Pygmalion

explain the myth of pygmalion in what significant ways and with what effect.has shaw transformed that myth into his plav?

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This story is about a sculptor who sculpts the most beautiful woman in stone ever and then falls in love with her. The sculptor's name is Pygmalion; the goddess in the myth transforms the stone into a real woman and they live happily ever after. Shaw uses Professor Higgins as his Pygmalion and the Flower Girl as his "statue." He transforms her from a very common flower girl into a beautiful woman who can shine in a royal ball and never make a misstep in her manners, her speech, and the way she carries herself.

The Pygmalion myth is a popular Greek myth about a sculptor named Pygmalion who falls in love with his own statue. According to the myth, Pygmalion created a beautiful statue of a woman and fell in love with it. He prayed to the goddess Aphrodite, who brought the statue to life, and Pygmalion married her. This myth has been retold and adapted in many forms of literature and art, but one of the most famous adaptations is George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion.

Shaw's Pygmalion is a play that tells the story of a phonetics professor named Henry Higgins who takes on the challenge of transforming a poor, uneducated flower girl named Eliza Doolittle into a lady of high society. The play is a satirical critique of British class distinctions and the idea of social mobility. Shaw transformed the Pygmalion myth in significant ways to reflect his own views on society and gender roles.

One of the most significant ways that Shaw transformed the Pygmalion myth is by reversing the roles of Pygmalion and Galatea. In the original myth, Pygmalion is the creator and Galatea is the creation. However, in Shaw's play, Eliza is the one who transforms herself with the help of Higgins, and Higgins is the one who creates the illusion of her transformation. Eliza is a strong, independent character who takes control of her own destiny and refuses to be a passive object of male desire. This transformation reflects Shaw's feminist beliefs and his rejection of the traditional gender roles of his time.

Another way that Shaw transformed the Pygmalion myth is by making Higgins a flawed and imperfect character. In the original myth, Pygmalion is a perfect artist who creates a flawless statue. However, Higgins is a flawed character who is insensitive, arrogant, and domineering. He treats Eliza as an experiment rather than a human being and is more interested in his own success than in her well-being. This transformation reflects Shaw's critique of the British class system and the arrogance of the upper classes.

Shaw also transformed the Pygmalion myth by emphasizing the importance of language and communication. In the original myth, Pygmalion falls in love with a statue because of its beauty. However, in Shaw's play, Eliza's transformation is not just about her appearance, but also about her ability to speak and communicate effectively. Higgins teaches Eliza how to speak like a lady, but she also learns how to express her own thoughts and feelings. This transformation reflects Shaw's belief in the power of language to shape our identities and our relationships with others.

One of the most significant transformations that Shaw made to the Pygmalion myth is the ending of the play. In the original myth, Pygmalion marries Galatea and they live happily ever after. However, in Shaw's play, Eliza rejects Higgins and chooses to leave him. This ending reflects Shaw's rejection of the idea that women should be passive objects of male desire and his belief in the importance of women's autonomy and independence.

Overall, Shaw's transformation of the Pygmalion myth reflects his own beliefs about society, gender roles, and the power of language. By reversing the roles of Pygmalion and Galatea, emphasizing the flaws of the upper classes, and emphasizing the importance of communication and autonomy, Shaw creates a powerful critique of British society and a celebration of women's independence and agency. The play remains a classic of modern literature and a powerful commentary on the human condition.