Pygmalion (Dover Thrift Editions: Plays)

In addition to the original text of Shaw's play, there is also a significant Foreword, providing historical context to the time the play was mounted, and illuminating the musical that was developed from it, "My Fair Lady". A worthy addition to any actor's repertoire for some fun scene work.

Great classic!Was an easy read as it was a play so there was little struggle with the language of the time, although Eliza's initial dialect proved challenging to understand, however I found reading it aloud helped decipher what she was saying. Fabulous descriptions of the set from Shaw allowing a reader to really captivate the reality of the location and draw up a setting and acting as a great baseline for directors and set designers. Simple but interesting storyline. Short book and a great quick read!

** Spoilers***I don't often write reviews with spoilers, but I can't really explain why I like this book so much without talking about the ending. As with many of my reviews of classics, I find that I must review this book in comparison with the movie that I had seen first. The musical "My Fair Lady" is based off of this play to the point that many scenes are even word-for-word. The differences between the musical and this book, though, is huge in my opinion.The story for both "Pygmalion" and "My Fair Lady" is about both Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. Professor Higgins is a linguist who forms a bet with Pickering to covert Eliza from a poor flower girl to a duchess just by cleaning her speech.The musical really focuses on the character development of Professor Higgins. Eliza tries to exert her independence, but she ends up coming back to Higgins like an abused wife comes back to a pouty abusive husband. The costumes and music are so beautiful that we try to believe that Higgins is actually in love with Eliza even though there is absolutely no proof of it. I thought the actors were great in this movie, but I found the story disturbing. The lesson was very male-centric and Eliza's independence meant nothing in the end. She came back to fetch his slippers. Nothing changed for her.From the moment "Pygmalion" was written reader tried to create this sort of love sort between Eliza and Higgins. This caused Mr. Shaw to write a long epilogue explain why a romantic ending such as this was impossible. I completely agree with Mr. Shaw in this."My Fair Lady," portrays inconsistent characters and demeans women. "Pygmalion" is much more consistent and, for a book written by a man, one of the best depictions of women I have ever read.In "Pygmalion," Eliza is actually the focus. Higgins thinks of himself as the perfect Victorian gentleman who is creating a piece of art like in the Greek story of Pygmalion. What we learn in the end, though, is that Eliza was always a person of value even before Higgins came around. Eliza learned to be a lady from Pickering because he treated her like a lady from the beginning. Higgins treated Eliza horribly from the beginning and never stopped. It wasn't Eliza's speech that made her a lady, because we find out she had a fantastic ear for both speech and music, instead, it was actually how she was treated that matters. Higgins never learns this. His horrible manners and rudeness separate him from good society, while Eliza shines wherever she goes. With all the characters of this story, from Freddy to Eliza's father, we learn that there is very little difference between high society and they gutter other than money.Eliza in the end of "Pygmalion" chooses to marry Freddy who loves her. This is as it should be. When being loved and appreciated is so important to Eliza, why would she choose to go back to the horrible treatment of Higgins? Freddy and she open a flower shop with the help of Pickering. Eliza does stay close to Higgins as she does her own awful father, but she has learned self-respect. Once a person learns to value themselves, they can't allow another person to take that away.I know many people who think that this ending is a shame. They like Higgin's bullying ways. I find these are the same people who read romance novels in which male character rapes the female character under the name of "romantic". Even though I like James Bond novels, I most certainly do not agree with his horrible treatment of women. I can like Higgins for who he is, but I am very grateful he chooses to stay a bachelor.Eliza's character has learned to rise up and make her own choices. This isn't a Cinderella story as so many people want it to be. Eliza's soul is still the same. She is a survivor and a fighter. It takes a very strong woman to stand up to a man like Higgins who can twist and turn words to get his way. She is what a woman should be and even gets the support of Higgin's mother in her battle for independence. Mr. Shaw understood well what a woman wants and values. Eliza doesn't try to become a man to fight back. She just fights back.This review may have ruined "My Fair Lady" for you, but I find I can still enjoy the music and costumes just fine. After reading this book, I can even watch the musical with the satisfaction that Eliza doesn't stay in that abusive situation for long. I honestly can enjoy the movie more now after having read the book. Higgins is not Pygmalion even though he wanted to be. Eliza instead is able to show that she always was alive and had value from the very beginning. This is as it should be.I recommend this book to young adults and older. I wish, especially, that women would read this and learn to expect more from their relationships. I wish that woman would look at this portrait of a strong female character and see that you don't have to marry the bully just because you can care about him. Love is more than compassion. I wish that woman would stop writing "romantic" novel based off of abusive relationships. Mr. Shaw is a man who understood women better than many women understand women.One line from "My Fair Lady" that you will never read in "Pygmalion" is "why can't a woman be more like a man?" In many ways, Mr. Shaw actually asks Higgins "why can't you humble yourself enough to learn from Eliza?"

It was a good book, but Eliza is kinda annoying. The book is pretty small tho.

George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, a social commentary and comedy about the transformation of a poor flower girl (Liza Doolittle) has been presented on stage and screen in various ways since its first publication. The title is in reference to the Greek legend of Pygmalion, a sculptor who literally fell in love with his creation. In Shaw’s play, it is Henry Higgins, a professor in phonetics, who tries to literally sculp Liza into the proper lady.For some reason, I had a hard time getting invested in this one, and I think it stemmed from the characters and the dialogue. The characters were not very redeeming or sympathetic to me, and it was hard to identify with or care about any of them. I think this is because the dialogue is a bit scattered and flat; it seems like the character exchanges had a little too much cantankerous and obnoxious banter back and forth. In another sense, this play seems like it really has not aged well, and is a tad dated. So, while I can see how some people might find some charm in this satire, I did not find it particularly compelling.I think that seeing this on stage or on film might actually be a more engaging experience than reading it because I think that those who perform it could give their own take or interpretation to Shaw’s dialogue. I can see how Shaw’s play would be a big hit on stage and would have big production value.At any rate, I am glad I finally read it, but over all a so-so reading experience with this one.

Read this book and find out. Now I know what happens to Elizabeth Doolittle. If you read this book you will too.

Simply a masterpiece! It strongly depicts how the deepest emotions affect human relations and how the most complex of connections arise among souls.

Ok

Enjoyably reading

Comprato quando andavo al liceo, arrivato in condizioni ottime. Consigliato per chi studia lingue e letteratura.Approvato e consigliato!