her financial situation to a curious economic problem, demonstrating his tendency to view people from lower classes as subjects for study rather than as individuals. His interest lies in the cleverness of the comparison, not in the human reality of Eliza’s poverty. This reaction shows that he perceives social class as a scientific category to be analyzed, and he is more interested in her “Lisson Grove lingo” and her economic data than in her as a person with feelings and struggles.
8. Does Higgins show any genuine concern for Eliza’s well-being, or is he solely interested in his experiment? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Based on his actions and words in Act II, Higgins is solely interested in his experiment and shows no genuine concern for Eliza’s well-being. His initial interest in her is purely scientific; he is intrigued by her “terrible accent” and wants to make records of it. When he first sees her in his laboratory, he dismisses her as useless because he already has enough records of her dialect.
His decision to teach her is motivated entirely by Pickering’s challenge and the bet, not by a desire to help her. He views her as an object for his experiment, referring to her as a “draggletailed guttersnipe” and exclaiming that she is “so deliciously low—so horribly dirty.” When Mrs. Pearce raises practical and moral concerns about what will happen to Eliza after the experiment is over, Higgins callously suggests they can simply “throw her back into the gutter.” Even his seemingly kind gestures, such as offering her a handkerchief or a chocolate, are not acts of genuine care but rather amused or manipulative tactics to keep her engaged in his project. His approach lacks all sensitivity, showing his inability to see the human cost of his experiment.
9. Evaluate Doolittle’s interaction with Higgins. Is he exploiting the situation for financial gain, or is he simply acting as any father in his position would? Answer in 200–250 words.
Answer: Alfred Doolittle’s interaction with Higgins is a clear instance of exploiting his daughter’s situation for financial gain, rather than acting as a concerned father. His claim to paternal rights is merely a pretense to extract money. This is evident from the moment he arrives; while he initially demands his daughter, he is “fearfully taken aback” when Higgins tells him to take her away. A genuine father would be relieved, but Doolittle’s reaction reveals his true motive is not to ensure his daughter’s welfare but to see where he can benefit, asking, “Where do I come in?”.
He quickly transitions from demanding his daughter to negotiating a price for her, asking what a “five pound note” is to Higgins. He admits that as a daughter, Eliza is “not worth her keep,” a statement no caring father would make. His justification rests on his self-proclaimed status as one of the “undeserving poor,” using it to reject “middle-class morality” and argue for his right to the money for a “good spree.” This philosophy is a convenient excuse for his selfish behavior. A typical father would be concerned about his daughter’s safety and future, but Doolittle’s only concern is personal profit. Therefore, his interaction with Higgins is a calculated act of exploitation, using the language of fatherhood to mask his purely financial intentions.
10. To what extent is Eliza an active participant in her transformation, and to what extent is she being manipulated? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Eliza is both an active participant in her transformation and a subject of manipulation, with her agency initiating the process and Higgins’s influence securing her commitment to it. She is an active participant because she comes to Higgins’s laboratory of her own volition. She has a clear and ambitious goal: to learn to speak well enough to work in a flower shop. Her insistence on paying for her lessons, offering a shilling, shows her desire to maintain her dignity and enter a professional agreement, not to accept charity. This demonstrates her determination to improve her life through her own efforts.
However, she is also heavily manipulated. Higgins is not motivated by a desire to help her but by a bet with Pickering. When his crude and insulting behavior makes Eliza want to leave, he uses a combination of temptation and threats to make her stay. He manipulates her by offering luxuries she has only dreamed of, such as chocolates, unlimited taxi rides, and fine clothes. These promises are contrasted with threats of punishment if she is “naughty and idle,” including being “walloped by Mrs. Pearce with a broomstick” and a frightening, albeit humorous, tale of being executed at the Tower of London. While Eliza’s initial decision to seek lessons is her own, her choice to endure Higgins’s terms is heavily influenced by his manipulative tactics, which play on both her desires and her fears.
Extras
MCQs: Knowledge-based
1: What is the profession of Alfred Doolittle?
A. Flower seller
B. Dustman
C. Butler
D. Clergyman
Answer: B. Dustman
31: When Eliza reappears after her bath, her father exclaims, “Bly me! it’s __________!”
A. a lady
B. a stranger
C. Eliza
D. a duchess
Answer: C. Eliza
MCQs: Competency-based
32: (I) Higgins threatens to throw Eliza out of the window.
(II) Eliza runs away in terror to the piano.
A. I is independent of II.
B. I is a contradiction of II.
C. II is the cause of I.
D. I is the cause of II.
Answer: D. I is the cause of II.
44: The chocolates and taxis promised to Eliza are symbols of what?
A. Hard work and responsibility
B. Scientific achievement
C. Luxury and upward social mobility
D. The dangers of city life
Answer: C. Luxury and upward social mobility
Questions and Answers
1. How does Higgins initially demonstrate his expertise in phonetics in his laboratory?
You are required to answer in 100-150 words by incorporating the following details:
- His claim about distinguishing vowel sounds.
- Pickering’s reaction to his skills.
- The equipment present in the laboratory.
Answer: Professor Higgins demonstrates his expertise in his laboratory, which is a large room filled with specialised equipment such as a phonograph, a laryngoscope, tuning forks, and a life-size model of a human head showing the vocal organs. He explains to Colonel Pickering that he is able to distinguish 130 distinct vowel sounds, showcasing his mastery.
Pickering is amazed and exhausted by the demonstration. He admits that while he was proud of being able to pronounce twenty-four vowel sounds, Higgins’s one hundred and thirty have completely beaten him. Pickering confesses that he cannot hear any difference between most of the sounds Higgins produces.
33. What warnings does Mrs. Pearce give Higgins regarding his behaviour in Eliza’s presence? How does Higgins react to her corrections?
You are required to answer in 200-250 words by incorporating the following details:
- Her reminders for him to mind his language and avoid cursing.
- Her instructions for him to dress more appropriately.
- Higgins’s initial defensiveness, followed by his agreement to be more careful.
Answer: Mrs. Pearce gives Professor Higgins several important warnings about his language and manners, insisting that he must behave properly in Eliza’s presence. She acts as a voice of reason, trying to instill some decorum in the household. She tells him that he must be more mindful of his language and stop swearing, pointing out that while she is used to it, Eliza must not hear such words from him. She also instructs him to improve his personal habits, asking him not to come to breakfast in his dressing-gown and, in particular, not to use it as a napkin.
Higgins’s reaction to her corrections is at first defensive. He is shocked that she would accuse him of swearing and is surprised by her requests regarding his attire and table manners. He protests that he is not a “blackguard.” However, he is not malicious, and after his initial defensiveness, he agrees to be more careful. He recognizes the validity of her points and promises to be on his best behaviour before the girl, showing that he can, when pressed, acknowledge his own flaws.
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