Pygmalion, Act 1 summary
Act 1 of 5 · 15 min to read the act
In Act 1, a flower seller fears that a stranger recording her speech is a police informer, but he reveals himself as Henry Higgins, a specialist in phonetics. Higgins meets Colonel Pickering, claims he can transform the girl's social presentation through speech lessons, and gives her enough money to take a taxi.
What happens
- Freddy searches for a cab and knocks a flower seller's basket down; his mother pays her for the damaged flowers.
- A bystander warns the girl about a man recording her words, and she fears a police accusation threatens her reputation.
- The note taker identifies people's origins through their accents, winning the crowd's attention despite objections to his interference.
- After the rain stops, Clara and her mother leave, while the speech expert claims he can make the girl sound aristocratic.
- The two gentlemen identify themselves as Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering and agree to have supper together.
- Higgins throws money into the girl's basket; she takes the cab Freddy finally brings back.
Free for 3 months
Get the full summary of Pygmalion, free
- 200,000+ classics as eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and print and large print at cost
- Up to 5 readers in your home on one plan
Empieza 90 días gratisNothing to pay today. 0,14 USD a day in the first year, then 0,27 USD a day.
In this act
Quick check
Why does the flower girl initially fear the note taker?
Free for 3 months
Get the full summary of Pygmalion, free
- 200,000+ classics as eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and print and large print at cost
- Up to 5 readers in your home on one plan
Empieza 90 días gratisNothing to pay today. 0,14 USD a day in the first year, then 0,27 USD a day.
200,000+ classics to read, hear and hold
15-minute summaries today, eBooks and audiobooks as each book opens, and printed books, large print included, at cost.
Try 3 months free
