What is middle class morality? Just an excuse for never giving me anything. Therefore, I ask you, as two gentlemen, not to play that game on me. I’m playing straight with you.

Table of Contents

What does middle class morality mean?

Middle class morality is the way a person is expected to behave and think when they are a part of the middle class. Doolittle is dressed very differently from how he would have dressed before he became middle class. The middle class are expected to dress better than the lower class.

What does Alfred Doolittle say about having morals?

In other words, he’s too poor to not try to take advantage of a situation that presents itself to him. In his view, someone with wealth can “afford” to have morals because he won’t be tempted to do something dishonorable for a small amount of cash.

What does Mr Doolittle say about middle class morality?

In Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, Alfred Doolittle comes into an income of four thousand a year and finds himself trapped in middle-class morality. Formerly of the undeserving poor, he was free to live as he liked, understanding that both the undeserving poor and the aristocracy can live free of constraints.

How morality is presented in the play Pygmalion by GB Shaw?

Middle-Class-Morality and Comments on Class and Social Standing made by Shaw in Pygmalion. … The play pokes fun at “middle class morality” and upper-class superficiality, reflects the social ills of nineteenth century England, and attests that all people, regardless of class background, are worthy of respect and dignity.

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

How did Eliza Doolittle's father get rich?

Alfred Doolittle, Eliza’s father, was a dustman who wanted to stay in the lower class because he despised having to practice “middle class morality”. … Doolittle’s morality, he gained a large inheritance from the deceased millionaire in exchange for his preaching.

What is meant by middle class morality in Pygmalion?

In Pygmalion, middle-class morality is the expectation of proper behavior for those belonging to the middle class. This term is developed into opposition toward the looser moral standards of the lower classes. Eliza’s father, Alfred Doolittle, goes into the subject when trying to squeeze money out of Higgins when…

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

How does Doolittle sum up the class differences?

Alfred Doolittle is very content in the lower class. He gives his speech on “middle class morality” and how he enjoys being in the lower class. He doesn’t want to take too much money from Higgins, because with a certain amount of money comes responsibility. He wants the money and not the responsibility.

What does Alfred Doolittle do for a living?

Silver Tongued Devil. Alfred Doolittle is a smooth-talking garbage man, a serial monogamist (although he’s not always really married), a drunk, and a deadbeat dad.

Why does Doolittle prefer his own undeserving poverty?

Doolittle exposes the pretensions of the “middle class morality” as an excuse for their not helping the poor. Why does Doolittle prefer his own “undeserving poverty”? He has no responsibility and can remain so. He doesn’t have any responsibility, and he doesn’t have morals because he can’t afford them.

Article first time published on

What does Doolittle say about morality and his station in life?

There are no morals in his class because he can’t afford them. This insinuates that the poor cannot have morals. What does Alfred Doolittle say about morality and his station in life? … She does not like her father and does not know about social classes.

Why does Doolittle refuse more money?

The reason being is because he is a fraud and a pimp. He tries to sell his daughter so that he can get drunk. But, the reason why he refuses the large amount of money, along with being able to return to them to ask for more, is that he cannot drink ten pounds worth of alcohol.

Does Alfred Doolittle's theory about the undeserving poor have any merit?

Does Alfred Doolittle’s theory about the “undeserving poor” have any merit? is he just a good speaker, or is he simply addressing a problem that most people ignore? He’s considered “undeserving poor,” but for him, there’s merit. He is a good speaker, and the way he talks makes people think he’s happy.

How does the play Pygmalion deal with the issue of social class?

In Pygmalion, we observe a society divided, separated by language, education, and wealth. Shaw gives us a chance to see how that gap can be bridged, both successfully and unsuccessfully. As he portrays it, London society cannot simply be defined by two terms, “rich” and “poor.”

Who is the flower girl in Pygmalion?

Eliza DoolittlePortrayed byMrs Patrick Campbell Julie Andrews Audrey HepburnIn-universe informationAliasLizaNickname”The Flower Girl” (Act I)

How does Henry respond when Mrs Higgins scolds?

How does Henry respond when Mrs. Higgins scolds him? He protests, but obeys. According to Doolittle, what is “middle class morality”?

How is Henry Higgins a stereotypical character?

Higgins is rude not only to Eliza, but generally to everyone he meets. He is impatient with class hierarchy and the Victorian obsession with manners. As he tells Eliza in Act Five, he treats everyone the same (that is, rudely) regardless of social class.

Why does Higgins want Eliza back?

They proceed to quarrel. Higgins claims that while he may treat her badly, he is at least fair in that he has never treated anyone else differently. He tells her she should come back with him just for the fun of it–he will adopt her as a daughter, or she can marry Pickering.

What is Doolittle's new job?

He is a dustman because that is easier for him than “real work.” (A dustman was a person who simply collected the ashes that people put out; by Shaw’s time, refuse was added to the ashes, making Doolittle essentially a garbage collector.)

What does Eliza say made all the difference in her becoming a lady?

What does Eliza explain is the difference between a lady and flower girl? She’s says that the difference is in the way they act and talk and how they are treated by others.

Who does Eliza Doolittle marry in Pygmalion?

Pygmalion 2: 2 Pyg, 2 Malion It’s just a really long explanation of what happens—Shaw just wants us to know that everybody reading the play is silly and sentimental, and, no, Higgins and Eliza don’t ever smooch. Instead, she marries Freddy and they open a flower shop.

How much money does Alfred Doolittle take from Henry Higgins in exchange for Eliza?

Mrs. Higgins observes that this at least settles the problem of who shall provide for Eliza, to which Higgins objects – after all, he paid Doolittle five pounds for her.

Why does Liza's father come to see Higgins?

8. Why did Alfred Doolittle come to see Professor Higgins? He wanted to get money for himself, to blackmail Higgins in order to get a little money.

Who has the most power in Pygmalion?

In the story Liza has the most power because its solely based around her and she controls Higgins and Pickering. Higgins is a powerful man in the story his mom still bosses him around.

How much money does Alfred Doolittle want for his daughter from Higgins?

10. When Alfred Doolittle says he is willing to sell his daughter for fifty pounds, Pickering asks him if he has no morals.

How does Shaw denounce social snobbery and class distinction?

Class was considered a product of breeding, of superior genes, and of taste. … Shaw denounced social snobbery and class distinction in Pygmalion primarily by presenting the aristocracy as people who can “be made” and can be spoofed by just imitating their mannerisms, and by pretending to be bigger than you are.

Why was Doolittle complaining of being rich?

Alfred Doolittle is a man changed by wealth at the end of the story. He returns to reflect how money has hurt his lifestyle since his earlier appearance. He complains that while earlier in life he was able to put on airs and receive favors from others, now the expectations on him are greater due to his wealth.

What is so ironic about Doolittle's attitude?

The irony of Doolittle’s logic is that at the end of the play, Doolittle will be forced to accept middle-class responsibilities and morality because by then he will have inherited enough money that he will be encumbered for the rest of his life and will have to forever abandon his free and easy ways as a member of the …

What is Mrs Pearce's biggest concern?

Mrs. Pearce is concerned about the swearing of Higgins when he speaks and his table manners when he eats because they now have an impressionable young “lady” living with them. She also tells Higgins he can’t treat people like objects “as if you were picking up a pebble on the beach”.

What lessons does Liza learn from Mrs Pearce?

Pearce and Pickering, Higgins tells Liza she will stay in his house and learn proper English and the manners of duchesses for six months. If she is good, she will have a proper bedroom and all the chocolates and taxi rides she desires, but if she is idle, Mrs. Pearce will wallop her with a broom.

What does Doolittle's willingness to part with his daughter Eliza for five pounds say about morality and social class?

In Act 2 of Pygmalion, what does Doolittle’s willingness to part with his daughter, Eliza, for five pounds say about morality and social class? … Nevertheless, his needs are no less than those of the deserving middle class, and he requires food, drink, and amusement.