'Pygmalion' by George Bernard Shaw

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the the relationship between Higgins and Eliza in George Bernard Shaw's book 'Pygmalion'. The paper relates the Greek myth of Pygmalion to the character of Henry Higgins and discusses how Pygmalion and Galatea can be compared to Higgins and Eliza.

From the Paper:

"Although Higgins may have just viewed Eliza as a project, there was something in the beginning which did fascinate him. "Oh, I can't be bothered with young women. My idea of a lovable woman is somebody as like you [Mrs. Higgins] as possible. I shall never get into the way of seriously liking young women; some habits lie too deep to be changed." (Higgins, p. 71) Higgins also saw Eliza as a challenge. He saw her bad habits and for once actually thought these habits could be changed. As I mentioned earlier, Higgins found the local women to be a bore. He wanted someone more intellectually stimulating, well-mannered, and similar to his own mother. Underlying what society viewed as a duchess was also Higgins' upbringing which helped him to form his own notions of what a lady should be like. Whether he knew it or not, he subconsciously was teaching Eliza to be like the only woman he ever truly did know, his mother. He created a woman that he could love because she was created and taught under his specifications."

More papers on 'Pygmalion' by George Bernard Shaw:

• Book Review # 111260 : "George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion"
• Book Review # 91703 : "Pygmalion" and "Major Barbara"
• Comparison Essay # 101508 : "The Good Woman of Setzuan" and "Pygmalion"

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