Answer:
Certainly, Eliza Doolittle's transformation in George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion" is a central theme. While her speech and appearance change significantly, her self-respect remains a core part of her character.
Here are some quotes and explanations to demonstrate this change:
1. **Early in the Play:**
- Eliza: "I ain't pretending to be deserving no one, no, not me. What I done was nobody's fault but mine!"
- Explanation: At the beginning, Eliza acknowledges her place in society and takes responsibility for her actions. She is straightforward but lacks refinement.
2. **After Speech Training:**
- Eliza: "The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated."
- Explanation: After undergoing speech training with Professor Higgins, Eliza recognizes the importance of how one is treated in society. She understands the power of language and its impact on people's perceptions.
3. **End of the Play:**
- Eliza: "I am a common ignorant girl, and in my station I have to be respectable."
- Explanation: At the end of the play, Eliza's speech and manners have improved significantly, but she still values her self-respect and integrity. She recognizes her worth and demands to be treated as such.
Throughout the play, Eliza's transformation is evident in her ability to adapt to different social settings and her improved speech and appearance. However, her underlying self-respect and dignity remain intact. She doesn't allow her transformation to compromise her core values. This demonstrates that while she has changed externally, her self-respect hasn't wavered.
Step-by-step explanation: