Table of contentsImportant themes and purpose of PygmalionCinematographic adaptation of the created mythConclusionThe Greek myth of Pygmalion, about a sculptor and the woman he creates and whose he falls in love, has been appropriated in various texts from different eras, and made relevant to a wide range of audiences. In particular, the English play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw and the American film Pretty Woman adopted a certain language, form and values, in order to communicate this same story to different audiences in specific cultural contexts. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Important Themes and Purpose of Pygmalion The universal themes addressed in the myth of Pygmalion characterize its suitability for these appropriations. Issues such as beauty, prejudice, striving for perfection, relationships, and dreams are applicable to virtually everyone, and these themes result in appropriations relevant to almost every cultural context. For example, the idea of ​​creating a beautiful living woman from a block of ivory, that is, creating something considered "nothing" into a real and true person, has been applied to two other contexts. In Shaw's Pygmalion, the "nothing" of this era is a poor bridesmaid, while in the cultural context of Pretty Woman, a "nothing" is a prostitute. Another example of a universal issue is the notion of societal expectations and what is considered appropriate. In Pygmalion the sculptor is embarrassed to be in love with a simple statue, in Shaw's time a bridesmaid could never mingle with high society, and in Pretty Woman Edward keeps it as discreet as possible the fact that Vivien is a prostitute. It is these underlying themes that constitute the fundamental connections between the three texts, each with a different interpretation of the story and each conveying messages relevant to their cultural context. The purpose of appropriation of the piece very well reflects the cultural context in which it was composed. . Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw takes place in 1912, at a time when social barriers were extremely high and a new class was emerging: the middle class. The lower class struggled while the upper classes looked down on them. Shaw was aware that people were judged largely on their social background, wealth or appearance, not on their true worth as a person. His second criticism was that "it is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without being scorned by another Englishman." He believed that the English language and alphabet were in dire need of reform and that if all sounds were legitimized then all speech would be acceptable. This in turn would help eliminate the social barriers that existed during his time. Having observed these problems in his society, Shaw was determined to open the eyes of those around him through the play he wrote. Therefore, Pygmalion has a somewhat didactic focus and some restraint of romance, which would detract from the message. One way this message is communicated is through the use of varied speech throughout the play. From Pickering’s gentle politeness to everyone: “Excuse the direct question, Higgins. Are you a man of good morals when it comes to women? to Eliza's cockney "Oo-ow, eez yo-ooa son, aren't you?" speech is used to make us aware of these barriers, and in scenes like “at home,” language is a powerful tool. Mrs. Higgin's guests engage in small talkgenerals, who are gradually ridiculed when Eliza begins to join them. With her new accent, she is now attentively listened to and admired, with guests thinking that the strange meaning of the words is just part of a new fashion. “The new chatter, you do it terribly well!” Freddy said to Eliza. Shaw heavily ridicules this class when Eliza begins to discuss the "barometric situation" in depth. The use of humor draws greater attention to Shaw's comments on the society of his time; that society indulges in meaningless chatter and bases opinions solely on someone's appearance. Shaw also felt the need to use the first "bloody" on stage, which gained him publicity, as it was seen as a swear word with which he pushed the boundaries. This humor was his way of conveying his message to society, an almost shocking reaction, because when the swear word was first uttered, "the play stopped for a full minute until the audience had finished laugh,” said the Daily Sketch the next day. The clever use of such language would have only been relevant to the audience and cultural context of the time – "bloody" is hardly considered a swear word by today's audiences. The choice of medium strongly reflects the cultural context in which this text was composed. He believed that theater was "growing in importance as a social organ" in the early 1900s and that theater should be concerned with conflict and ideas. So, while choosing this popular and entertaining form, he intended to write plays that were not trivial and meaningless like many others. He felt it was important for plays to make comments on society and often left the audience feeling a little uncomfortable while watching the performances. In Pygmalion, his critiques of society and class barriers had to reach people, particularly stuck in these classes, and in 1912 the theater proved to be the most effective vehicle. The values ​​communicated in these texts are probably one of the strongest reflections on the period in which they were composed. Appearance, especially beauty, and good manners are held in high esteem. For example, in order for Eliza to be accepted into the upper classes/at the ambassador's garden party, she is dressed in jewelry and beautiful dresses, conforming to society's expectations. The idea of ​​treating people the right way is also brought up several times by various characters such as Eliza "I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me like a lady, and you will always" and Higgins' comment that "You shouldn't exclude your old friends now that you've grown up in the world. This is called snobbery. This reflects how this society values ​​good manners and how people are treated. Money often dictates status in this society and we see this through Alfred Dolittle's reflections on his quick encounter with a fortune: "A year ago I didn't have a parent in the world, except two or three, who didn't speak to me. Now I have fifty, and not a week's decent pay among them. » Cinematic adaptation of the myth created George Bernard Shaw took the myth of Pygmalion and adapted it to his times through the adaptation of a "nothing" to a flower girl, a sculptor, a phonetician and a Greek myth, a educational piece on the downfalls of its society and its values. In the second appropriation of Pygmalion in Pretty Woman, the statue is a prostitute, the creator a businessman and the form is a feel-good Hollywood film.