Henry Higgins is an arrogant, irascible and voluble phonetics professor who makes a living by teaching rich people to speak proper English. He believes that a person's accent will determine his or her social position. Hence, he holds Englishman who speaks bad English in contempt. He is habitually rude (he curses a lot) and would unreservedly criticize his mother's guests for their English, which makes Mrs. Higgins very uncomfortable. However, he believes that everyone has the ability to speak good English, as he says "Remember that you are a human being with a soul and the divine gift of articulate speech: that your native language is the language of Shakespear and Milton and the Bible".
He does not believe in any relationship, as he think that women and men are so different in every aspect that it will upset his life if ever he gets into relationship with a woman, as he says "When you let [women] into your life, you find that the women is driving at one thing and youre driving at another." It is partially true when another protagonist of the story, Eliza, comes to his life.
He is fanatic about phonetics to the point that he records every English word that men pronounce, and analyses the voice in great detail . He is accused as a plain-clothes policeman hungry for promotion, when he writes down words from a poor flower girl, who receives money from a gentleman without giving a flower for it. The girl is Eliza Doolittle. Higgins responded by telling people where they are from by studying their accents and ridicule them for their pronunciation, which cause a row.
The gentleman, Colonel Pickering, however, is interested in Higgins' profession in phonetics as he is also an expert in this field. He is excited when Higgins boasts to him that he can pass Eliza off as a duchess at Buckingham Palace in a three months. Thus, he is willing to bet his money and pay for Eliza's lesson when the girl askes Higgins to teach her to speak genteelly.
Eliza lives in Higgins' laboratory for six months before the grand party at an embassy in London. During this period, Eliza helps Higgins with his appointments and some chores, while Higgins devotes much of his time to teaching Eliza to speak and behave like a duchess. Higgins and Pickering and Eliza seem to enjoy each others' company.
The lesson is so successful that Eliza stunts the whole hall of embassy in London with her charm and graciousness. After they return to Higgins' laboratory, Pickering congratulate Higgins for winning the bet. Higgins is relieved that the lesson is finally over and he has finished his job. Eliza, on the other hand, is lost in her life, as she is unable to go back to her old way of life anymore. However, neither Higgins nor Pickering notices Eliza's distress. They goes back to their respective bedrooms without any word of care to Eliza. Eliza feels that she is simply a subject of experiment in Higgins' eye and doubts if Higgins ever cares for him. However, Higgins, ignorant of Eliza's great sensitivity and tender-heart, ends up quarreling with her.
At her last straw, Eliza walks out of Higgins' house. There she meet Feddy who is always infatuated with her and show how much he cares about her. Thirsty for love and care, she accepts Fedderick's love and eventually decides to marry him.
It is clear in later part of the story that Higgins is not that heartless, but not expressive of his affection, for he does not see any need to show how much he cares. Neither does he see any need to be specifically gentle to a woman.
Higgins and Pickering are perturbed when they realised that Eliza has left them, especially for Higgins who is too dependent on Eliza's help and company. They goes to Mrs. Higgins' house and are surprised to see Eliza. Higgins wants Eliza to go back but he behaves rudely as ever. She refuses as she think that Higgins never respects her. Higgins argues that it is just not his nature, as he says, "I treat a duchess as if she was a flower girl" when she says that Pickering treats a flower girl as if she was a duchess but he only swears at her.
When Eliza tells Higgins in his face that he wants her to go back just to do the chores or just a subject of another experiment, Higgins denies, saying that he misses her for she has left feelings in him. He also dismisses Eliza's view as commercialism or as a trade of affection when she says "I wont care for anybody that doesnt care abit for me." He argues that helping him to pick up slippers is slaving, not caring. He will not want her to do any chore, but just to be together for the fun of it.
Eliza, however, thinks that it is arrogance and selfishness, as she tells Higgins that he is a cruel tyrant. When Higgins learns that Eliza is going to marry Dreddy, he protests that Feddy is good-for-nothing. This confirms Eliza's accusation. She coldly replies that "Freddy loves me: that makes him king enough for me".
"My Fair Lady" is a movie based on the story with some modifications. You can click the picture below to watch the movie.
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