Question

Which character believes that people can change their social class through language?

• A. Eliza Doolittle
• B. Henry Higgins
• C. Colonel Pickering
• D. Alfred Doolittle

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Henry Higgins

• Henry Higgins is a phonetics professor who believes that people can change their social class by altering how they speak.

• His core belief is that with the right education in pronunciation and speech patterns, anyone, regardless of their background or social class, can acquire a more "refined" accent and manner of speaking, thereby changing how they are perceived in society.

• This is the central theme of Pygmalion, as Higgins takes on the challenge of transforming Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower girl with a strong Cockney accent, into a "proper lady" who can pass as a member of high society based on her speech alone.