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Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion" is a social commentary on the British class system of the early 20th century, wrapped in a narrative inspired by the Greek myth of the same name. The play centers around Professor Henry Higgins, an expert in phonetics, who makes a bet with Colonel Pickering that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, into a refined lady through the power of speech training1.
Summary
Two old gentlemen meet in the rain one night at Covent Garden. Professor Higgins is a scientist of phonetics, and Colonel Pickering is a linguist of Indian dialects. The first bets the other that he can, with his knowledge of phonetics, convince high London society that, in a matter of months, he will be able to transform the cockney speaking Covent Garden flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a woman as self-confident and well-spoken as a duchess. The next morning, the girl appears at his laboratory on Wimpole Street to ask for speech lessons, offering to pay a shilling, so that she may speak properly enough to work in a flower shop. Higgins makes merciless fun of her, but is seduced by the idea of working his magic on her. Pickering goads him on by agreeing to cover the costs of the experiment if Higgins can pass Eliza off as a duchess at an ambassador's garden party. The challenge is taken, and Higgins starts by having his housekeeper bathe Eliza and give her new clothes. Then Eliza's father Alfred Doolittle comes to demand the return of his daughter, though his real intention is to hit Higgins up for some money. The professor, amused by Doolittle's unusual rhetoric, gives him five pounds. On his way out, the dustman fails to recognize the now clean, pretty flower girl as his daughter.
For a number of months, Higgins trains Eliza to speak properly. Two trials for Eliza follow. The first occurs at Higgins' mother's home, where Eliza is introduced to a trio of classy mother, daughter, and son. The son Freddy is very attracted to her, and further taken with what he thinks is her affected "small talk" when she slips into cockney. Mrs. Higgins worries that the experiment will lead to problems once it is ended, but Higgins and Pickering are too absorbed in their game to take heed. A second trial takes place some months later at an ambassador's party and is successful as well. The bet is definitely won, but Higgins and Pickering are now bored with the project, which causes Eliza to be hurt. She throws Higgins' slippers at him in a rage because she does not know what is to become of her, thereby bewildering him. He suggests she marry somebody. She returns him the hired jewelry, and he accuses her of ingratitude.
The following morning, Higgins rushes to his mother, in a panic because Eliza has run away. On his tail is Eliza's father. Mrs. Higgins, who has been hiding Eliza upstairs all along, blames the two of them for playing with the girl's affections. When she enters, Eliza thanks Pickering for always treating her like a lady, but threatens Higgins that she will go work with his rival phonetician, Nepommuck. The outraged Higgins cannot help but start to admire her. As Eliza leaves, Higgins

shouts out a few errands for her to run, assuming that she will return to him at Wimpole Street. Eliza, who has a lovelorn sweetheart in Freddy, and the wherewithal to pass as a duchess, never makes it clear whether she will or not.
Comparison with the Myth of Pygmalion
The original myth of Pygmalion tells the story of a sculptor who falls in love with a statue he has created. Dissatisfied with the women around him, Pygmalion sculpts his ideal woman in ivory. His love and prayers are so intense that the goddess Aphrodite brings the statue to life, and Pygmalion marries her6.
Similarities:
Transformation: Both the play and the myth revolve around the theme of transformation. In the myth, a statue is transformed into a living being, while in the play, Eliza's social status is transformed.
Creation: Pygmalion's statue and Eliza are both 'creations' of their respective Pygmalions—Eliza being molded by Higgins's teachings.
Differences:
Love: In the myth, Pygmalion falls in love with his creation, whereas in Shaw's play, Higgins remains emotionally detached from Eliza, viewing her more as an experiment.
Setting: The myth is set in ancient times and involves divine intervention, while the play is set in modern London and focuses on social issues.
Outcome: The myth ends with a union between creator and creation, while the play leaves Eliza's future uncertain, challenging the audience to consider the implications of her transformation.
In conclusion, while Shaw's "Pygmalion" shares the theme of transformation with the ancient myth, it uses this motif to explore deeper societal issues, making it a timeless piece that resonates with modern audiences. The play's enduring relevance lies in its ability to provoke thought about the nature of change, whether personal or societal, and the true meaning of creation.