This essay critically analyses 'My Fair Lady' in terms of power, class and gender relations, all of which were predominant features in the Victorian period, and other attitudes of this time. I will be considering the ways in which material culture is used to reinforce, undermine and negotiate these relations.

Issues that will be discussed in the essay with regards to 'My Fair Lady' are: the class differences during the Victorian period, the power differences between the classes and genders, ie. the power Henry Higgins had over Eliza Doolittle, the gender relations between Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins and the gender relations between Eliza Doolittle and Colonel Pickering.

Eight times Oscar winning movie 'My Fair Lady' (w

Women were second class citizens in the early Victorian period and sometimes are these days too. They weren't paid the same as men, they didn't have voting rights and they couldn't do the same jobs as men. Women were ruled by men and they didn't have a voice until Queen Victorian succeeded the thrown.

The musical was based on class differences and how a person can change class by the way they dress, act and speak. Eliza did this, but she was worthless afterwards. She had no skills except how to sell flowers on the street. This wasn't a respectable job for a lady of which she was now.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Fair Lady', Higgins Pickering, Colonel Pickering, Henry Higgins, Queen Victorian, Embassy Ball, Gender Victorian, Crystal Palace, Housekeeper Eliza, House Lords, upper class, victorian period, henry higgins, 'my fair lady', fair lady', material culture, 'my fair, perkin 1993, colonel pickering, eliza doolittle, lower classes, perkin 1993 31, fan canary cage, power class gender, eliza lower class,
Approximate Word count = 2119
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)