Character Traits of Professor Higgins from Pygmalion

Two Character Traits Of Henry Higgins

George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion's main character, Henry Higgins is a person of his own class. The two traits that really make him who he is are his rudeness towards every social class, and his hypocritical beliefs of everyone. These traits have made him a confirmed bachelor, as well as making his social habits very unique.

"And I treat a duchess as if she was a flower girl" basically sums up Higgins' treatment of people. His rudeness has estranged him from other society, but it has enabled him to work with beautiful women and never once be distracted by their beauty, and thinks of them only as objects that he makes perfect. Because of Higgins' unique rude nature, he is not seen as the gentleman that he claims to be, and believes that all people are but scum under his feet, and there to serve and please him. At times Professor Higgins just gets caught up in his work, and begins to lose his manners and posture, making him become one of the rudest men around, poor or rich.

Professor Henry Higgins' believes that he is God's gift to the world, and that he is perfect in every way, and believes that everyone else is scum, although he is far from perfect:

Of course. I'm always particular about what I say. Why do you say this to me?

No, sir: Youre not at all particular when you've mislaid anything or when you get a little impatient. Now it doesn't matter before me: I'm used to it. But you really must not swear before the girl.

I swear! I never swear. I detest the habit. What the devil do you mean?

That's what I mean, Sir. You swear a great deal too much. I don't mind your damning or blasting, and what the devil and where the devil and who the devil-

Mrs. Pearce: This language from your lips! Really!

Higgins may be one of the most hypocritical fictional characters in literature, using foul language in sentences stating how he detests the use of foul language. And then later he makes excuses for it saying that it only happens when he is excited...like when eating breakfast, or reading: "Only this morning, sir, you applied it (bloody) to your boots, to the butter, and to the brown bread". And this is yet another reasons that Professor Higgins is a confirmed

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