9. Why are there so many references to “what is to become” of Eliza? Trace these references throughout the play. What broader concern for society might Shaw be expressing?
In the play Pygmalion, “what is to become of Eliza?” is a major question asked by many characters in the plot after she is completely transformed by Higgins’s vocal training and money. Going from a flower girl on the streets to a lady with the mannerisms of a ‘duchess’ in just six short months is such major transformation that the people who care about Eliza are concerned about what is to happen to her after Higgins is done with her. This is a perfectly valid question, for a lady with such proper speech cannot readily return to her place on the streets. Shaw creates this question to parallel his concern for society in what use women really have if not serve some purpose to men.
After Higgins takes Eliza and transforms her to the extent that he did, she could never in a million years return to the streets. With her mannerisms and speech, she would stick out like a sore thumb and would probably be taken advantage of. With this option taken off the table, characters like Mrs. Pearce have the common sense to worry about the wellbeing of Eliza after Higgins is through with her; “MRS PEARCE: But whats to become of her? Is she to be paid anything? Do be sensible, sir. HIGGINS: Oh, pay her whatever is necessary: put it down in the housekeeping book. What on earth will she want with money? She’ll have her food and her clothes. She’ll only drink if you give her money(Shaw43).” Mrs. Pearce’s worries also have a major part to do with Mr. Higgins. He treats Eliza as if she is an object that can be thrown away when he is done with her. This is also paralleling to how society’s view on women. To Victorian London Society, women are for the entertainment of men, and they are virtually useless otherwise.
The characters in Pygmalion’s concerns for the well being of Eliza stems from a society that has no use for women after men are done with them. Eliza is treated as an object by the man in her life that is doing the most for her as a person. These backwards ideals are a device used by Shaw to show how perverse society is in how we treat each other.