Pygmalion
Brief Overview
Pygmalion is a play by Bernard Shaw, written in 1912 and first performed on stage in 1913. The plot centers on Professor of Phonetics Henry Higgins, who makes a bet that he can teach a street flower seller, Eliza Doolittle, to speak English so well that she will be accepted as a lady of high society. During the course of her education, Higgins and his friend Colonel Pickering encounter various challenges, but ultimately the experiment is a success. This transformation not only changes Eliza's speech but also her outlook on life, self-awareness, and place in society. Ultimately, the play touches on themes of social class, self-identity, and human relationships, concluding with reflections on independence and self-respect.
Date of publication: 14 May 2024
Updated: 15 November 2026
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Genre: Classical literature
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