Pygmalion

by George Bernard Shaw

Pygmalion: Tone 1 key example

Definition of Tone

The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Act 3
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone of Pygmalion is both humorous and critical. The play’s characters are, at times, ridiculous, and their mistakes and overcompensations create a sense of humor in their wake. However, the humor often serves a particular purpose, which complicates the humor’s easy brightness. The moments of humor often accentuate the differences between the characters in order to comment on power and class.