Final answer:
George Bernard Shaw wrote plays to highlight social issues and make the middle class and its concerns more appealing, challenging societal norms and reflecting the societal shift happening at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Bernard Shaw's main purpose in writing plays was to make social issues seem more appealing, particularly those pertaining to the middle class. Shaw is known for his thought-provoking comedies that challenged societal norms. In 'Pygmalion', for instance, he explored the theme of social mobility within the class system by transforming a flower girl into a lady of society through changes in speech, thus revealing the superficial nature of societal classifications. Shaw's work was significant during a time when there was a shift in society, a decline of the noble class, and a rise of self-made men and the middle class who sought representation in cultural domains like theatre, where they could see their stories and aspirations reflected.