England was entering an era of reform during the reign of Queen Victoria. During this period, many traditional systems such as education, parliament and social conventions were under scrutiny by the English people. The English authors of that period perfectly represent the common voice of the Victorian people. They used their work as a channel to openly express their criticism of the government; a luxury that few others had. George Bernard Shaw, author of Pygmalion and other works, also took advantage of the leniency of writing about social reform, but in a more dramatic form. Pygmalion is an unconventional rags-to-riches story of Eliza Doolittle and her mentor, Professor Higgins. Eliza, a flower girl, goes to Higgins, a professor of linguistics, to receive lessons in changing her dialect. Higgins accepts Eliza's offer after making a bet to pass Eliza off as a member of the upper class. The play in its entirety is a satire of educational and social norms in Victorian England. In Pygmalion, George Bernard Shaw uses characterization and relationships between characters to show the flaw of domination in education and class systems. The education system and class system lack individualism for the inferior or subjugated members of society. Eliza Doolittle's characterization is a stereotypical member of the poor working class, from her occupation as a flower girl to her incomprehensible Cockney dialect: "Ow, eez ye-ooa san, is e?" (I, 55). Her distinct diction allows the reader to easily identify which social class Eliza belongs to. Fitzgerald also uses this characterization in his novel The Great Gatsby to show the separate social classes of each character through the difference in diction in Gatsby and Mr. Wolfsheim (......middle of paper......don't allow the Correct learning, however, is not only used by the highest members of society, but is simply a human characteristic. However, others argue that the lack of a simple and common language is the real problem that is illustrated, but the assertion of one dialect master over another is simply another display of dominance. For a more just society, the use of control or domination of another person must be eliminated. Such feelings of superiority, which are seen in today's society , lead to larger problems such as lasting prejudices and widening economic gaps. However, Shaw does not suggest that the English system be completely removed, but makes mobility in the system not so rigid through the removal of domination. Unfortunately a human quality cannot be easily removed, which leaves open the question: what can be done instead?