Pygmalion +
In Pygmalion, Shaw presents the classic theme of drama - the complexity inherent in human relationships. The play's major thematic concern is of course, romantic, as suggested by the title itself. In the Pygmalion narrative as told by Ovid in Metamorphoses, Pygmalion is described as having a repulsion for women and he thus decides to remain single.
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The original Pygmalion story is found in Ovid. Pygmalion is the story of a gifted young sculpter who is a woman hater. Ironically, the sculpture that most fascinates him and that he puts all of his genius into is a statue of a woman. The statue is exquisite, but Pygmalion wasn't content. He kept tweaking the statue, working on it until it was so well-made that it looked real, and no other woman--real or sculpted--could compare. Pygmalion reached a point, however, where he could improve nothing else on the statue, and he fell in love with his creation. The poor sculpter tried to pretend that the statue was real; he caressed it, tried to dress it up, brought it the gifts he thought a real woman would enjoy.…
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Following Merlau’s Ponty phenomenology theory, which indicates that an object is defined by its relationship with other objects, we can say that man in the story is portrayed as a social class oppressing women, restricting their freedom as human beings, and therefore dehumanising…
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The use of different forms highlights the different intended audiences. On one hand, Pygmalion was a play intended for the upper echelons on society. Pretty woman was created with the intention to blockbuster so it was consequently made into a film intended for the middle class.…
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Through Ovid's Metamorphosis the majority of the characters experience love in some way, shape or form. Relative to them all is the happy ending love fails to deliver. It's almost better to not be in love because nothing good comes from it. The idea of “Love” is an intense or deep feeling of affection and is usually a pleasant thing. Today's society has been conditioned to associate love with good and happiness, but the metamorphosis challenges that and shows another side of love. It explores almost all possible aspects of sexuality and incorporates love into the situation to come to a unifying result or resolution.…
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Alfred Doolittle's Lower Class Representation in Pygmalion Realist author George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion challenges England's upper class to realize the pointlessness of their flamboyant lifestyle and pokes fun at this society. Shaw writes to expose the differences in the lifestyles of the social classes and how different characters react to their status. Shaw uses Alfred Doolittle and his social status to depict a character that freely accepts his status and his reaction to eventually moving up social classes. Because of his dislike of "middle class morality", appreciation of and the freedom that accompanies his lower social status, and his eventual climb into the upper class, Doolittle presents a desire to remain in "undeserving poverty." Doolittle, throughout the play, demonstrates a dislike for "middle class morality." Before he becomes rich, Doolittle defines middle class morality as "an excuse of never giving me anything." Doolittle represents a dislike for middle class morality and wishes for "cheerfulness and a song" like those in the upper classes. Doolittle believes "middle class morality claims its victims." Eventually Doolittle becomes a "victim" when he is given money to lecture. Doolittle becomes apart of the upper class but dislikes being viewed as a member of this society. Doolittle says that he believes lower class men look at him and envy him. Doolittle says he, in fact, will look down to the lower class "helpless and envy them." Doolittle does not like the upper classes and "middle class morality." Throughout the play, Doolittle presents characteristics that suggest he accepts his current lower class social status and enjoys the freedom associated with his status. When asked by Colonial Pickering if he has no morals, Doolittle Stokes 2 establishes his status and distance from upper class characteristics by replying, "I can't afford them, Governor." Doolittle comments to Henry Higgins that "undeserving poverty is my line." Doolittle represents an…
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When Pyramus and Thisbe first went on their rendezvous in the woods, they never would have imagined that they would be the template on which many romantic stories are built. The story of the ill-fated lovers, as told in the Metamorphosis by Ovid, is one that has stood the test of time and became the story authors like William Shakespeare, song writers like Bethany Cosentino and directors like Jerome Robbins have used to express forbidden love, misunderstanding and loss. These elements of story have resonated over the ages with audiences due to our desire to love and be loved so much that we would do the most extreme things. Teenagers, especially, latch on to these story elements due to the inclusion of authority figures who…
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Shaw creates his own version of the Pygmalion myth by translating this allegory to reflect society in Victorian England. In doing so, he exposes the inadequacy of myth and of romance in several ways. For one, he deliberately twists the myth so that the play does not conclude as euphorically or conveniently, hanging instead in unusual ambiguity. Throughout the play, Shaw portrays the characters belabored by the trivial details of life like napkins and neckties, and of how one is going to find a taxi on a rainy night. These details keep the story grounded and decidedly less romantic. Society in Victorian…
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The year of Pygmalion's London premiere, marked tremendous changes in British society. Social roles in the Victorian era were viewed as natural and largely fixed: there was a fixed and accepted social order. In the aftermath of WW1 this fixed order was becoming more elastic. Shaw was first and foremost a playwright but he was also a committed socialist. He questioned the absurdity of inhered wealth and status and vice versa. Liza's ability to fool society about her "real" identity raises questions about appearances and the fundamental absurdities of “rules” in society. Like all great Shavian drama Pygmalion is a richly complex play. It combines a central story of the transformation of a young woman with elements of myth, fairy tale, and romance. It also combines an interesting plot with an exploration of social identity and relations between men and women among other issues. The ability to “morph” and change, to move from one layer of society to another is also explored. Thematically and stylistically Shavian, then and worth noting that it contains elements of socialist theory, if that is the reading we choose. Throughout his adult life Bernard Shaw plumped for exchanging the present social order for another, yet most of his lengthy career was dedicated to effecting gradual change in a strictly constitutional manner. This becomes even more evident in his later work but is clearly evident here also. Rate answer: Flag as inappropriate Posted by mstokes on Sunday January 17, 2010 at 11:28 AM kplhardison Student Graduate School Editor Expert Scribe Best answer as selected by question asker. The aspects of George Bernard Shaw's plays that are characteristic of Shavian plays (related to or pertaining to plays written by George Bernard Shaw) are wit, entertainment that intends to instruct, didactic themes, appeal to "life force", women characters more attuned to "life force" than men, reality is contrasted to conventional wisdom. Shavian plays share the characteristics of…
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