George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an irish playwright famous for his humour.Pygmalion is a play about a rich man called Henry Higgins and a poor flower-girl called Liza Doolitlle
.The story takes place at the beginning of the twentieth century.One day professor Higgins ,who is an expert in the pronunciation of English,hears Liza talking in the street.He says to his friend,Pickering,that he is so good at his job
that he could make even this girl speak like a duchess. Liza hears him and starts dreaming about speaking like a lady.If she could speak like a lady ,she would get a better job. So she goes to see Professor Higgins and asks him if he will
give her lessons .This is what happens ...
Higgins: How much do you propose to pay me for lessons ?
Liza : A friend of mine gets French lessons for eighteen pence an hour from a real French gentleman. Well ,you wouldn't ask me for the same ,just to teach me to speak my
own language; so I won't give you more than a shilling .take it or leave it.
Higgins:You know,Pickering, if you consider a shilling as a percentage of this girl's income,it is fully equivalent to sixty or seventy pounds from a millionaire.
Pickering: What do you mean ?
Higgins:Calculate it .A millionaire has about one hundred and fifity pounds a day .She earns about thirty pence.
Liza: Who told you I only-
Higgins: She offers me the two fifths of her day's income for a lesson. Two fifths of a millionaire 's income for a day would be about sixty pounds. It 's enormous ! It 's the biggest offer I've ever had.
Liza : Sixty pounds! What are you talking about ? I didn't offer you sixty pounds .Where would i get -
Higgins : Be quiet.
Liza (crying): But I havent' got sixty pounds .Oh -
Higgins : Be quiet and sit down !
Liza : Ah-ah-ah-ow-oo ! Anyone would think you were my father.
Higgins : If I decide to teach you ,I 'll be worse than two fathers to you.
Pickering:Higgins,I'm interested.What about the ambassador's garden-party? I'll say you're the greatest teacher alive if you make her speak correctly. I'll bet you all the money you spend on the experiment that you can' t do it . And I'll pay for the lessons .
Liza: Oh , you 're really good. Thank you ,Captain.
Higgins : Very well .I'll make a duchess of this horrible creature.
Liza: Ah-ah-ah-ow-ow-oo !
Higgins: Yes : in six months- in three if she has got a good hear and a quick tongue- I'll be able to take her anywhere and make people believe she is a lady. We'll start now ! This moment ! Take her away and clean her ,Mrs Pearce.Take her clothes and burn them.
If she gives you any trouble ,hit her .
Liza : No ,I'll call the police.
Mrs Pearce:Where's she going to stay ? I don't know where to put her .
Higgins : Put her in a dustbin.
Liza: Ah-ah-ah-ow-ow-oo !
Professor Higgins won his bet with Pickering .Everybody thought Liza was a duchess but then Liza decided to leave Professor Higgins because she was in love with him and he was only interested in Liza as a subject for an experiment. So Liza went away and the question is : Will they ever meet again ?
adapted from Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Questions
Test : Right or wrong ?
- G.B Shaw was an eighteenth century playwright.
- A flower-girl is a girl who is as beautiful as a flower.
- The hero of Pygmalion is a psychology expert.
- One day Liza came to ask Professor Higgins to teach her French.
- Your income is the money you get from your job.
- Liza doesn't understand what Professor Higgins is talking about and thinks he is asking her to pay £60 for a lesson
- Liza's father must be very nice.
- Mr Pickering is nicer than Professor Higgins.
- Professor Higgins makes a bet that Liza will speak like a duchess in two years 'time.
- Professor Higgins did his best to help Liza because he was in love with her but unfortunately she wasn't in love with him.
Do you prefer Professor Higgins or Liza Doolitlle ? Why ?
I like Liza because she is nice / poor /generous / ambitious ...
I don't like Professor Higgins because he is hard on Liza / he thinks that money can buy everything / he treats Liza like an animal....
Do you think that the way you speak is important ? Give examples .
