Shaw, George Bernard: 1856-1950

Pygmalion, 1913 - Thematic Parallels: Social Class

Social Class refers to the grouping of people in a society based on their economic position, occupation, education, income, and social status. It’s a way of categorizing people according to their access to resources, power, and opportunities.
Shaw, George Bernard: Pygmalion, 1913
The play centers on social class, identity, and transformation. It critiques social stereotypes and challenges traditional class and gender roles.
The following books are thematically simliar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Clark, Brian: Whose Life Is It Anyway?, 1978, ~80pp
  This play challenges established power structures and questioning autonomy in society.
  - Both plays explore the right of an individual to make choices about their own life. They question who holds the right to control another’s life — the authority figure or the individual. Both main characters are forced to confront who they are versus who others want them to be.
- Hornby, Nick: About a Boy, 1998, ~280pp
  This narrative explores differences between economic classes and how personal growth is affected by social context.
  - Both narratives revolve around a process of transformation — one external and social (Eliza), the other internal and emotional (Will). In both cases, relationships act as catalysts for change. They expose the emptiness of external status markers — whether it’s class respectability or trendy bachelorhood. Both end with the protagonists defining their own identities, no longer controlled by societal or interpersonal expectations.
- Miller, Arthur: Death of a Salesman, 1949, ~110pp
  This play explores social class, identity, and the pursuit of success within a rigidly stratified society.
  - Both plays explore the myth of social mobility—the idea that hard work or self-improvement alone can elevate one’s status. They challenge the illusion that success or respectability is purely self-made, exposing how society itself limits true mobility. Each uses the family or domestic space as a microcosm of larger societal flaws.
- Smith, Zadie: On Beauty, 2005, ~440pp
  This novel looks at academic life, race, and class, presenting complex dynamics of social standing and cultural capital.
  - Both texts critique the illusion of transformation — showing that “becoming refined” or “educated” doesn’t necessarily equate to personal or moral improvement. They use humor and irony to critique self-satisfied elites who believe they embody progress or refinement.
List of general discussion questions on Social Class (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Social Class (pdf)