Accents and word choices contribute to the way people are judged. The belief is that we form opinions about individuals as soon as we meet them, and their manner of speaking greatly influences this categorization process.
Accents are often used to represent a person’s cultural background. A British accent is commonly associated with people from Britain, while individuals from the southern region of North America are typically linked to a Southern accent. Additionally, we tend to associate a person’s accent with their social status. Unfortunately, individuals who have a Southern accent or drawl may not always receive the same level of respect as those with, for example, a British accent.
Accent stereotypes influence the way people perceive individuals. A southern drawl is often associated with “Hillbillies,” thereby leading to a lack of respect for those with this type of accent. On the other hand, a British accent is perceived as intelligent and knowledgeable, thanks to the class associated with it. Accents carry connotations that are used to judge people. The British accent is perceived as cultured, with words enunciated precisely, indicating class. In contrast, a southern drawl often employs slang and lacks precise word clipping. Our judgments are influenced by identifying a person’s roots and categorizing them accordingly.
The class of an individual is often determined by their words or dialect. Using the example of a Southern drawl, the use of words like “y’all” and “Ain’t” is often seen as a sign of low intelligence. On the other hand, the British are known for their sophisticated language, correctly using words without their meanings evolving. An example is the word “mad,” which now commonly refers to anger, but in British English, it means crazy.
Dialect and accents are used to categorize and judge individuals. British accents are often perceived as more sophisticated than Southern accents. Response Questions (1)1) Eliza Doolittle – She is considered the protagonist and undergoes a significant character transformation.
At the start, Eliza is defensive and innocent. She wrongly assumes that Higgins is jotting down things to accuse her of a crime, causing her to become distressed and feel singled out. Whenever she feels targeted or wounded, she frequently utters “oo-we-ooo” in tears, a reaction she ceases following her transformation. Naively, she holds a belief that numerous individuals are attempting to oppose or harm her.
Despite her determination to uphold a strong work ethic and not prioritize money, she finds herself perplexed by Higgins’ offer to take care of her expenses and provide shelter. She is fearful of potential harm and takes heed of Higgins’ caution that she will face grave consequences if her fraudulent behavior is exposed. However, as time goes on, Eliza’s confidence grows and her fiery nature emerges. She no longer succumbs easily to tears or offense. Her self-assurance becomes evident in her conversations with Mrs.
Despite Higgins’s insults towards her accent and vocabulary, Higgins and her guests, she grows stronger. She becomes a more independent character as she throws Higgins’s shoe at him in an act of defiance when he neglects her, something she would have desired but never would have done prior to her transformation. As the play progresses, she becomes even more courageous, running away from Higgins and spending the night with Freddy.
Despite undergoing changes, Liza retains her innocent belief that her aunt was murdered for her hat. However, she becomes both braver and less defensive. Shaw classifies Liza as an intriguing and humorous character. While she amuses with her daily antics, she also impresses with her intelligence in quickly adapting her cockney accent. Additionally, her poverty does not diminish her bravery and tenacity. These qualities make her worthy of admiration.
2) Henry Higgins, a controversial protagonist in the novel, is an expert in teaching dialects and accents. He collaborates with Eliza in a wager where he aims to transform her into a duchess. Henry is highly self-assured, yet he is also resolute and indifferent. He firmly believes in his ability to mold people according to his desires through his expertise, as demonstrated by his bet with Pickering.
With unwavering determination, he firmly believes that he can transform a common flower girl into someone who appears royal – a duchess. Countless hours are dedicated to molding Eliza into his desired outcome. Despite his indifference towards others, harm is not intentionally caused; instead, the emotional impact of his actions goes unnoticed. This obliviousness is evident when he completely disregards Eliza after the party where she was declared royalty, failing to acknowledge or understand her feelings when she tries to express them.
Although Eliza expresses worry about her future after the bet ends, Higgins shows little concern. Shaw’s intention is for Higgins to be a multi-dimensional character who frustrates others with his indifference, but he also possesses charm due to his straightforwardness and strong opinions. Despite his imperfections, Higgins captivates the audience with his intelligence and dry wit, leading us to admire him. When Eliza enters Higgins’ home, stage directions guide how he should speak to Pickering.
The director requests that the actor assume a tall and straight posture, with slightly leaned back shoulders and a confident stride. The character should display an air of aloofness and seriousness, appearing unconcerned. Additionally, the character is depicted as wealthy, passionate about their job, exceedingly intelligent, and exhibiting a certain level of arrogance while also being somewhat oblivious.
When Eliza cries in front of you after revealing the story about her beheading, it is important not to pay attention to her genuine pain, but rather be slightly annoyed by her speaking. Move around with confidence. When you indulge in some chocolate, I want you to examine it as if you were inspecting it before casually throwing it into your mouth. When you feed Eliza, I’ve already instructed her to appear somewhat afraid. I want you to grasp her face as if she is insignificant to you and place the chocolate into her mouth.
Don’t be malicious or intentionally hurtful towards Eliza. While you may not care about her, it’s important to note that you hold no ill will towards her. Eliza is just one of many people mentioned in your notes and holds no significant meaning. She is described as a girl who sells flowers and has a less appealing appearance, but it’s her weak personality that truly disappoints you.
As you walk around the room, keep your hands casually in your pockets and maintain a frank expression. The actor playing Higgins states that although they may come across as mean, it is not intentional. They describe themselves as humorous, with a light gait and an ego that does not define them. The director advises the actor to be confident but remain relaxed.
Higgins’s character is aloof, confident, and snarky, but not uptight. Good luck.” I chose to portray Higgins’s character because I noticed that he is often misunderstood. I don’t believe, as depicted above, that Higgins has any malicious intent or desires to harm anyone. I simply think he lacks an understanding of other people’s emotions, unlike most individuals.
In my opinion, he lacks concern for weak individuals, but I do believe he possesses kindness as he eventually shows care for Eliza as a friend. His intention is not to be cruel; rather, he is oblivious to his own meanness because he perceives himself as simply honest. Throughout the play, he displays confidence numerous times. For instance, he asserts that Eliza’s ability to become a duchess was solely due to his talent, not her determination. Nevertheless, despite his ego, he acknowledges that Eliza was an excellent student with a keen ear, enabling her to learn to speak like a duchess.
