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i-drama: Social class and Status in George Bernard Shaw¡¯s Pygmalion

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Berliana Ayu

This document analyzes the themes of social class and status in George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. It discusses how the characters' social classes are depicted through their speech, dress, occupations, and education backgrounds. It also examines how social status is determined by one's position in the social structure and class. The analysis concludes that the play illustrates how social class and status divide society and were important themes that Shaw wanted to address.

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SOCIAL CLASS AND STATUS IN GEORGE BERNARD SHAW¡¯S PYGMALION BY BERLIANA AYU
ABSTRACT In this paper, the writer wants to analyze Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the themes of the play which are Society class and Status in Pygmalion. The method used for this paper is close reading method. Society class and Status theories are used in this paper to find out the relation between the themes in this drama. To sum up, the two themes take an important role that reflect the message in the play that Shaw wants to tell. Keywords: Society, class, Pygmalion, theme, intrinsic
1. Introduction The writer chooses to analyze Pygmalion because it is a unique play and in the first act it uses uncommon way of showing characters since it doesn¡¯t use the real name of the characters. It shows the act of different social classes and how their attitude towards life. 2. Theory and Methodology A. Social Class The class theory of Marx is based on the idea that all forms of society from the past until now are disputes between classes. The Meaning of Social Class According to Lennin is considered a social class in a society order determined by a certain position in the production process Max Weber Defines that social class makes distinctions between economic and social foundations, but still uses social terms for all layers. The social class of the economy is subdivided into subclasses divided according to the economic proficiency.
B. Status Social status consists of the social environment of obligations and achievements. One can have some social position in society because of participating in various patterns of life at once. Social status is a collection of rights and obligations that a person has in his community (according to Ralph Linton). People who have high social status will be placed higher in the structure of society compared with people with low social status.
Biography and Synopsis Biography of Author George Bernard Shaw was born July 26, 1856, in Dublin, Ireland. In 1876 he moved to London, where he wrote regularly but struggled financially. In 1895, he became a theater critic for the Saturday Review and began writing plays of his own. His play Pygmalion was later made into a film twice, and the screenplay he wrote for the first version of it won an Oscar. Shaw died in 1950 at age 94 while working on yet another play. Synopsis of the Play Pygmalion is a play about a language professor named Higgins who bumped into a flower girl in a station who speaks weird accent of English. The flower girl, Eliza scared of Higgins and accused him of being a detective that makes a scene at the station, but there¡¯s a gentleman named Pickering who tries to calm down the two. Turns out that Higgins is looking for Pickering and they become friends. The next morning, Eliza comes to Higgins¡¯ place and demands to be taught by him. Pickering confronts Higgins and they ends up make a bet for Eliza as an experiment.
DISCUSSION A. Social Class Social Class in this play can be seen from the beginning of the play or act 1. Every social class is put together in act 1. This act focuses on how all these people dress and how they act also how they speak that show their social class in society. The Bystander: ¡°He ain¡¯t a tec. He¡¯s a blooming busybody: that¡¯s what he is. I tell you, look at his boots.¡± Act 1 The Flower Girl: ¡° Ow, eez ye-ooa san, is e? Wal, fewd dan y¡¯ dee-ooty bawnz a mather should, eed now bettern to spawl a pore gel¡¯s flahrzn than ran awy athatht pyin. Will ye-oo py me f¡¯them?¡± Act 1 As Weber said, that social class can be divided by the economic situations, it is clear that in the play the characters¡¯ appearances and occupations also education backgrounds can be determine their social class based on those things mentioned above.
B. Social Status Pygmalion divides the social status of the characters. Higgins as a high class person has a high status on society because society believes he has bigger role in the structure of social class. It can be seen when one of the bystander in Act 1, after Higgins shows his ability as language professor, says that he knows everything. Means the bystander acknowledges his status in society since he¡¯s from high class society. ¡°The sarcastic one (amazed). ¡°Well, who said I didn't? Blimey, you know everything, you do.¡± (Act 1).
CONCLUSION In the play, the relation between social class and social status is clearly explained. It shows how divided the society is since it is determined by how you look, how your dress, and what your job. And the higher your class is the higher status you¡¯ll earn in society. Just like Higgins who comes from High class family has a big role and status in society while the flower girl Eliza is the opposite. She doesn¡¯t really have anything which very contrast with Higgins¡¯ condition. Social status and class make human become divided and that¡¯s the issue Shaw wants to deliver.
REFERENCES ? Biography.com. George Bernard Shaw. Accessed on 29th May, 2017, From Biography.com: https://www.biography.com/people/george-bernard-shaw- 9480925 ? Kompasiana.com. Pemikiran Karl Marx Tentang Teori Kelas. Accessed on 29th May, 2017, From Kompasiana.com: http://www.kompasiana.com/jaluradid.blogspot.com/pemi kiran-karl-marx-tentang-teori- kelas_552e1ab26ea83490398b4642 ? Dosen Pendidikan.com. Pengertian Status Beserta Peran Dan Kelas Sosial Menurut Para Ahli. Accessed on 29th May, 2017, From Dosen Pendidikan.com: http://www.dosenpendidikan.com/pengertian-status- beserta-peran-dan-kelas-sosial-menurut-para-ahli/

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i-drama: Social class and Status in George Bernard Shaw¡¯s Pygmalion

  • 1. SOCIAL CLASS AND STATUS IN GEORGE BERNARD SHAW¡¯S PYGMALION BY BERLIANA AYU
  • 2. ABSTRACT In this paper, the writer wants to analyze Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the themes of the play which are Society class and Status in Pygmalion. The method used for this paper is close reading method. Society class and Status theories are used in this paper to find out the relation between the themes in this drama. To sum up, the two themes take an important role that reflect the message in the play that Shaw wants to tell. Keywords: Society, class, Pygmalion, theme, intrinsic
  • 3. 1. Introduction The writer chooses to analyze Pygmalion because it is a unique play and in the first act it uses uncommon way of showing characters since it doesn¡¯t use the real name of the characters. It shows the act of different social classes and how their attitude towards life. 2. Theory and Methodology A. Social Class The class theory of Marx is based on the idea that all forms of society from the past until now are disputes between classes. The Meaning of Social Class According to Lennin is considered a social class in a society order determined by a certain position in the production process Max Weber Defines that social class makes distinctions between economic and social foundations, but still uses social terms for all layers. The social class of the economy is subdivided into subclasses divided according to the economic proficiency.
  • 4. B. Status Social status consists of the social environment of obligations and achievements. One can have some social position in society because of participating in various patterns of life at once. Social status is a collection of rights and obligations that a person has in his community (according to Ralph Linton). People who have high social status will be placed higher in the structure of society compared with people with low social status.
  • 5. Biography and Synopsis Biography of Author George Bernard Shaw was born July 26, 1856, in Dublin, Ireland. In 1876 he moved to London, where he wrote regularly but struggled financially. In 1895, he became a theater critic for the Saturday Review and began writing plays of his own. His play Pygmalion was later made into a film twice, and the screenplay he wrote for the first version of it won an Oscar. Shaw died in 1950 at age 94 while working on yet another play. Synopsis of the Play Pygmalion is a play about a language professor named Higgins who bumped into a flower girl in a station who speaks weird accent of English. The flower girl, Eliza scared of Higgins and accused him of being a detective that makes a scene at the station, but there¡¯s a gentleman named Pickering who tries to calm down the two. Turns out that Higgins is looking for Pickering and they become friends. The next morning, Eliza comes to Higgins¡¯ place and demands to be taught by him. Pickering confronts Higgins and they ends up make a bet for Eliza as an experiment.
  • 6. DISCUSSION A. Social Class Social Class in this play can be seen from the beginning of the play or act 1. Every social class is put together in act 1. This act focuses on how all these people dress and how they act also how they speak that show their social class in society. The Bystander: ¡°He ain¡¯t a tec. He¡¯s a blooming busybody: that¡¯s what he is. I tell you, look at his boots.¡± Act 1 The Flower Girl: ¡° Ow, eez ye-ooa san, is e? Wal, fewd dan y¡¯ dee-ooty bawnz a mather should, eed now bettern to spawl a pore gel¡¯s flahrzn than ran awy athatht pyin. Will ye-oo py me f¡¯them?¡± Act 1 As Weber said, that social class can be divided by the economic situations, it is clear that in the play the characters¡¯ appearances and occupations also education backgrounds can be determine their social class based on those things mentioned above.
  • 7. B. Social Status Pygmalion divides the social status of the characters. Higgins as a high class person has a high status on society because society believes he has bigger role in the structure of social class. It can be seen when one of the bystander in Act 1, after Higgins shows his ability as language professor, says that he knows everything. Means the bystander acknowledges his status in society since he¡¯s from high class society. ¡°The sarcastic one (amazed). ¡°Well, who said I didn't? Blimey, you know everything, you do.¡± (Act 1).
  • 8. CONCLUSION In the play, the relation between social class and social status is clearly explained. It shows how divided the society is since it is determined by how you look, how your dress, and what your job. And the higher your class is the higher status you¡¯ll earn in society. Just like Higgins who comes from High class family has a big role and status in society while the flower girl Eliza is the opposite. She doesn¡¯t really have anything which very contrast with Higgins¡¯ condition. Social status and class make human become divided and that¡¯s the issue Shaw wants to deliver.
  • 9. REFERENCES ? Biography.com. George Bernard Shaw. Accessed on 29th May, 2017, From Biography.com: https://www.biography.com/people/george-bernard-shaw- 9480925 ? Kompasiana.com. Pemikiran Karl Marx Tentang Teori Kelas. Accessed on 29th May, 2017, From Kompasiana.com: http://www.kompasiana.com/jaluradid.blogspot.com/pemi kiran-karl-marx-tentang-teori- kelas_552e1ab26ea83490398b4642 ? Dosen Pendidikan.com. Pengertian Status Beserta Peran Dan Kelas Sosial Menurut Para Ahli. Accessed on 29th May, 2017, From Dosen Pendidikan.com: http://www.dosenpendidikan.com/pengertian-status- beserta-peran-dan-kelas-sosial-menurut-para-ahli/