In George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, the theme of middle class morality is explored through the character of Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who is transformed into a sophisticated young woman through the guidance of Professor Henry Higgins. Through the course of the play, Eliza grapples with the expectations and values of the middle class, ultimately deciding to reject them in favor of her own sense of self-worth and independence.
One of the key ways in which middle class morality is portrayed in Pygmalion is through the character of Professor Higgins. As a member of the middle class, Higgins is deeply entrenched in the values and expectations of his social class, including a belief in social hierarchy and a disdain for those who do not meet the standards of propriety and refinement. This is evident in his treatment of Eliza, whom he initially sees as nothing more than a lower-class subject for his linguistic experiments.
Despite his lack of sensitivity and consideration for Eliza's feelings, Higgins ultimately plays a crucial role in Eliza's transformation into a middle-class woman. Through his tutelage, Eliza learns the manners and speech of the middle class, and is able to pass as a member of that social class at the ambassador's garden party.
However, this transformation is not without its costs. Eliza's journey towards respectability and refinement requires her to abandon many of the traits and characteristics that define her as a unique individual. She is forced to suppress her natural Cockney accent and mannerisms, and is taught to conform to the expectations of the middle class.
Despite her initial desire to fit in with the middle class, Eliza eventually realizes that she does not want to live her life according to the narrow and rigid expectations of that social class. She rejects Higgins' offer to continue living with him as his ward, choosing instead to forge her own path and make her own decisions about her future.
In this way, Pygmalion suggests that middle class morality is not necessarily a positive force, but rather a set of expectations and values that can be stifling and oppressive. Eliza's journey towards self-discovery and independence ultimately requires her to reject the middle class values that have been imposed upon her, and to find her own way in the world.