Old Books, New Readers discussion

Hi All,

This is the discussion thread for the August 2020 Book of the Month - Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.

For those who do not have the book, it is available for free from Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3825


I don't have a copy of the paperback, but it looks like it is about 100 pages, so I won't bother making a reading schedule for this.

I am running a bit behind; I just got my book from the library. I haven't read this play before and I don't think I have seen My Fair Lady in its entirety.

Thanks for sharing the Project Gutenberg link, Ian. I’ve just downloaded a free kindle copy so I’ll be starting the book soon. Looking forward to it!

How is everyone doing? I just finished act 4 and will probably finish the play this weekend.

It is probably common knowledge, but I did not know this; In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Pygmalion was a sculptor who created a sculpture so beautiful, he fell in love with it.

I think this may a spoiler on the plot direction in Act 5. :-)

Hello! I don't know if I've ever participated in a discussion thread in your group. I am a member, and I do follow your discussions, though!

I am not rereading Pygmalion right now, but it is a very favorite play of mine and I'd like to think I know it very well, so I thought I would add my two cents here. I think My Fair Lady is a well-written and often lovely musical adaptation of Pygmalion, but the ending is particularly distinct from that of the play, and really completely changes "the point", so to speak. I also hope your copies of Pygmalion come with George Bernard Shaw's introduction/end notes. The epilogue is incredibly poignant!

I'm not sure how spoilers work in your discussions, so I will stop here for now. Looking forward to reading more of everyone's thoughts!

I finished it and I think the movie is better. I wrote a whole review over on my blog (there's a link in my bio) if you want to see my spoiler-y thoughts.

Started reading this by checking out introduction and got hooked. Read it before but so long ago do not remember. Can not help hearing the voice of Audrey Hepburn as I read this. Love musicals and this is one of my favourites.

I’ve finished it. I’ve seen the movie before a long time ago but this was my first time reading the playing. I agree that the movie ending being different really changes point that was made in the play’s ending notes. However, I think both the play and the movie were equally enjoyable in their own way.

Ian wrote: "How is everyone doing? I just finished act 4 and will probably finish the play this weekend.

It is probably common knowledge, but I did not know this; In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Pygmalion was a scul..."

How are you doing? Did you finish? I just finished and spouting my just closed the book feelings, which are often different a few days later, I think Shaw should have never caved and wrote the sequel notes explaining what eventually happens to Eliza.

I know many people like things neatly wrapped up but i am fine with ambiguous endings.

How are you doing? Did you finish? I just finished and spouting my just closed the book feelings, which are often different a few days later, I think Shaw should have never caved and wrote the sequel notes explaining what eventually happens to Eliza."

Yes, I finished this past weekend. I fully agree with you - I was not a big fan of the epilogue after Act V. I did not realize that this was added on years later.

I find the premise that Hr Higgins, who has absolutely no manners or etiquette, would be able to pass off a "draggletailed guttersnipe" as a duchess merely by correcting her pronunciation. In Edwardian times, I would imagine that she would be found out fairly quickly by not knowing things like horse breeds, which fork is the eel fork, or even who are the other members of the nobility and how are they related.

LOL - Last weekend I happened to come across the DVD for My Fair Lady (still in the shrinkwrap) in my house - I think it was a stocking stuffer from extended family years ago. I will watch it this week!

I have to say, I quite like Shaw's epilogue. He wanted to keep the ending ambigious, while the film kind of resolves that ambiguity by hinting at a happy ending. (view spoiler)[ With his notes at the end, Shaw makes it clear that there is no fairytale ending for Eliza, and that class divide cannot be overcome by speaking with the right accent or wearing smart clothes, alone. (actually, in all probability, it can never be overcome...). I particularly like, how Shaw in his epilogue contrasts Freddy's decline, with Eliza's struggle to improve her circumstances, thus throwing into relief how both their lives are determined by their upbringing/social class. (hide spoiler)]

What I'm a bit puzzled by, is the motif of transformation, that is implied by the title of the play - Pygmalion. Obviously, the reference here is to Ovid. And indeed, all the elements of the ancient Roman story can be found in the play: Pygmalion/Higgins creates a work of art (Galatea/Eliza), that becomes more beautiful and more appealing, the more time he spents working on her. However, in Ovid, a central point of the story is the creator's own transformation, as well. But is there really a noticable transformation in Higgins? (view spoiler)[Ovid describes Pygmalion as a man dismayed by the immorality and flaws of real life women, that's why he prefers his lifeless marble statue. When Venus grants him his wish and brings Galatea to life, she also transforms him into a man who is able to overcome his own point of view and is able to love after all. In my opinion, this can't be said about Higgins... in the end he still is the same arrogant, cynical man he is in the beginning, who only views Eliza as an object of study. (hide spoiler)]

I actually liked that the epilogue was written years later. I do like ambiguous endings, but I also like to see the author’s POV as to what he intended, especially as he would have observed a multitude of audience interpretations at the time. I was supposed to see My Fair Lady onstage this Spring, but COVID had other plans for my 2020 theater subscription. It was fun to read the original as an at-home substitute.