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Pretty Woman

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Social values of a particular time period are often reflected by the texts that are produced in that time. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw explores the superficiality of social constructs as well as the objectification of women through its central female protagonist Eliza Doolittle, who is initially a flower girl who desperately needs money but eventually takes control of her own future and upbringing despite the societal constraints. Pretty Woman directed by Garry Marshall explores the same values through Vivian, the main female protagonist who overcomes the barriers of the superficial society to form a meaningful relationship with Edward; however it explores the values from a consumerist and contemporary perspective of the 20th century. …show more content…

As a prostitute, Vivian had more freedom of choice in her speech and behaviour. This is highlighted through Vivian’s behaviour on the first night that Edward brought her into the hotel where she purposely acts in a very derogatory way to make fun of a high classed people. After her transformation into a high class citizen, her behaviour is more restricted. This is reflected in the dinner scene with Morris and his grandson. The establishing shot of the scene depicts a high class setting, with Vivian well integrated into it. The fact that she is only able to integrate well in the setting of restaurant because of her formal cocktail dress reflects the prevalent trait of materialism in society at that time. However, it is later evident that Vivian is unaccustomed to this setting through the close up shot of her struggling to eat the escargot. This is accompanied by the fast mid shot jump cuts to Vivian throughout the dinner scene, where she does not participate in the conversation but rather struggles to conform to the social etiquette of a high classed citizen during dinner. The awkwardness of her actions, due to her naivety towards the social etiquette further emphasises her disintegration within the situation, raising the idea that the higher classes are not at all dependent on character, but rather appearance and wealth, similar to the disintegration …show more content…

One of the social values that are explored through this way is the objectification of women. In Pygmalion, this is expressed through Higgin’s treatment of Eliza even from the beginning of the play where he as a ‘squashed cabbage leaf’, a ‘disgrace to the noble architecture of these columns’, an ‘incarnate to the English language’. The objectification of Eliza is further emphasised through Mrs Higgins criticism of Higgins and Pickering in Act Three, where she says “You certainly are a pretty pair of babies, playing with your live dolls”. By likening Eliza to a ‘live doll’, it disempowers her to a play object, rather than an actual person. Shaw uses irony to criticise this value through the independence and strong personality of Eliza at the end of the play where she decides to leave Higgins to open her own flower shop and marry Freddy. Through this, Shaw strongly raises the idea that women are indeed more than objects and can be independent and strong willed, hinting at the changing societal values of the 20th

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