Unveiling the Veiled Women: Secondary Female Characters in Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17398/2660-7301.49.151Keywords:
Shaw, Pygmalion, Feminism, Gender roles, Secondary charactersAbstract
George Bernard Shaw was an early and vigorous exponent of gender equality. Scholarly studies focusing on Shaw’s literary characters reach contradictory results: some argue that the author created a new model of women—domineering, clever and sensible—while others claim that his progressive ideas on women are not evident in his literary works. Pygmalion has attracted academic attention in relation to Eliza, who has been largely examined from a feminist angle, but little or no research has been done regarding secondary characters. This article argues that Shaw’s feminism should be understood through a broader gender spectrum, focusing on how secondary characters embody or challenge social expectations of femininity. Considering how Miss and Mrs Eynsford Hill, Mrs Pearce, and Mrs Higgins reproduce or subvert social norms may demonstrate that Shaw’s feminism cannot be solely explained through Eliza. The role of Freddy will also be discussed as part of Shaw’s critique of dominant masculinity, contributing to a redefinition of the boundaries of gender equality.
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