Pygmalion Lesson Plan

It's Only Natural

Kind of Activity:

Individual Writing

Objective:

To engage with Mr. Doolittle's idea of "natural" behavior vs. that which is demanded by class norms.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1.A

Structure:

We often consider morality as a system of values that is consistent for all members of society—a standard of behavior that we are taught by our culture and expected to uphold. However, Mr. Doolittle presents a very different idea of morality: behavior that is natural to him and his happiness. He detests what he calls "middle class morality" precisely because it tries to tell...