Bernard Shaw uses Eliza Doolittle to highlight the challenges faced by women in early 20th century society, focusing on marginalization and limited opportunities. Eliza's transformation from a 'guttersnipe' to a self-possessed lady demonstrates her surpassing societal expectations, especially those imposed by the male-dominated society, embodied by characters like Henry Higgins and her father, Mr. Doolittle. Despite societal norms expecting women to be subordinate, Eliza defies these constraints by making her own choices, such as marrying another aristocrat, emphasizing her agency and challenging traditional gender roles .

Shaw uses Higgins and Mr. Doolittle to exemplify societal norms of masculinity, portraying them as controlling and self-serving. Despite contrasting backgrounds, both men manipulate Eliza for their own interests: Higgins for his bet, and Doolittle for financial gain. This portrayal reflects the egocentric masculine perspective of the time, showcasing how these characters perpetuate societal norms through their treatment of women. Shaw critiques these norms by exposing how such behavior is normalized in a patriarchal society, thus questioning the moral underpinnings of masculinity .

Shaw contrasts characters like Henry Higgins and Alfred Doolittle with Eliza Doolittle to highlight societal gender roles. Both Higgins and Eliza's father exhibit typical male dominance, using Eliza to satisfy their goals—Higgins for his phonetic experiment and Doolittle for monetary gain. Female characters face challenges stemming from societal marginalization and expectations. The play critiques how men traditionally benefit at women's expense, contrasting with Eliza's journey toward self-determination, subtly critiquing accepted gender roles and advocating for female agency and independence .

Social class plays a crucial role in shaping relationships in 'Pygmalion', highlighting power dynamics and social expectations. The relationships between Eliza and characters like Higgins and Pickering are marked by class-based authority and condescension. Eliza's quest for self-improvement through speech reflects her struggle for better social status. Class disparity creates tension, with Higgins' superiority complex evident in his treatment of Eliza, while Pickering's gentlemanly demeanor contrasts this. Shaw uses these interactions to comment on the rigid and often oppressive nature of class distinctions, and how they influence personal relationships .

Shaw's portrayal of social class mobility in 'Pygmalion' is both critical and insightful, illustrating that while superficial semblance of class can be achieved through changes in speech and dress, genuine mobility involves deeper societal acceptance, which remains elusive. Eliza's linguistic transformation grants her temporary entry into higher society, but her intrinsic self and social acceptance remain complexly tied to her original class status. Shaw critiques the class system's superficiality, showing the hollow gap between outward appearances and true class integration .

'Pygmalion' revolves around themes of identity and transformation, particularly focusing on how external factors like language and appearance affect perceived identity. The play questions the permanence and authenticity of these changes, as seen in Eliza's metamorphosis from a flower girl to a lady. It explores whether true transformation involves internal change or if it's merely a façade. Shaw deals with social constructs of identity and challenges whether one's true self can be shifted by altering external perceptions, thus critiquing social mobility as more complex than superficial change .

Eliza Doolittle's transformation underscores the temporary and mutable nature of identity, as her outward change from a flower girl to a lady challenges the notion that appearance is an accurate reflection of inner identity. This transformation illustrates that social perceptions of identity are often based on superficial attributes like speech and dress, which can be altered, suggesting identity is not fixed. The play raises questions about whether Eliza's core identity changes, reflecting on the societal pressure to conform to higher social classes through changes in appearance .

Eliza's decision to marry another man signifies her assertion of independence and agency, challenging societal norms that expect her to remain in a subordinate relationship with Higgins. By choosing her partner freely, Eliza defies the patriarchal expectation of female dependency on male approval, instead choosing what she perceives as personal freedom and fulfillment. This decision illustrates Shaw's feminist themes, suggesting a woman's right to make her own life choices, irrespective of societal expectations .

In 'Pygmalion', speech patterns are a key marker of social class and, by extension, identity. Higgins' experiment with Eliza indicates that language can alter perceptions of one's social identity. The transformation in Eliza's accent serves to prove how societal structures are deeply intertwined with linguistic capabilities, suggesting that identity can be manipulated superficially through speech. This also highlights the superficiality of social class distinctions, critiquing the rigidity of class-based identity by showing that it could be altered through linguistic education .

'Pygmalion' explores identity stability through Eliza's character by questioning whether her superficial transformation into a lady affects her intrinsic identity. While her speech and manners signal a shift to higher social echelons, the play questions if these changes are indicative of genuine personal transformation. Higgins' doubts about Eliza returning to her old ways highlight the tension between temporary change and stable identity, suggesting that external alterations are inadequate to permanently change one's core self. This challenges the audience to consider whether identity can truly change irreversibly .