Author(s)
Mahir Abdelhaleem Abdelmageed Mahir
Keywords
Pygmalion, Classism, George Bernard Shaw, Psychoanalytical Theory, Social Status
Abstract
The study aims at analyzing an examination of George Bernard Shaw in "Pygmalion" focusing on the theme of "Classism."" By applying Psychoanalytical Theory lens, the study investigates how the text reflects the socio-political and psychological climates of its era. Special attention is given to the symbolism of "Classism" and its contribution to the overall narrative structure. The analysis of the theme and the characters offers a fresh perspective on the work's relevance to modern literary discourse. In George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, classism is explored through the lens of linguistic performance, suggesting that social status in England is primarily a product of speech and appearance rather than inherent merit. Shaw uses the transformation of Eliza Doolittle to argue that "English is not accessible even to Englishmen" due to a lack of formal phonetic education, which creates rigid barriers between classes.
