An Analysis on Pygmalion from Patriarchy of Feminism
1 Introduction
Bernard Shaw has been called the greatest play writer in British after William Shakespeare. He makes a great contribution to English drama‟s reviving and the development of western modern drama and play. And Pygmalion is his greatest and reprentative play. There have been many academic discussions on it from different perspectives. My paper will analyze the play from the patriarchy perspective of feminism. From this perspective, we can clearly find that the play is no doubt the creation of woman, either the creation of a duchess from a flower girl, or the creation of a woman from a duchess, in which man is God, the father, and the creator, whereas woman is in the position of a child, a pupil, being corrected, educated and remade by man. So, my essay on Pygmalion from patriarchy aspects will not only show us a new image of female but also Shaw‟s ideas on female. And my essay on Pygmalion from patriarchy aspects will be focud on . And my analysis may provide a new method for solving the relationship between women and men in society.
2 Literature Review
Bernard Shaw‟s Pygmalion after its coming out has attracted many attentions. More and more critics p
ay their attention to it both at home and abroad. And the study on Pygmalion from feminism focus on. In the following, I will show some excellent essays on this topic at home and abroad.
2.1 Previous Domestic Studies on Pygmalion from Patriarchy of Feminism
The first aspect is on female characters‟personality and image. Liu Tingting explores female characters image from feminism perspectives. Liu (2009: 65) says in her article that Eliza, the heroine in "The Flower Girl", has inten female lf consciousness which is shown through her revolt against oppression, request for independence and pursuit of equality. And her paper (2009: 65) examines background condition and process of her female lf--consciousness, awakening from her individuality feature, way of ideal pursuit and revolt consciousness in the light of feminism. Cao Y ang also explores Pygmalion from feminism perspectives. In his article, Cao states (2008:217) that Pygmalion rembles the ancient fairy tale story Cinderella. But it is different with traditional Cinderella's passive act, in the drama, the heroine Eliza realizes clearly her life hope, and bravely eks the innermost feelings of independence and the equality initiative shows loving concern, and she is
innovation and leap of Cinderella prototype.
The cond aspect is on Eliza‟s revolt against patriarchy and her lf independence. Zhu Ping explores Pygmalion from patriarchy aspects of feminism. Zhu (2010:17) argues that from patriarchy aspects of feminism, heroine Eliza has already become independence, and lf-respect from a low female who once sold flower at street corner. She pursues same equality, the independent personality with man. But Higgs is the typical male character in patriarchic society. And at the end of drama, Eliza is bravely revolt patriarchy reprenting by Higgs. Tang Wan also explores Pygmalion from patriarchy aspects of feminism. Tang (2007:131) states that Pygmalion is from the archetype prototype. And in her article, Tang (2007:133) discuss the process of Eliza‟s external transformation and the mind awakens and shows Benard‟s opinions on the exploration and independence of female.
2.2 Previous International Studies on Pygmalion from Patriarchy of Feminism Dympna Callaghan explores the Pygmalion from perspective of feminism. Callaghan(2006:41) agrues that the play is no doubt the creation of woman, either the creation of a duchess from a flower girl, or the creation of a woman from a duchess, in which man is God, the father, and the creator, whereas woman is in the position of a child, a pupil, being corrected, educated and remade by man. The woman character in it is en only as an object for experiment. And Callaghan (2006:43) also expos how woman figure
being pre-patterned, and the position of woman in society being forced to the lowest. Also, Hemming, Sarah (2008:1) states that G.B.Shaw names his play Pygmalion by protagonist in Metmaorphos Book Ten,SO that he connects the enlivened ivory statue with the dramatically changed flowergir1.Great culture significance was attached to this play.At the same time,the originality which is different from the original myth displays the author‟s effort to explore female lf-creation.
孕期头疼怎么回事
售后流程2.3 Developmental Ideas
我好喜欢你歌曲From above analysis, we know that tho studies focus on the patriarchy and female‟s changing role. And tho studies make us have a different view on Pygmalion. However, the mention on Eliza‟s change and female awareness in the play is less. So, my study will focus on gender role aspect except for women‟s changing role and revolt against patriarchal society which will give us a more profound understanding. More details on this topic will be exhibited in my following essay.
3 Theories Framework and Critical Approach
3.1 Definition on Feminism
According to The New Encyclopedia Britannica, …feminism‟, also called …feminist movement‟or …women‟s liberation movement‟, refers to the social movement that eks equal rights for women, giving them equal status with men and freedom to decide their own careers and life patterns. It has its roots in the humanism of the 18th century and the Industrial-Revolution. And also Adrienne Rich, a contemporary American poet, describes feminism as “the place where in the most natural, organic way subjectivity and politics have no come together” (Gelpi & Gelpi, 1975:114 ).
3.2 Definition on Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which the male gender role acts as the primary authority figure central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination. Many patriarchal societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property and title are inherited by the male lineage. The female equivalent is matriarchy (Tickner, 2001).
3.3 Different Theories of Patriarchy
A central tenet in feminism is patriarchy. Patriarchy is a social system in which the role of the male as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over
贾宝玉人物评价women, children, and property.It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and is dependent on female subordination. Most forms of feminism characterize patriarchy as an unjust social system that is oppressive to women. As the feminist and political theorist Carole Pateman writes: "The patriarchal construction of the difference between masculinity and femininity is the political difference between freedom and subjection. (Carole, 1998: 207)" In feminist theory the concept of patriarchy often includes all the social mechanisms that reproduce and exert male dominance over women. Feminist theory typically characterizes patriarchy as a social construction, which can be overcome by revealing and critically analyzing its manifestations. (Carole, 1998: 207) Some radical feminists have propod that becau patriarchy is too deeply rooted in society, paratism is the only viable solution (Tickner, 2001: 1197). Other feminists have criticized the radical feminist views as being anti-men, though some radical feminists reject this portrayal of their views (Betty. 1998). Societal tension caud by cond-wave feminism gave ri to backlash in the form of anti-feminist men's movements, such as Masculism, though today some e masculism as a complementary movement that does not oppo feminism.
Some forms of feminism characterize patriarchy as an unjust social system that is oppressive to women. As feminist and political theorist Carole Pateman writes, "The patriarchal construction of the
difference between masculinity and femininity is the political difference between freedom and subjection. (Carole, 1998:207)" In feminist theory the concept of patriarchy often includes all the social mechanisms that reproduce and exert male dominance over women. Feminist theory typically characterizes patriarchy as a social construction, which can be overcome by revealing and critically analyzing its manifestations. (Chen,2006;Li,2005)
3.3 My Critical Approach
运动会200字In my essay, I will u patriarchy aspects of feminism critical method on analyzing Pygmalion. And in my essay feminism critical method will contain female‟s revolt against patriarchy.
4 The Analysis
架空历史小说4.1 The Awakening of Soul
When we first e Eliza in the drama, she is a London street corner child who is dirty, the attire worn-out, ignorant. She is accustomed to defend for her own right, becau others cannot maintain for her. She lives by herlf after her parents dispel her from home. All the make her want to change her fate. And Eliza's awakening of lf-existence and lf-respect comes from the oppression and co
ntempt she receives. So when Higgins gives her the opportunity changing her fate, she accepts no hesitation. She does not want to become duchess and only hoped can have a good income work to support her and obtains others respect. From here, we can e she hopes depend on her own strength to survival and is willing to grasp the opportunity bravely to change her fate. All shows her independence. Having this pure ideal, Eliza is not very happy about the fact that she is accepted by upper class. Becau though the life in upper class is nice, she does not know her future and belonging. Eliza thinks she lives in a dream and hope this dream can continue so that she doesn‟t need to worry about living and go back. However, the reality destroys her dream heartlessly.
了不起的你
She loves Higgins, but Higgins is totally a patriarchal person.Higgins is by nature celibate and lf-centered. Just as Eliza accus him in the beginning act: " Oh, you've no feeling heart in you, you don't care for nothing but yourlf. "(Shaw, 2010:238) Although he loves Eliza, he can not throw his prejudice about female and lower people. He thinks that marry Eliza is not identified with his identity. And he thinks that Eliza is only an experiment never treats her as a really person and cares for her. And when Eliza knows this, she bravely leaves Higgins. She does not want to become a poor person. And from here, Eliza‟s soul becomes awaken. Higgins even ignores her gender. In Act 2, when Eliza comes for elocution lessons and Higgins orders his houmaid to " take all her clothes off ," everyone in the play and out of the play suspects whether his intention is xual or intellectual.
Even the day when she los herlf in the upper circles, she never forgets herlf and worry about future. She loves Higgins, but finally she finds that she can never have the same emotions with upper class reprenting by Higgins. And this is conflict with her pursuit of equal love and care. Then she decides to rupture from them and left. Such mind cour is difficult. But finally Eliza struggles from the contradiction, and has completed own transformation. It demonstrates her firmness in the process of eking the lf-status.
4.2 Revolt against Patriarchy
We e there is no doubt that Pygmalion is about the creation of women, and the creation of a duchess from a flower girl, or the creation of a woman from a duchess, in which man is God, the father, and the creator, whereas woman is in the position of a child, being corrected and remade by man. And the relationship between man and woman: Man is superior, woman is inferior.We can easily find it in drama: the male character, the language professor, is an upper-class gentleman, whereas the flower girl is only a “creature" with visible and distinguishing marks of the lower class society.
销售支持However, we e in the drama, Eliza is not accepting this kind of relationship between man and wom
en. She also straggles very hard to be independent in her life, economically and spiritually. She is bravely against the patriarchal society. In the last part of Pygmalion, Eliza says to Higgins:” becau I want to smash your face. I would like to kill you, you lfish brute. Why did not you leave me where you picked me out of……….You thank God it's all over, and that now you can throw me back again, do you? " " What's to become of me? What's to become of me? “(Shaw, 2010:238)”we e that Eliza is angry about Higgins and she express herlf bravely. She realizes neither her own irresponsible father, nor her father of creation really cares her: " You dont care. I know you dont care. You wouldn't care if I was dead. I'm nothing to you - no so much as them slippers. “(Shaw, 2010:255) And she does not be a quiet creature which is controlled by Higgins and her father. She finally left him and indicates her decision on revolt against man‟s power and right. And she looks for her own life.
4.3 Shaw’s Critical on Patriarchy
In Pygmalion, Shaw us his humors and irony to critic patriarchal society. He expos the evil that Higgins to Eliza. Higgins thinks that he has nothing to Eliza‟s boy and in the color appearance acquisitive instinct. So he thinks that he treats Eliza equal and he is different from other men. However, actually, Higgins has never treat equal to Eliza. He never treats Eliza as a human being. He always calls her a creature. He captures Eliza‟s spirit. And his grind on Eliza‟s spirit expos his
mblance dirtiness under his nobly appearance. And Shaw us Eliza‟s innocence and revolt to ironic patriarchal society‟s ridiculous and hypocritical.