Deconstructing Henry Higgins or Eliza As

8/18/2019 Deconstructing Henry Higgins or Eliza As

1/12

Jean Reynolds

DECONSTRUCTING HENRY HIGGINS, OR ELIZA AS DERRIDEAN

“TEXT”

Published in SHAW: The Annual of Shaw Studies

!!", #$lu%e &

L'n(u'(e is )en*+'l *$ e+n'+d Sh'-.s Pygmalion/ s)'+)el0 ' %inu*e

$1 *he 2l'0 is -i*h$u* s$%e +e1e+en)e *$ -$+ds3 The 2l$* is buil*

'+$und ' 2h$ne*i)s e42e+i%en*, 'nd *-$ $1 *he %'in )h'+')*e+s '+e

l'n(u'(e e42e+*s3 A)* II *'5es 2l')e '%id s2ee)h 2'+'2he+n'li'6'

2h$n$(+'2h 'nd -'4 )0linde+s, ' l'+0n($s)$2e, 'nd ' li1e7si8e

di'(+'% $1 *he 9$)'l $+('ns3 The )h'+')*e+s *he%sel9es '+e

2+e$))u2ied -i*h -$+ds/ b$*h :+s3 Pe'+)e 'nd :+s3 Hi((ins )$%2l'in

'b$u* Hi((ins.s b'd l'n(u'(e, 'nd Eli8' insis*s *h'* she )'nn$* *'l5 *$

hi% '* 'll3 The E0ns1$+d7Hills '+e b$*h '22'lled 'nd 1's)in'*ed b0

Eli8'.s “ne- s%'ll *'l5,” 'nd Al1+ed P3 D$$li**le -$++ies *h'* he -ill

“h'9e *$ le'+n *$ s2e'5 %iddle )l'ss l'n(u'(e 3 3 3 ins*e'd $1 s2e'5in(

2+$2e+ En(lish3” And *he+e is 'n 'bidin( in*e+es* in *he s*'(e, i*sel1 '

-$+ld $1 -$+ds3 Hi((ins, Pi)5e+in(, *he E0ns1$+d7Hills, 'nd Eli8'

en;$0 *he *he'*e+6;us* 's -e in Sh'-.s 'udien)e d$3

u* ')*$+s 'nd di+e)*$+s $1*en %iss *he l'n(u'(e e%2h'sis in

Pygmalion, 2+e1e++in( *$ %'5e *he 2l'0 in*$ ' )$n9en*i$n'l l$9e s*$+0

be*-een Hi((ins 'nd Eli8'6' 2+$ble% *h'* 2l'(ued Sh'- 1+$% *he

1i+s* +i*ish 2+$du)*i$n in !&3


2/12

)+e'*e 2+')*i)'ll0 ex nihilo ' li9in( 2e+s$n *h+$u(h s2ee)h e4e+)ises3

The -$+d %'de 1lesh is Li8'3 3 3”= And Ti%$*h0 G3 #es$nde+ h's

de)l'+ed, “E9en ' su2e+1i)i'l e4'%in'*i$n $1 Pygmalion -ill sh$-

*h'* *he %'in 1$)us $1 *he 2l'0 is n$* e+$*i) in9$l9e%en* bu* *he

2$-e+ $1 l'n(u'(e3 3 3 3”&

In *he +el'*i9el0 +e)en* 2'+* $1 *he l's* hund+ed 0e'+s, ')?ues De++id' @b$+n !=B h's 'n'l08ed l'n(u'(e in

-'0s )$n(+u7en* -i*h *he insi(h*s $1 *hese *h+ee )+i*i)s3 I1 De+9in is

)$++e)* in )'llin( Eli8' “*he -$+d %'de 1lesh,” -e )'n 'ls$ s'0 *h'* she

is ' De++ide'n “*e4*3” And i1 en*le0 'nd #es$nde+ '+e )$++e)* in

%'5in( l'n(u'(e *he %'in 1$)us $1 *he 2l'0, -e '+e n$* 1'+ 1+$%

De++id'.s 'sse+*i$n *h'* “*he 2+$ble% $1 l'n(u'(e h's ne9e+ been

si%2l0 $ne 2+$ble% '%$n( $*he+s3”

This su((es*i$n $1 ' lin5 be*-een Sh'- 'nd De++id' is n$* ne-/ Ri)h'+d


3/12

di11e+en* hu%'n bein( b0 )+e'*in( ' ne- s2ee)h 1$+ he+” @F=&B3 u*

'l*h$u(h he b$'s*s *$ his %$*he+ 'b$u* his lin(uis*i) )+e'*i$n,

1'shi$ned 1+$% “*he s?u'shed )'bb'(e le'9es $1 C$9en* G'+den”

@FFB, Eli8' -ill ne9e+ he 'n0*hin( *$ hi% bu* 'n “'+*i1i)i'l du)hess”

-h$ “2+e*ends *$ 2l'0 *he 1ine l'd0” @FFB3 Des2i*e he+ d'88lin(2e+1$+%'n)e '* *he e%b'ss0 +e)e2*i$n, Hi((ins )'lls he+ ' “he'+*less

(u**e+sni2e” @F=B3 hen his %$*he+ insis*s *h'* Eli8' dese+9es be**e+

*+e'*%en*, he sul5il0 sub%i*s/ “Le* us 2u* $n $u+ bes* Sund'0

%'nne+s 1$+ *his )+e'*u+e *h'* -e 2i)5ed u2 $u* $1 *he %ud” @F7B3

e)'use Eli8' l')5s *he li9in( '+is*$)+'*i) )$+e *h'* -$uld 9'lid'*e he+

ele('n* s2ee)h 'nd %'nne+s, Hi((ins +e('+ds he+ 's “'bsen*” 'nd

de1i)ien*3

u* Eli8' 'ls$ e4e%2li1ies *he De++ide'n '+(u%en*s '('ins* *hePl'*$ni) “%e*'2h0si)s $1 2+esen)e3” H'9in( 2u* Liss$n G+$9e behind

he+, she h's li**le use 1$+ 2u+e essen)es 'nd %u)h '22+e)i'*i$n 1$+

'+*i1i)e 'nd 2e+1$+%'n)e3 T'5e '-'0 :iss D$$li**le.s '+*i)ul'*e 'nd

ele('n* s2ee)h, 'nd li**le is le1* $1 *he d'88lin( '22'+i*i$n '* *he

e%b'ss0 +e)e2*i$n3 As De++id' s'0s, “The+e is n$*hin( $u*side $1 *he

*e4*3” L')5in( 'n 'u*hen*i), inb$+n essen)e $1 he+ $-n, :iss

D$$li**le is ' su!!lement , in De++ide'n *e+%in$l$(0, *$ Hi((ins.s

$+i(in'l3 De++id' uses *his *e+% *$ e42l'in b$*h *he 'd9'n*'(es 'nd

dis'd9'n*'(es $1 -+i*in(3

In i*s ne('*i9e 's2e)*, ' su!!lement is 'n in1e+i$+ )$20, ' su2e+1lu$us

'ddi*i$n, $+ 'n '1*e+*h$u(h*3 “In1e+i$+” is h$- Hi((ins sees his 2u2il,

'nd he +e;e)*s Eli8' 's ' se)$nd7+'*e i%i*'*i$n $1 hi%sel13 hen she

*+ies *$ )h'+% hi% in his %$*he+.s d+'-in( +$$%, he +e2+i%'nds he+/

“D$n* 0$u d'+e *+0 *his ('%e $n %e3 I *'u(h* i* *$ 0$uJ 'nd i* d$esn*

*'5e %e in” @FFB3 T$ his %$*he+, he s'0s, “Y$u -ill ;$ll0 s$$n see

-he*he+ Eli8' h's 'n ide' *h'* I h'9n* 2u* in*$ he+ he'd $+ ' -$+d

*h'* I h'9n* 2u* in*$ he+ %$u*h” @FFB3 Eli8'.s de2enden)0 +ein1$+)eshis disd'in/ she *ells hi%, “Y$u 5n$- I )'n* ($ b')5 *$ *he (u**e+, 's

0$u )'ll i*, 'nd *h'* I h'9e n$ +e'l 1+iends in *he -$+ld bu* 0$u 'nd *he

C$l$nel” @FF!B3

u* De++id' '+(ues *h'* ' su!!lement )'n 'ls$ be 'n i%2+$9e%en*

u2$n *he $+i(in'l3 E9en ene%ies $1 -+i*in(, in)ludin( R$usse'u 'nd


4/12

Pl'*$, h'9e 1$und -+i*in( indis2ens'ble 1$+ e42+essin( 'nd

disse%in'*in( *hei+ ide's3 In his "onfessions, R$usse'u 'd%i**ed *h'*

he 2+e1e++ed -+i*in( *$ s2ee)h 's ' %$de $1 sel17e42+essi$n/ “The 2'+*

*h'* I h'9e *'5en $1 -+i*in( 'nd hidin( %0sel1 is 2+e)isel0 *he $ne *h'*

sui*s %e3 I1 I -e+e 2+esen*, $ne -$uld ne9e+ 5n$- -h'* I -'s -$+*h3”!

Si%il'+l0, Eli8' )'nn$* sh$- he+ *+ue -$+*h un*il she hides he+

)$)5ne0 $+i(ins bene'*h *he '+*i1i)i'li*0 $1 )ul*u+ed s2ee)h3 Onl0 in

“'bsen)e” )'n she *+ul0 be “2+esen*3” He+ %'*u+e 'nd '+*i)ul'*e

s2ee)hes in A)* # de%$ns*+'*e *h'* he+ “su22le%en*'l” +el'*i$nshi2

-i*h Hi((ins is 2$si*i9e 's -ell 's ne('*i9e3 E9'lu'*in( he+ $-n

'))$%2lish%en*s, she *ells hi%/ “Y$u )'n* *'5e '-'0 *he 5n$-led(e

0$u ('9e %e3 Y$u s'id I h'd ' 1ine+ e'+ *h'n 0$u3 And I )'n be )i9il

'nd 5ind *$ 2e$2le, -hi)h is %$+e *h'n 0$u )'n” @FB3

A %$+e )$n9en*i$n'l 2l'0-+i(h* *h'n Sh'- %i(h* h'9e been s'*is1ied

*$ 2i* Eli8' 'nd Hi((ins '('ins* e')h $*he+ in *his -'0 *h+$u(h$u* *he

2l'03 u* Sh'-, in*e+es*ed in *he '%bi(ui*ies $1 *hei+ +el'*i$nshi2,

%'5es Eli8' he+sel1 '%bi9'len* 'b$u* he+ “su!!lement 'l” s*'*us3

H'9in( ;e**is$ned he+ Liss$n G+$9e iden*i*0, she 1eels li5e 'n e4ile3 As

she *ells Hi((ins, “I '% ' )hild in 0$u+ )$un*+0” @FFB3 e (e* '

(li%2se $1 he+ inne+ e%2*iness -hen she -is*1ull0 s'0s, “I $nl0 -'n*

*$ be n'*u+'l” @FFB3 Th'* he'+*1el* -ish )'n ne9e+ be (+'n*ed, 1$+

Eli8'6-i*h n$ 2's* 'nd n$ 2ee+s6-ill ne9e+ '('in 1eel *he

n'*u+'lness 'nd bel$n(in( *h'* Hi((ins 1inds '%$n( *he %$ne0ed

)l'sses3 His is *he 1'9$+ed 2$si*i$n, 1$+ he is *he s$u+)e +'*he+ *h'n *he

su!!lement in *hei+ +el'*i$nshi23

u* Sh'-, s*ill e42l$+in( '%bi(ui*ies, 2l')ed ne('*i9es 's -ell 's

2$si*i9es $n Hi((ins.s side3 In ' +e9e+s'l $1 Pl'*$ni) 9'lues, “2+esen)e”

is ' dis'd9'n*'(e *$ Hi((ins, 1$+ his h'bi*u'l %$de $1 sel17e42+essi$n

is in1e+i$+ *$ Eli8'.s '+*i1i)i'l s2ee)h/ “Y$u d'%ned i%2uden* slu*,

0$uK” he sh$u*s in $ne $1 *he l's* s2ee)hes $1 *he 2l'0 @FB3 E9en -$+se, Hi((ins belie9es hi%sel1 in)'2'ble $1 i%2+$9e%en*3 His

l'n(u'(e h'bi*s '+e n$* %u)h di11e+en* 1+$% Eli8'.s Liss$n G+$9e

s2ee)h, 's she $bse+9es/ “I -'s b+$u(h* u2 *$ be ;us* li5e hi%, un'ble

*$ )$n*+$l %0sel1, 'nd usin( b'd l'n(u'(e $n *he sli(h*es*

2+$9$)'*i$n” @FB3 u* -hile Eli8' unde+($es ' 2$-e+1ul


5/12

*+'ns1$+%'*i$n, Hi((ins s*ubb$+nl0 )lin(s *$ his Pl'*$ni) belie1 in

un'l*e+'ble essen)es/ “I )'n* )h'n(e %0 n'*u+eJ 'nd I d$n* in*end *$

)h'n(e %0 %'nne+s” @FF=B3 He h's 1+eed Eli8' 1+$% *he 2+is$n $1 he+

1$+%e+ e4is*en)e, bu* he +e1uses *$ d$ *he s'%e 1$+ hi%sel13

And s$, '* *he end $1 *he 2l'0, *he s*uden* su+2'sses he+ *e')he+, 'nd

-+i*in(6*he li9in( *e4* n'%ed Eli8'6*+iu%2hs $9e+ s2ee)h3 O+ s$ i*

see%s3 A)*u'll0, Eli8'.s 9i)*$+0 is $nl0 2'+* $1 Sh'-.s 2u+2$se3

Si%il'+l0, De++id' ne9e+ in*ended *$ “+e)$ns*+u)*” *he s2ee)h79e+sus7

-+i*in( hie+'+)h0 -i*h -+i*in( $n *$23 De++ide'n de)$ns*+u)*i$n 'i%s

ins*e'd *$ dis%'n*le *he hie+'+)h0 'l*$(e*he+ b0 uni*in( s2ee)h 'nd

-+i*in(3 @e h'9e 'l+e'd0 seen *h'* Eli8'.s “ne- s2ee)h” h's *-$

)h'+')*e+is*i)s $1 -+i*in(/ 'bsen)e 'nd '+*i1i)e3B In *he s'%e -'0,

Sh'-.s '+*is*i) in*en*i$n is *$ uni*e Hi((ins 'nd Eli8', 'l*h$u(h n$* in*he -eddin( )e+e%$n0 *h'* %'n0 *he'*e+($e+s h'9e -ished 1$+3

H'9in( un-i**in(l0 de)l'+ed -'+ $n *he “$ld s2ee)h” '* *he

1$und'*i$n $1 +i*ish )l'ss s*+u)*u+e, *he *-$ '+e )$7)$ns2i+'*$+s in

'n 'ss'ul* u2$n *he +i*ish es*'blish%en*3

Eli8' is un-$+*h0 *$ en*e+ *he u22e+ )l'ss be)'use she is ille(i*i%'*e

b$*h s$)i'll0 'nd lin(uis*i)'ll03 He+ l')5 $1 le(i*i%'*e 2'+en*'(e is

1i+s* hin*ed '* in A)* II, -hen Eli8' s'0s, “I 'in* ($* n$ 2'+en*s3 The0

*$ld %e I -'s bi( en$u(h *$ e'+n %0 $-n li9in( 'nd *u+ned %e $u*”@!&B3 E9en 's ' )hild, she +e)ei9ed li**le 2'+en*'l )'+e3 He+ 1'*he+

*ells Hi((ins, “I ne9e+ b+$u(h* he+ u2 '* 'll, e4)e2* *$ (i9e he+ ' li)5 $1

' s*+'2 n$- 'nd '('in” @FB3 And in A)* #, -e le'+n 1+$% D$$li**le

*h'* he ne9e+ %'++ied Eli8'.s %$*he+ 'l*h$u(h he h's '9$ided *ellin(

Eli8' *he *+u*h/ “She d$n* 5n$-/ I 'l-'0s h'd ' deli)')0 'b$u* *ellin(

he+” @FF"B3

u* Eli8'.s ille(i*i%')0 is lin(uis*i) 's -ell3 Pl'*$, n$*es De++id',

“'ssi(ns *he $+i(in 'nd 2$-e+ $1 s2ee)h 3 3 3 *$ *he 2'*e+n'l 2$si*i$n3”

+i*in(, b0 )$n*+'s*, is “1'*he+less,” 1$+ -+i*e+s e42+ess ide's *he0

-$uld n$* $+din'+il0 s2e'5 'nd in9en* e42e+ien)es *he0 h'9e n$*

*he%sel9es h'd3 hen l'n(u'(e b+e'5s '-'0 1+$% i*s +i(h*1ul $+i(ins

6's i* d$es -i*h Eli8'.s “ne- s2ee)h”6i* sub9e+*s *he 'u*h$+i*0 *h'*

en(ende+ed i*3 De++id' e42l'ins *h'* Pl'*$nis*s see -+i*in( 's “*he


6/12

$+2h'n *h'* is 'l+e'd0 h'l1 de'd3” Eli8' is 1'*he+less in %$+e -'0s

*h'n $ne3

Al*h$u(h De++id'.s 'n'l0sis s$unds *he$+e*i)'l 'nd 'bs*+')*, Eli8'.s

lin(uis*i) ille(i*i%')0 )'uses se+i$us di11i)ul*ies 1$+ he+3 L')5in( '

“1'*he+”6'n '+is*$)+'*i) $+i(in6she sh$)5s *he (ues*s in :+s3

Hi((ins.s d+'-in( +$$% -i*h he+ un$+*h$d$4 “ne- s%'ll *'l5”/ “N$*

bl$$d0 li5el0K” she blu+*s -hen


7/12

In his +e2l0, Hi((ins '11i+%s Pi)5e+in(.s ;ud(%en*/ “Yes/ *h'*s -h'*

d+i9es %e %'d/ *he sill0 2e$2le d$n* 5n$- *hei+ $-n sill0 business”

@F&7&FB3 I* is he+e *h'* Hi((ins %$s* 2$-e+1ull0 dis*'n)es hi%sel1

1+$% his -e'l*h0 )$un*e+2'+*s, bu* -i*h$u* +en$un)in( his

%e%be+shi2 in *hei+ %$ne0ed )l'ss, s$ *h'* he sub;e)*s hi%sel1 *$ *he)h'+(e $1 h02$)+is03 And i* is he+e *h'* Hi((ins de)isi9el0, i1

un)$ns)i$usl0, de2'+*s 1+$% his Pl'*$nis%3 Li5e Pl'*$, Hi((ins )l'i%s

*$ 9'lue s2ee)h $nl0 's ' si(ni1ie+ $1 ' dee2e+ *+u*h be0$nd6”-+i**en

$n *he s$ul3”" Hi((ins 2+$udl0 *ells his %$*he+, “I 5n$- I h'9e n$

s%'ll *'l5” @F"B, 'nd he d$es n$* -'s*e -$+ds $n $b9i$us 1')*s3 hen

:+s3 Hi((ins +e2+$')hes hi% 1$+ n$* )$n(+'*ul'*in( Eli8' $n he+

su))ess '* *he e%b'ss0 +e)e2*i$n, Hi((ins is n$n2lussed/ “u* she

5ne- 'll 'b$u* *h'*” @FB3

Ye* Hi((ins 'ls$ de2'+*s 1+$% *his Pl'*$nis% *$ s'9$+ e11e)*i9e s2ee)h

1$+ i*s $-n s'5e3 i*h his 2+$1essi$n'l '22+e)i'*i$n 1$+ )$%2ellin(

dis)$u+se, Hi((ins is n$* $nl0 ' 2h$ne*i)i'n, bu* ' +he*$+i)i'n6

'n'*he%' *$ Pl'*$nis*s3 C$%2$undin( *he $11ense, he is 'ls$ '

s$2his*, s5illed '* *-is*in( '+(u%en*s *$ sui* hi%sel13 Eli8' )$%2l'ins

*$ hi%, “I )'n* *'l5 *$ 0$u/ 0$u *u+n e9e+0*hin( '('ins* %e/ I.% 'l-'0s

in *he -+$n(” @FF!B3 S$ -e %us* 'dd *he )h'+(e $1 sel17de)e2*i$n *$

Hi((ins.s $*he+ 1'ilin(s3 I1 Eli8' is ' 2+e*ende+, s$ is he3

u* %$nis% s$ sh'2es Hi((ins.s *hin5in( *h'* he )'nn$* +e)$(ni8e

'n0 su)h )$n*+'di)*i$ns -i*hin hi%sel13 elie9in( hi%sel1 *$ be “' sh0,

di11iden* s$+* $1 %'n” @FB, he is in)'2'ble $1 he'+in( his $-n

$u*bu+s*s $1 h'd *e%2e+3 He -$nde+s -he+e :+s3 Pe'+)e ($* *he ide'

*h'* he is “'n '+bi*+'+0 $9e+be'+in( b$ssin( 5ind $1 2e+s$n” @FB3

And he is (enuinel0 '%'8ed -hen she )$n1+$n*s hi% 'b$u* his

s-e'+in(3 “I de*es* *he h'bi*,” he *ells he+J “h'* *he de9il d$ 0$u

%e'n” @F=B3

:$+e se+i$usl0, Hi((ins )'nn$* see *h'* he is 'n '+*is* 's -ell 's '

s)ien*is*3 +'((in( 'b$u* his “:il*$ni) %ind” @FFB, he )le'+l0 h'+b$+s

'es*he*i) s0%2'*hies bene'*h his 2+')*i)'l $u*l$$53 Ne'+ *he end $1

*he 2l'0, he b$'s*s 'b$u* his “)+e'*i$n $1 ' Du)hess Eli8'” @FFB3 u*

in A)* II, he s'- Eli8'.s edu)'*i$n $nl0 's 'n e4hil'+'*in( ('%e/

“h'* is li1e bu* ' se+ies $1 ins2i+ed 1$llies The di11i)ul*0 is *$ 1ind


8/12

*he% *$ d$3 Ne9e+ l$se ' )h'n)e/ i* d$esn* )$%e e9e+0 d'0” @!B3 And

in A)* #, -hen Eli8' 's5s -h0 he '))e2*ed he+ 's ' 2u2il, he 'ns-e+s,

su+2+ised, “be)'use i* -'s %0 ;$b” @FFB3

e)'use he is un'-'+e $1 *he '+*is* -i*hin his b+e's*, he 1'ils *$ see

h$- $1*en he le'9es Pl'*$ni) “se+i$usness” *$ en*e+ *he +e'l% $1

)+e'*i9i*0 'nd 2l'03 “Y$u )e+*'inl0 '+e ' 2+e**0 2'i+ $1 b'bies, 2l'0in(

-i*h 0$u+ li9e d$ll,” s'0s :+s3 Hi((ins *$ hi% 'nd Pi)5e+in( @F=&B3 u*

Hi((ins '+(ues -i*h he+/ “Pl'0in(K The h'+des* ;$b I e9e+ *')5led/

%'5e n$ %is*'5e 'b$u* *h'*” @F=&B3 The +esul* $1 *his sel17de)e2*i$n6

's 'n0 2s0)h$l$(is* )$uld *ell us6is ' l$ss $1 )$n*+$l, 1$+ hu%'n -ill

($9e+ns $nl0 *h$se inne+ 1$+)es *h'* '+e 'll$-ed *$ )$%e *$

)$ns)i$usness3 Thus, Hi((ins 1'ils *$ ')5n$-led(e *he ne('*i9e side $1

*he ('%es he is 2l'0in(6*he h$'4 '* *he e%b'ss0 +e)e2*i$n 'nd hiss)$+n1ul *+e'*%en* $1 Eli8'3 “D$es i* $))u+ *$ 0$u, Hi((ins, *h'* *he

(i+l h's s$%e 1eelin(s” Pi)5e+in( 's5s3 Hi((ins.s +e2l0 is disd'in1ul/

“Oh n$, I d$n* *hin5 s$3 N$* 'n0 1eelin(s *h'* -e need b$*he+ 'b$u*”

@!&7!B3

I1 Hi((ins ')5n$-led(ed *hese )$%2le4i*ies 'nd )$n*+'di)*i$ns, *he

Li1e


9/12

u* *he %'**e+ d$es n$* end *he+e, 1$+ $*he+s '+e )'2'ble $1 (+e'*e+

9isi$n6$u+sel9es, *he 'udien)e3 The 1i+s* 2e$2le $n s*'(e in A)* I $1

Pygmalion '+e *he'*e+($e+s, su((es*in( *h'* -e $nl$$5e+s '+e 'ls$

2'+*i)i2'n*s in *he 2l'03 And 's -e 2$nde+ *he di11e+en* Eli8's -e see

in A)* I 'nd A)* #, *he dis*in)*i$n be*-een “n'*u+'l” 'nd “unn'*u+'l” be(ins *$ b+e'5 d$-n3 h'* -e le'+n 1+$% Eli8' is *h'* 'll l'n(u'(e is

in9en*ed 'nd ')?ui+ed3 Des2i*e Hi((ins.s 2+ide in his 'u*hen*i)i*06”I

)'n* )h'n(e %0 n'*u+e” @FF=B6Eli8' sh$-s us *h'* his )+ude s2ee)h is

's %u)h 'n '11e)*'*i$n 's *he e9enin( )l$*hes he -e'+s *$ *he *he'*e+

'nd *he e%b'ss0 +e)e2*i$n3 “I -'s b+$u(h* u2 *$ be ;us* li5e hi%,” she

s'0s, “usin( b'd l'n(u'(e $n *he sli(h*es* 2+$9$)'*i$n” @FB3 Unli5e

Hi((ins, Eli8' +e)$(ni8es *h'* “b'd” 'nd “($$d” l'n(u'(e '+e ')?ui+ed

in *he s'%e -'0s3

S2ee)h, 's De++id' h's insis*ed, is nei*he+ ins*in)*i9e, si%2le, lu)id,

n$+ 2u+e3 R'*he+, i* is )$%2le4, $bs)u+e, e?ui9$)'l, 'nd 2e+1$+%'*i9e

6li5e -+i*in(3 Eli8' -'n*s “$nl0 *$ be n'*u+'l” @FFB, bu* *he+e is

n$*hin( 'd%i+'ble 'b$u* he+ in'+*i)ul'*e “'h7'h7'h7$-7$-7$-7$-7

$$s” 'nd “('+ns” in A)* I3 He+ 1'*he+ h's “' )e+*'in n'*u+'l (i1* $1

+he*$+i)” *h'* Hen+0 Hi((ins '22+e)i'*es, bu* D$$li**le.s )h'+')*e+ is

'ls$ %'++ed b0 “%end')i*0 'nd dish$nes*0” @FFB3 $*h Eli8' 'nd he+

1'*he+ +e1u*e *he -ides2+e'd belie1 *h'* hu%'ns h'9e ' 2u+e,

2+edes*ined iden*i*0 -i*hin *he%sel9es3 And Eli8'.s *+'ns1$+%'*i$n

de%$ns*+'*es *he 1u*ili*0 $1 see5in( ' %0s*i)'l l'n(u'(e “-+i**en in

*he s$ul”/ hu%'n n'*u+e is )$%2le4, $11e+in( us ' %ul*i*ude $1

2$*en*i'l 2e+s$n'li*ies +'*he+ *h'n ' sin(ul'+ s$ul3

As '+b'+' >$hns$n h's s'id, “T$ %e'n 3 3 3 is 'u*$%'*i)'ll0 n$* *$

be3” Ye* -e 'l-'0s 0e'+n 1$+ -h'* >$hns$n )'lls “sel172+esen*'*i$n”6

' s0s*e% $1 s0%b$ls s$ 2e+1e)*l0 '**uned *$ *he 2u+e+ sel1 -i*hin *h'*

%'ni2ul'*i$n 'nd de)e2*i$n '+e i%2$ssible3= Ou+ Pl'*$ni) *+'di*i$n

*e')hes us *$ e42e)* *h'* 2e+1e)*i$n 1+$% s2ee)h6' h$2e *h'* -illne9e+ be s'*is1ied3 u*, *h+$u(h$u* $u+ li9es, -e s*+u((le '('ins* *hese

h'l17unde+s*$$d, ne9e+71ul1illed l$n(in(s, ;us* 's Eli8' 'nd Hi((ins d$

in *hei+ +el'*i$nshi23

Al*h$u(h *he0 sh'+e *he s'%e )$n1usi$n, Eli8' 'nd Hi((ins 9en* *hei+

1+us*+'*i$ns di11e+en*l03 Eli8' is -is*1ul6”I $nl0 -'n* *$ be n'*u+'l”6


10/12

-hile Hi((ins 2+e1e+s )0ni)is%/ “L$+d 1$+bidK” he +es2$nds -hen

Cl'+' E0ns1$+d7Hill si(hs, “I1 2e$2le -$uld $nl0 be 1+'n5 'nd s'0

-h'* *he0 +e'll0 *hin5K” @F"B3

In s2i*e $1 his )0ni)is%, h$-e9e+, Hi((ins belie9es *h'* he h's

dis)$9e+ed ' %'(i) 1$+%ul' 1$+ “n'*u+'l” s2ee)h/ +udeness3 u* Eli8'

he'+s +e;e)*i$n +'*he+ *h'n 'u*hen*i)i*0 -hen he +'9es '* he+/ “d'%n

%0 $-n 1$ll0 in h'9in( l'9ished %0 h'+d7e'+ned 5n$-led(e 'nd *he

*+e'su+e $1 %0 +e('+d 'nd in*i%')0 $n ' he'+*less (u**e+sni2e” @F=B3

Al*h$u(h Hi((ins %'0 -ell h'9e “+e('+d 'nd in*i%')0” 1$+ Eli8', his

b$$+ish l'n(u'(e d$es n$* )$%%uni)'*e his 1eelin(s3 And Eli8' is ;us*

's unsu))ess1ul in he+ '**e%2*s *$ *'l5 *$ hi%, 1$+ Hi((ins +e;e)*s b$*h

he+ “Liss$n G+$9e lin($” @FB 'nd he+ ele('n* “ne- s2ee)h”/ *he 1i+s*

is un)i9ili8ed, *he se)$nd is 1'5e3 Ins*e'd $1 d+'-in( *he% )l$se+, -$+ds *+i((e+ *'n7*+u%s 'nd bl'%e3

This s*$+%0 +el'*i$nshi2 )$n1i+%s De++id'.s 'sse+*i$n *h'* “*he

2+$ble% $1 l'n(u'(e h's ne9e+ been si%2l0 $ne 2+$ble% '%$n(

$*he+s3” L'n(u'(e is )en*+'l, en(ende+in( 'll *he +es*3 u* i1 -$+ds

)+e'*e di11i)ul*ies 1$+ Sh'-.s )h'+')*e+s @'nd usB, *he0 '+e 'ls$

ins*+u%en*s $1 e%2$-e+%en*3 As >'ne T$%25ins h's s'id, “*he -$+ld

i*sel1 is dis)$u+se3” & Eli8', *he “?ui*e di11e+en* hu%'n bein(” )+e'*ed

in Hi((ins.s l'b$+'*$+0, is ' 5ind $1 s$)i'l +e9$lu*i$n'+06' 2i$nee+in(%e%be+ $1 *he +isin( +i*ish %iddle )l'ss3 H'9in( %'s*e+ed *he '+* $1

sel17e42+essi$n, Eli8' is +e'd0 *$ le'9e "FA i%2$le S*+ee* *$ *'5e he+

2l')e in s$)ie*03

u* he+e she '('in )l'shes -i*h he+ *e')he+3 She +e;e)*s Hi((ins.s

li(h*he'+*ed $11e+ *$ s*'0 $n “


11/12

“'nd 0$u '+e ' 2'+* $1 i* *h'* h's )$%e %0 -'0 'nd been buil* in*$ %0

h$use3 h'* %$+e )'n 0$u $+ 'n0$ne 's5” @FFB3

T$ his su+2+ise, Eli8' indeed 's5s 1$+ %$+e6'n ')5n$-led(%en* *h'*

he +e)$(ni8es he+ uni?ueness 'nd )'+es 1$+ he+ in ' s2e)i'l -'03 u*

's be1$+e, Hi((ins )'nn$*6$+ -ill n$*61+ee hi%sel1 1+$% *he

li%i*'*i$ns $1 his belie1 s0s*e%3 His 9ie- is l$($)en*+i) +'*he+ *h'n

2hen$%en$l$(i)'l, un'ble *$ 2e+)ei9e +e'li*0 *h+$u(h *he shi1*in(

si%il'+i*ies 'nd dis*in)*i$ns *h'* De++id' )'lls diffeance3 Hi((ins

sees 2e$2le 's he *hin5s *he0 sh$uld be, n$* 's *he0 '+e, 'nd he uses

*h'* dis)+e2'n)0 's ' 2+e*e4* 1$+ +e;e)*in( *he%3

Sh'- bein( Sh'-, h$-e9e+, *he *'bles '+e *u+ned '* *he end3 Hi((ins,

h'9in( +e2udi'*ed *he “?ui*e di11e+en* hu%'n bein(” he )+e'*ed, is

1in'll0 +e;e)*ed hi%sel13 u* s$%e-he+e ' ne- se* $1 *he'*e+($e+s is -'i*in( *$ dis)$9e+ hi% behind *he )l'ssi)'l 2ill'+s $1 S*3 P'ul.s

Chu+)h, Pl'*$nis% in*')*, +e'd0 *$ 1le4 his 2h$ne*i) %us)les 1$+ *he%3

Pe+h'2s i1e 's ' *e4*61$+ Hi((ins, *$$, is ' )+e'*i$n $1 l'n(u'(e, 's '+e

-e in *he 'udien)e6h's i*s )$%2ens'*i$ns '1*e+ 'll3

Notes

3 e+n'+d Sh'-, "ollected Plays with Thei Pefaces, ed3 D'n H3

L'u+en)e @L$nd$n/ Reinh'+d*, !F7F&B, &/F=, F"3 Subse?uen*

P0(%'li$n ?u$*'*i$ns '+e 1+$% *his edi*i$n, 'nd +e1e+en)es *$ 2'(e

nu%be+s '22e'+ in *he *e4*3

"3 E+i) en*le0, #enad Shaw @Ne- Y$+5/ Li%eli(h*7P+$s)eniu%,

!B, 23 F3

=3 D'niel De+9in, e+n'+d Sh'-/ A Psychological Study @Le-isbu+(,

P'3/ u)5nell Uni9e+si*0 P+ess, !FB, 223 7F3

&3 Ti%$*h0 G3 #es$nde+, “Eli8'.s Ch$i)e/ T+'ns1$+%'*i$n :0*h 'nd

*he Endin( $1 P0(%'li$n,” in $abian $eminist , ed3 R$delle ein*+'ub

@Uni9e+si*0 P'+5/ Penn S*'*e Uni9e+si*0 P+ess, !FFB, 23 &"3


12/12

3 >')?ues De++id', Of Gammatology, *+'ns3 G'0'*+i Ch'5+'9$+*0

S2i9'5 @'l*i%$+e 'nd L$nd$n/ >$hns H$25ins Uni9e+si*0 P+ess,

!F&B, 23 3

3 Ri)h'+d $hns$n, “T+'nsl'*$+.s In*+$du)*i$n,” ibid 3, 23 i43

&3 >'ne T$%25ins, “A Sh$+* C$u+se in P$s*7S*+u)*u+'lis%,” "ollege

'nglish @!B/ F&&3

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