Shaw’s Serious Jokes: Carnivalesque Laughter as Resistance in Pygmalion

This paper analyzes the role of carnivalesque laughter as a form of resistance in George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion (1913), using Mikhail Bakhtin's theory of the carnivalesque as a framework. The study examines how Shaw employs humor, irony, and satire to critique and rigid class structures and societal norms in Edwardian England. Characters such as Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mirror Bakhtin’s vision of carnival, where traditional hierarchies are inverted, and the established social order is challenged. By focusing on language, character dynamics, and the subversive nature of humor, this paper explicates how carnivalesque laughter in Pygmalion serves as a tool for questioning and destabilizing oppressive social structures. The analysis demonstrates that Shaw’s strategic use of satire reflects a spirit analogous to that of Bakhtin’s carnival, promoting a discourse of social change and renewal. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of Shaw's literary techniques and the power of laughter as a vehicle for cultural and social critique.