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Studies in Modern British and American Drama 1

Studies in Modern British and American Drama 1. Week 7. Revision of Pygmalion , Act IV. Last week we studied Act IV. Can you remember who the characters were in it, and what happened?. Revision of Pygmalion , Act IV.

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Studies in Modern British and American Drama 1

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  1. Studies in Modern British and American Drama 1 Week 7

  2. Revision of Pygmalion, Act IV Last week we studied Act IV. Can you remember who the characters were in it, and what happened?

  3. Revision of Pygmalion, Act IV Midnight at Higgins’s Wimpole Street laboratory, several months later. Eliza enters the room first “in opera cloak, brilliant evening dress, and diamonds”. She is upset. Higgins and Pickering follow; both men are in good spirits. As the two men chat amiably about the evening’s activities, it emerges that Eliza has achieved a notable success: “The garden party, a dinner party, and the opera!” Pickering excitedly recounts, adding that, “Youve won your bet, Higgins.” The latter responds with relief (“Thank God it’s over!”), at which “Eliza flinches violently”. Announcing that, “The whole thing has been a bore”, Higgins rises to retire saying, “Now I can go to bed at last without dreading tomorrow”.

  4. Revision of Pygmalion, Act IV This last remark produces a “murderous” expression on Eliza’s face, but the men remain oblivious to her mood. Pickering then retires for the evening. Higgins follows, but pauses to advise Eliza that he requires tea rather than coffee in the morning from Mrs Pearce. Now alone in the room, Eliza struggles to retain her composure before throwing “herself furiously on the floor, raging”. Higgins suddenly returns, looking for his slippers. Eliza violently throws them at him. Shocked by this outburst, Higgins asks her if anything is bothering her. “Ive won your bet for you, havnt I?” Eliza replies. “Thats enough for you. I dont matter, I suppose.”

  5. Revision of Pygmalion, Act IV Calling her a “presumptuous insect”, Higgins informs Eliza that it was he who won the bet and not her. Eliza cries out in despair: “Whats to become of me?” “How the devil do I know whats to become of you?” Higgins replies. He reassures her that she has “nothing more to worry about”. He suggests that she find a husband, observing that, “all men are not confirmed old bachelors like me and the Colonel”. When he mentions the possibility of his mother finding Eliza a husband, Eliza responds: “We were above that at the corner of Tottenham Court Road.”

  6. Revision of Pygmalion, Act IV Eliza then asks whether her clothes belong to herself or to Colonel Pickering. This makes Higgins furious. Eliza then takes off a ring that Higgins had purchased for her in Brighton. Seizing this object, Higgins angrily tosses it into the fireplace, almost striking Eliza in his rage. He storms away, but after he is gone Eliza looks for the ring in the fireplace. She finds it, and then throws it on the dessert stand. In the optional scene that follows, she leaves Wimpole Street, and meets Freddy on the street. They kiss and run away together.

  7. Act V: Questions for Discussion 1/Mrs Higgins tells off her son for his behavior toward Eliza. What does she say? 2/ What has happened to Alfred Doolittle? Is he happy in his new situation? Why or why not? 3/ What happens during the long conversation between Higgins and Eliza? What does Higgins admit about his feelings for Eliza? 4/ How do you interpret the ending of the play? Will they marry, or will Eliza choose an independent life (with or without Freddy)?

  8. Presentations on Pygmalion Would you like to choose your Presentation Day? Remember that you can choose any one of the following days: 28 April 12 May 19 May 26 May 2 June

  9. We will be studying Tennessee William’s A Streetcar Named Desire from April 28 A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) Marlon Brando & Vivian Leigh

  10. Please make sure you buy the edition with the cover on the right! It’s available from yes24.com and other online sellers.

  11. Before Next Time (28 April) Please start working on your mid-term assignment (due 5 May) Please read Scene 1 of A Streetcar Named Desire

  12. See youin two weeks! Have a good week!

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