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The son of Mrs. Eynsford Hill and the brother of Clara, Freddy occupies the role of the lovelorn fool. In the beginning of the play, Clara claims that he lacks “gumption,” suggesting that he is not overly confident or courageous. When Clara exclaims that other people were able to get cabs, but not Freddy, the play exposes the fact that his family sees him as futile. Moreover, when his mother sends him back out to seek a cab, he obliges her, thus showing that he is subservient to the whims of the women in his family. Though of course he belongs to the middle class, he is not financially independent, and his family’s wealth grants him the privilege and advantage of his class position. In this regard, Freddy is quite oblivious and naïve when it comes to matters of the world.
Freddy falls head over heels for Eliza. She considers him a potential marriage option during her argument with Higgins, even revealing the fact that Freddy writes to her constantly. Though Freddy might not be Eliza’s perfect match, he is at least infatuated with her and expresses desire for her in a way that Higgins does not. However, for Eliza, the possibility of marrying Freddy is more of a threat to Higgins than an actual display of her romantic interest in him.
