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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I love My Fair Lady and I had thought that I'd read this before, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this must have been a first read for me. I found this quite humorous and loved the discussion of how there is a class divide based on one's speech. The idea of bettering oneself through improving speech was also interesting, especially since it becomes a question of it there is real betterment. The discussion of freedoms, gender roles, and the importance of affection (regardless of what kind) was also very fun.
For: readers looking for a classic play about the class struggle in England via language/dialect.
Possible red flags: mentions of physical abuse from one's past; bullying; misogyny; classism/class struggles/class discussion.
For: readers looking for a classic play about the class struggle in England via language/dialect.
Possible red flags: mentions of physical abuse from one's past; bullying; misogyny; classism/class struggles/class discussion.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This play is hilarious, quotable, and a smart examination of class mobility. I loved it.
Having seen My Fair Lady (a musical adaptation of this play), I was surprised to find that Pygmalion focuses much more around the relationship between Higgins and Eliza, with most of Eliza’s language development taking place off-stage. Stripping the story to this core brings the issue of how Higgins and Pickering view and treat Eliza front and center. They treat her as an amusing experiment, but don’t consider that they are playing with an actual human life. This conflict becomes more and more apparent as the play moves forward, coming to a head in the final act. Overall, this conflict is far more interesting than Higgin’s and Pickering’s bet and any tension around whether Eliza will be discovered as a person of lower class.
At the heart of the story is Eliza’s development. Her growth from flower girl to lady via learning to speak correct English takes place on the surface, meanwhile she learns to be independent of the forces that made her (initially class, then Higgins). Her metamorphoses stands in contrast to Higgin’s own inability, or unwillingness, to change. By the end, Higgins and Eliza both understand how hypocritical the class structure is, and how superficial the differences between someone of high- and low-class are. However, where Higgins studies and mocks people of all classes, Eliza wishes to use her knowledge to help others overcome the social structure.
Eliza and Higgins are both well-realized characters who get some of the best lines in the play, and until the end I never really knew whether one would get the best of the other.
A part of me wishes that the swear words used in Pygmalion were still considered as offensive as they were at the time the play was written; regardless, the comedy here still holds up (with perhaps exception to a bit where Eliza is dressed in a kimono). Witty dialogue is dripping from the pages, and while characters are often made to look foolish, Shaw never looks down on any of them.
Overall, this play has great writing, characters, and comedy. It has interesting ideas and each gets a moment in the spotlight. As a bonus, it’s a fast read, so there’s no reason not to pick it up for an enjoyable morning, afternoon, or evening.
Having seen My Fair Lady (a musical adaptation of this play), I was surprised to find that Pygmalion focuses much more around the relationship between Higgins and Eliza, with most of Eliza’s language development taking place off-stage. Stripping the story to this core brings the issue of how Higgins and Pickering view and treat Eliza front and center. They treat her as an amusing experiment, but don’t consider that they are playing with an actual human life. This conflict becomes more and more apparent as the play moves forward, coming to a head in the final act. Overall, this conflict is far more interesting than Higgin’s and Pickering’s bet and any tension around whether Eliza will be discovered as a person of lower class.
At the heart of the story is Eliza’s development. Her growth from flower girl to lady via learning to speak correct English takes place on the surface, meanwhile she learns to be independent of the forces that made her (initially class, then Higgins). Her metamorphoses stands in contrast to Higgin’s own inability, or unwillingness, to change. By the end, Higgins and Eliza both understand how hypocritical the class structure is, and how superficial the differences between someone of high- and low-class are. However, where Higgins studies and mocks people of all classes, Eliza wishes to use her knowledge to help others overcome the social structure.
Eliza and Higgins are both well-realized characters who get some of the best lines in the play, and until the end I never really knew whether one would get the best of the other.
A part of me wishes that the swear words used in Pygmalion were still considered as offensive as they were at the time the play was written; regardless, the comedy here still holds up (with perhaps exception to a bit where Eliza is dressed in a kimono). Witty dialogue is dripping from the pages, and while characters are often made to look foolish, Shaw never looks down on any of them.
Overall, this play has great writing, characters, and comedy. It has interesting ideas and each gets a moment in the spotlight. As a bonus, it’s a fast read, so there’s no reason not to pick it up for an enjoyable morning, afternoon, or evening.
slow-paced
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
fast-paced