Pygmalion story
Pygmalion is a play by George Bernard Shaw, named after a Greek mythological figure. It was first presented on stage to the public in 1913. Speech Professor Higgins attempts to turn the cockney flower girl Eliza into a proper Lady.
11 total · 6 major · 5 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| character metamorphosis | major | Eliza underwent a substantial change in terms of character and social destiny |
| man vs. woman | major | in particular Pickering and Higgins vs. Eliza, Mrs. Higgins and Mrs. Pearce |
| manners | major | Eliza was taught aristocratic manners along with speech improvement |
| rise to prominence from humble beginnings | major | Eliza and Alfred came into wealth and status. |
| social inequality | major | compared were the destinies of poor people like Eliza with rich people like the Higgins |
| sociolinguistics | major | Accents, dialects, and the art of speaking was discussed in a fairly scientific way with relation to social status. |
| husband and wife | minor | Doolittle speaks about his domestic situation |
| learning languages | minor | Elizas challenge was compared to that of learning French |
| romantic relationship | minor | Eliza is poised to marry Freddy at the end |
| table manners | minor | Eliza was taught aristocratic table manners |