WTRW: Pygmalion

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Today for What to Read Wednesday I have a classic that I just had the pleasure of listening to on Audible. It's actually a play from 1912 written by George Bernard Shaw: Pygmalion. And although it is over 100 years old, I found the themes and plot still suitable to our present times. Read on to see why!

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw

Pygmalion is named after a Greek mythological figure Pygmalion, a sculptor who fell in love with his sculpture. Venus changed his sculpture into a real women and they were married. This parallels to Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion as Eliza Doolittle is brought out of the gutters and taught proper English by Professor Henry Higgins. But Do Higgins and Doolittle marry in Shaw's Pygmalion? You'll have to read it to find out!

I really enjoyed this play. As I said, I listened to it on Audible and the version I listened to had all different actors playing each character, so it made it easy to follow along.

And although set over 100 years ago, the themes of appearance and identity, social class, and feminism. All topics we are still talking about on a daily basis. I loved the way it was presented, subtly and with humor. Eliza becomes a very strong and self-assured woman by the end of the play, but still maintains her manners with those about her. 

You may be thinking these names Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins sound familiar, that's because My Fair Lady is based on Pygmalion. Though it has been changed, so I suggest reading the play too! 

So have you read this lovely classic? Will you now? Let us know in the comments below!