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Pygmalion Review

Oh my! I love it! G.B. Shaw's character Henry Higgins is disdainful, petulant and impetuous. Simultaneously he's admirable and even a man to be envied! Disdainful because of his complete lack of proper manners, total lack of tact and disgraceful way in which he devalues a young woman for his professional experiments; enviable because in his lack of tact he pretty much says whatever's on his mind, not being burdened with what might be better left unsaid; what is socially acceptable. And honestly, I'm sure we've all had those days where we'd just like to "pull a Higgins" and tell the world what we really think! The difference is he does it, but most of us don't.

I know this wasn't written as a comedy, but this play really has some very funny scenes. I could go through and point out numerous exchanges in dialogue between Eliza and Higgins that are just a riot; Higgins and his overly honest opinions and Eliza as she calls him to task towards the end of the play for the manner in which she has been treated. Indeed, I'm sure analytical essays and social discourses could be written, and probably have been, on the relationships in this play.

This play really should be read with some level of cerebral engagement by the reader; the reader is well served to read it with sincerity and thought, to make an effort to be engaged and to pick-up the subtleties and moral points presented by Shaw. Though we're nearly 100 years removed from when this play was first released, Shaw presents some social commentary and moral points that are still very relevant and spot-on today. Unfortunately, I think some readers today will completely miss the points Shaw seeks to bring to fore.

Finally, the play on language and classes is perfect for the English setting. A question as to whether those themes might play well outside of England is answered by the global success and longevity of the play. Class systems and divisions of socioeconomic status, whether based on language, race, religion, etc, are global and universal. An audience most anywhere will understand the underlying themes that Shaw presents in Pygmalion even though the use of language and accents may be uniquely English. This play continues to be a favorite of audiences even after a century (it plays in my town next week at the local summer outdoor theater).

Pygmalion Overview

This play is based on the Greek myth of Pygmalion. It tells the story of Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics (based on phonetician Henry Sweet), who makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can successfully pass off a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, as a refined society lady by teaching her how to speak with an upper class accent and training her in etiquette. In the process, Higgins and Doolittle grow close, but she ultimately rejects his domineering ways and declares she will marry Freddy Eynsford-Hill - a young, poor, gentleman.

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Customer Reviews

A brilliant satire on the British class system! - Marie Martin -
I strongly recommend this book. It's a brilliant satire on the British class system. In this classic play George Bernard Shaw shocked audiences by turning a Cockney flower girl into a lady who could pass for a royal by merely being trained to speak with an upper class accent and taught good manners. At the time the idea of girl like the character Eliza being able to be pass herself off as a royal, was unthinkable. There was a very strong "us and them" mentality between the classes. They may as well have been from different planets; that's how large the divide was.

This was truly a bold and scandalous idea that Shaw had brought to life. He dared to deem the only difference between the classes to be environment and education rather that blood and breeding.

George Bernard Shaw created numerous masterpieces over the span of his writing career. He has the distinction of being the only person to ever be awarded both an Oscar and the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was a very humble and conscientious man, a political activist and a vegetarian. His conscientiousness shows in his work by his inability to write meaningless fluff at a time when fluff dominated the stage. His trademark is his classic use of ample humor in dramas with serious subject matter. It takes a special kind of genius to be able to pull that off as flawlessly as he did.
This book is excellent. It's as thought provoking as it is entertaining. There are times when you can't help laughing out loud. You'll be better for reading it. His works just have that effect - they both enrich and uplift you.

This is the best and most famous of Shaw's works. - Felicity Barrington - The Wet Coast
This is the best and most famous of Shaw's works. I could read it over and over again. The characters are vibrant, the banter is brilliant, and the plot is excellent. Shaw takes on the class system, and the results are side splitting hilarious.

Eliza Doolittle is my favorite character. She's wonderfully outrageous. The words that came out of her mouth really shocked audiences back in the day. It's wonderful to see this duckling turn into a swan without losing any of her fire. Her transformation is an amazing thing to behold, and her headstrong stunts and the times when she suddenly reverts back to her Cockney accent and lingo are hilarious.

Shaw is my favorite of the Victorian playwrights. His works were revolutionary in many ways. Use of humor was rare and exceptional for playwrights during that era, but Shaw was not afraid to make audiences laugh. He also tackled serious moral, political, and social issues in his plays at a time when sappy dramas were all the rage. He was truly bold and innovative and greatly contributed to dramatic art. He had an amazing gift, the ability to make people think while simultaneously making them laugh.

Reading Shaw's works are a genuine treat. All of his plays are fabulous. His characters are memorable, and his humor is brilliant.
This is a wonderful story, charming, significant, and insightful. I can't recommend it enough.

All kinds of hilarity! - Kylie Edwards - North America
What happens when you pull a girl out of the gutter and make it your goal to teach her how to act like a princess? All kinds of hilarity!

This story was smart and funny. I loved it and wanted more when it was over. I'll have to buy another one of Shaw's books. I just love his style. I can't resist any chance I can get to peek into the mind of a genius, and Shaw was a true genius. This story was delightful and brilliant. Eliza is unforgettable. She's intelligent, fiery, and stubborn and makes Higgins earn every cent of the money wagered in his bet that he can transform her into a lady. This is an absolutely charming story. I highly recommend it.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 18:33:05

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Tuesday, August 31, 2010