A Study of Feminism in Pygmalion and Major Barbara

The ۱۸۹۰s was the advent of a novel type of woman named the New Woman. Struggling to change the patriarchal beliefs of the society, these are mostly middle-class women who rely on themselves and are trying to make a living and find their own path in life. Bernard Shaw had a specific type of female in all of his plays, from the play Mrs. Warren’s Profession onward that is called a female Bernard Shaw, mostly taken from the women he know including his mother and some of Ibsen’s women. Three of his feminine figures from two of his most prominent plays are selected in this paper. We will witness how each of them has special feminist characteristics. Eliza is a girl of the middle class, making a living by selling flowers. Lady Britomart, a middle-aged woman of the higher social class, trying to change the rules, the society has set for women including divorce and women’s property ownership. Major Barbara, daughter of Lady Britomart who is trying to save the world with her army. They all have multi-dimensional characters and inconsistent feminist features studied in this paper.

Keywords:

George Bernard Shaw , Pygmalion , Major Barbara , Feminism , Eliza Doolittle , Lady Britomart , Major Barbara.