Character Analysis of Eliza Doolittle

 

Eliza Doolittle is not just a poor working-class flower girl. Though she begins the play as one, she does not remain so by the end. Her character shows strong growth and independence. Like Galatea from the Greek myth, Eliza undergoes a transformation, but unlike the myth, she gains her own voice and identity.

From the beginning, Eliza is unhappy with her position in society and wants change. She is ready to challenge social rules and class barriers. Shaw shows how people judge Eliza by her dirty clothes and rough Cockney accent. Her speech clearly reflects her lower-class background. However, the play strongly suggests that appearance and accent do not decide a person’s true worth.

Even in the opening scene, Eliza shows self-respect. When Higgins insults her, she firmly defends her character and says that her character matters to her just as much as it does to any lady. This shows that Eliza does not see herself as inferior. She refuses to be judged only by her speech or clothes and believes she is a “good girl.”

Eliza is also very determined and practical. She approaches Higgins on her own to learn proper speech so that she can get a respectable job in a flower shop. She understands that education can improve her life. Although Higgins treats her badly at first, she does not give up. Once trained, Eliza proves to be intelligent and hardworking. Her success at the ambassador’s garden party shows that class is learned, not natural.

Through Eliza, Shaw criticises Victorian society’s obsession with class, accent, and appearance. Eliza’s transformation proves that social class is superficial. However, her greatest achievement is not becoming a lady, but becoming independent. At the end of the play, she refuses to stay with Higgins because he does not treat her with respect. She does not change for love or marriage but for dignity and self-respect.

Thus, Eliza Doolittle emerges as a strong, confident woman who challenges class divisions and demands respect as an equal human being.

“Eliza’s journey shows that true identity comes from self-respect and independence, not from class or appearance.”