Pygmalion

“Pygmalion” a famous play, written by George Bernard Shaw.

The story of Pygmalion originates from ancient Greek mythology about a sculptor named Pygmalion who falls in love with a statue that he created himself with the help of the goddess Aphrodite, he brings the statue to life.

Act 1:

The play opens on a rainy night in Covent Garden, London, where Professor Henry Higgins, a highly skilled phonetics expert, and his friend Colonel Pickering, a fellow linguist, encounter a poor flower girl named Eliza Doolittle. Eliza, who is used to selling flowers in the streets. She has a strong Cockney dialect. Cockney is the dialect of the working classes of London. Higgins tells Pickering that he could teach Eliza to speak so properly that she could pass off as a duchess at an embassy ball. Pickering, whose interest has also been aroused, makes a bet with Higgins.

The bet is that Higgins must teach Eliza to speak “correctly” and present her as a refined lady in high society within six months.

Act 2:

Eliza visits Higgins at his home, expressing her desire to learn proper speech so she can get a job in a flower shop. Despite her poor background, she is determined to better herself. Higgins, with his housekeeper Mrs Pearce’s help, begins the gruelling process of training Eliza.

Higgins and Pickering immerse Eliza in intense phonetics exercises and force her to repeat sounds and phrases repeatedly. Slowly, she starts to improve, and her appearance is also refined with new clothes and grooming.

Act 3:

Eliza’s training progresses, But, the process is not easy. she faces many challenges and struggles. She works hard to change her speech, manners, and appearance, she often feels frustrated by Higgins’ demanding and heartless teaching methods.

During this time, Eliza meets Freddy Eynsford-Hill, a kind but very poor young man who is strongly attracted to her.

For detailed information (summary & theme) please watch My YouTube video on Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.