Pygmalion

Pygmalion is a play by , first performed in 1913. The story revolves around Henry Higgins, a phonetics professor who makes a bet with his friend, Colonel Pickering, that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower girl with a strong Cockney accent, into a refined lady who can speak with an upper-class accent. Through rigorous training and numerous challenges, Eliza undergoes a significant transformation. However, the play raises questions about identity, class, and personal agency, as Eliza grapples with her new identity and her independence from Higgins. Shaw’s play is a sharp critique of the British class system and explores themes of social mobility and self-determination. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and polemicist who exerted significant influence on Western theatre, culture, and politics. Born in Dublin, Shaw moved to London where he became a prominent member of the Fabian Society, advocating for social reform. He wrote more than 60 plays, many of which address social issues with sharp wit and intellectual rigor. Some of his best-known works include “”Man and Superman,”” “”Saint Joan,”” and “”Pygmalion.”” Shaw was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 for his contributions to literature. —- ISBN: 9798327952409