Much is made of "middle class morality" in Pygmalion. To what extent is this phrase an oxymoron? What is Shaw suggesting about the rules and traditions of his class?
In the play, the idea of middle class morality is discussed several times to show Shaw’s beliefs towards society. The idea of this morality is that people who are part of the middle class must have proper manners and be charitable to the poor. It pertains to the middle class because they have enough money to give back to the poor while the lower class is too poor to give anything to anyone. On the other hand, the upper class is snobby and looks down on the middle class because they are below them. However, the upper class is expected to have the same manners as the lower class, although most of them do not necessarily follow this moral rule.
In the play, the idea of middle class morality is discussed several times to show Shaw’s beliefs towards society. The idea of this morality is that people who are part of the middle class must have proper manners and be charitable to the poor. It pertains to the middle class because they have enough money to give back to the poor while the lower class is too poor to give anything to anyone. On the other hand, the upper class is snobby and looks down on the middle class because they are below them. However, the upper class is expected to have the same manners as the lower class, although most of them do not necessarily follow this moral rule.
The idea of this morality is an oxymoron due to the fact that it hypocritical. Morals are supposed to be of goodwill and being. Instead, Shaw is labeling middle class morality as something that people in that class should all have. But, despite the action of giving to the poor, the middle class is only doing it out of the stereotype. Thus, by looking at it as a duty, they are ignoring the fact that it is supposed to be a moral action. In addition, it is ironic because the middle class always gets the burden. Due to the fact that the lower class is too poor, they lack the morals that the other classes are supposed to have. Since they have nothing, they are not ashamed to ask others for money or steal from them. On the other hand, the people in upper class have the most money but look down on the middle class. They believe that the middle class has no morals, for example, the Eynsford-Hills. In reality, the middle class has the most morals because they stick to their stereotype. Even though they do not have as much money as the upper class, they still do their duty, although it is hypocritical. Thus, Shaw is hinting that even though there are differences, the middle class is the better one out of all the classes.
Furthermore, in regards to morals, I personally think that the lower class has more morals than any of the other classes. Due to the fact that the middle class have to be nice as part of their image, they are missing the entire point of having manners and being charitable. On the other hand, some of the lower class people, such as Eliza Doolittle, have more manners internally than any other middle or upper class person. In Act I, she says that she had the right to be under the same roof as any other person. Even though she is poor, she knows that equality is meant for everyone. She treats everyone equally and with respect and does not look down on anyone. Meanwhile, the upper class thinks that they are better than everyone else and lack the proper manners in treating others with kindness. For example, Higgins treats Eliza like she is trash. Even after her transformation, Higgins continued to act as if Eliza was worth nothing but a slipper. He never respected her as a lady and kept thinking that she was the same girl as before.
Furthermore, in regards to morals, I personally think that the lower class has more morals than any of the other classes. Due to the fact that the middle class have to be nice as part of their image, they are missing the entire point of having manners and being charitable. On the other hand, some of the lower class people, such as Eliza Doolittle, have more manners internally than any other middle or upper class person. In Act I, she says that she had the right to be under the same roof as any other person. Even though she is poor, she knows that equality is meant for everyone. She treats everyone equally and with respect and does not look down on anyone. Meanwhile, the upper class thinks that they are better than everyone else and lack the proper manners in treating others with kindness. For example, Higgins treats Eliza like she is trash. Even after her transformation, Higgins continued to act as if Eliza was worth nothing but a slipper. He never respected her as a lady and kept thinking that she was the same girl as before.