Character Profile

Prepared by: learnloophq@gmail.com

Last edited 11 days ago by Learn LoopHQ.

Chapter: 09. A Comedy Of Manners

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Character Profiles

Higgins

Traits: A brilliant, but often rude and impatient phonetics professor. He is highly scientific in his approach to language, seeing accents as fascinating objects of study rather than markers of human worth. He is dismissive and arrogant, easily excited by intellectual challenges, and confident in his ability to transform Eliza. He can be insensitive to others’ feelings.

Relationships:

Eliza Doolittle: Her teacher and the subject of his “experiment.” He initially sees her as a scientific curiosity and a challenge, rather than a person.

Colonel Pickering: His friend and colleague, sharing an enthusiasm for language. Pickering acts as a foil to Higgins’s rudeness and a catalyst for the bet involving Eliza.

Alfred Doolittle: Views him as a “tiresome” nuisance to be quickly dismissed with money.

Mrs. Pearce: His housekeeper, whom he relies on to manage the practical aspects of Eliza’s care.

The Flower Girl / Eliza Doolittle

Traits: A poor, uneducated flower girl from the streets of London, speaking with a strong Cockney accent and poor grammar. She is ambitious, determined, and possesses a strong will, despite her initial vulnerability. She bravely seeks self-improvement and is eager to escape her circumstances. She transforms significantly in appearance after her bath and new clothes.

Relationships:

Higgins: Her potential and eventual teacher, whom she approaches for lessons. She is initially intimidated but also pushes back against his rudeness.

Colonel Pickering: Her kind supporter and advocate, who encourages Higgins to take her on and offers to pay for her lessons.

Alfred Doolittle: Her biological father, who had previously turned her out. She is surprised by his sudden appearance and attempts to exploit her situation.

Mrs. Pearce: Her caretaker in Higgins’s house, responsible for her physical cleaning and dressing.

Colonel Pickering

Traits: A polite, pleasant, and gentlemanly colonel who shares Higgins’s interest in phonetics. Unlike Higgins, he is kind-hearted and supportive, particularly towards Eliza. He acts as a moral compass and encourages Higgins to take on Eliza as a challenge.

Relationships:

Higgins: A close friend and colleague who shares a professional interest in language. He instigates the bet that drives the plot and observes the experiment with keen interest.

Eliza Doolittle: Her advocate and benefactor, seeing her potential and treating her with respect and kindness, offering to fund her lessons.

Alfred Doolittle: Attempts to reassure him of Higgins’s honorable intentions regarding Eliza.

Alfred Doolittle

Traits: Eliza’s father; an elderly, vigorous, and opportunistic dustman with a strong accent. He is cunning and manipulative, initially feigning concern for his daughter to extort money. He views his poverty as a strategic advantage and is surprisingly unconcerned about Eliza’s welfare once he receives money. He is awestruck by Eliza’s physical transformation.

Relationships:

Eliza Doolittle: Her estranged father, who had previously abandoned her. He attempts to exploit her new situation for personal gain.

Higgins: The target of his attempted extortion. He quickly departs once given money.

Colonel Pickering: He tries to appeal to Pickering’s sense of fairness regarding his “innocent lamb” daughter.

Mrs. Pearce

Traits: Higgins’s efficient, practical, and somewhat stern housekeeper. She is responsible and capable, carrying out Higgins’s instructions with precision. She also shows a caring, almost motherly, concern for Eliza’s welfare and proper conduct.

Relationships:

Higgins: Her employer, managing his household and carrying out his specific requests, particularly concerning Eliza’s initial care.

Eliza Doolittle: Her immediate caretaker in the house, responsible for her cleaning, new clothes, and ensuring her proper behavior.

Alfred Doolittle: Briefly encounters him at the door.

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