(TUI) Thematic Unit: Influences - Pygmalion: Act V Lesson

The next day, Higgins and Pickering return to Mrs. Higgins's. Sometime the night before, Eliza left the house. They want her to return, because they had both begun to enjoy her companionship. They enjoyed having her around. Mrs. Higgins explains how rudely Henry was to her, making her fetch things etc., and never treating her with any respect. Higgins appears surprised that he could ever harm her, but Pickering understands. Then Mr. Doolittle arrives, forwarded by Mrs. Pearce to Mrs. Higgins's. He is dressed as a regular gentleman and is there to get his daughter to tell her he's being married. He is not happy with his new-found wealth. Apparently some months back, Higgins sarcastically mentioned in a letter to an American millionaire and idealist that Mr. Doolittle was the most moral man in Britain, and through some bizarre circumstances, Mr. Doolittle was left with a large inheritance by the man. He is so unhappy about his wealth because now everyone begs him for money , which is what he used to do to everyone. The conversation returns to Eliza, and Mrs. Higgins reveals that Eliza is upstairs, because she didn't have anywhere else to go. Eliza comes down and is surprised by her father's new appearance. He is relieved that she does not want to become his dependent again. He's happy to have her and rest of the family come to the wedding. Higgins declines because he is still angry, and everyone else disperses to get ready. Eliza and Higgins find themselves alone and reluctantly begin to talk about Eliza's future. She leaves Higgins alone in the sitting room to attend her father's wedding, giving no clear decision about her future.

Please read Act V and the Sequel of the play. Text and audio links are provided below. You may listen to the play as you read.

Pygmalion Act V Text Link Links to an external site.

Pygmalion Act V Audio Link

Pygmalion Sequel Text Link Links to an external site.

Pygmalion Sequel Audio Link

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