The mood of Pygmalion oscillates between humor and reflection, giving the audience time to engage with both the absurdity and the serious impact of societal conventions. Most of the play’s humor comes from dialogue between the characters, whose interactions reveal their own eccentricities and the complexity of their social standings. One good example of how mood is created comes in Act 3, after Eliza has undergone serious study of linguistics and upper class mannerisms. She is introduced at a dinner with the Eynsford Hills, and pretends to be someone that they have never met. Her entry into wealthy society isn’t without hiccup, and Higgins is forced to cover for her several times. When asked a simple question about the weather, Eliza responds with a comment that she thinks is appropriate. She says:
The shallow depression in the west of these islands is likely to move in an easterly direction. There are no indications of any great change in the barometrical situation.
Eliza is trying so hard to sound proper that she sounds ridiculous. Her attempt to assimilate into high society and pass as an upper class woman is reflected in her speech at this moment. This conversation, which is about weather—perhaps the most notably ordinary conversation topic—is a minefield for Eliza because of the extensive rules around how upper class people interact and speak to each other. Therefore, while her mistake initially creates humor and lightens the audience’s mood, it ultimately is an opportunity for further reflection on restrictive societal norms.
