Abstract
In contemporary English plays, linguistic violence contributes not only to the creation of a realistic spectacle, but also to the replacement of critical thinking by automatic patterns of thought and speech. Such pre-constructed thought and speech function to re-shape, redefine and transform individuals’ character and destroy their autonomy. In Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, linguistic violence is employed to promote conformity to social order. The play illustrates the transformation of Eliza, a common flower girl, as a result of the instruction in phonetics given to her Professor Higgins. At the beginning, her non-standard Cockney accent makes her an outcast of the system and she is subjected to verbal abuse by Prof. Higgins. As Eliza’s education in phonetics advances and her command of English increases, she is both empowered and alienated. Despite her success at the Embassy reception, Eliza remains a disclassed flower girl who will never be completely accepted in upper-middle class British society.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
