The original Pygmalion is a sculptor who creates a beautiful woman out of clay and is rewarded when she turns human. How does Henry Higgins mold Eliza’s character in much the same way? As Eliza’s creator, does Higgins deserve a certain amount of control over her? Where does his creation end and Eliza’s independence begin? What is the nature of the relationship between artists and their art? Discuss.
In the original Pygmalion myth, the sculptor creates a beautiful woman out of clay and is rewarded when she turns human. Likewise, in the play, Pygmalion, Shaw takes the myth and attributes the same characteristics and actions to Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. Henry Higgins is Pygmalion and Eliza is the sculpture that he molds and creates. Thus, Henry Higgins molds Eliza in the same way as Pygmalion as he makes her in his image. Both Pygmalion and Higgins are artists in their own ways, with sculpting and phonetics. Higgins molds Eliza by turning her from a common flower girl into a duchess. By changing the way she dressed and how she spoke and acted, he was able to win his bet and have people think that she is of royal blood.
In the original Pygmalion myth, the sculptor creates a beautiful woman out of clay and is rewarded when she turns human. Likewise, in the play, Pygmalion, Shaw takes the myth and attributes the same characteristics and actions to Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. Henry Higgins is Pygmalion and Eliza is the sculpture that he molds and creates. Thus, Henry Higgins molds Eliza in the same way as Pygmalion as he makes her in his image. Both Pygmalion and Higgins are artists in their own ways, with sculpting and phonetics. Higgins molds Eliza by turning her from a common flower girl into a duchess. By changing the way she dressed and how she spoke and acted, he was able to win his bet and have people think that she is of royal blood.
With the artist’s control, Higgins had power over Eliza throughout the entire process. In the beginning, Eliza was determined to get Higgins to teach her proper grammar. She offered him money and begged him to teach her. However, with Higgins’s arrogance, he declined her monetary contribution and did the experiment out of pride. With Eliza owing him nothing, she gave him full control over her and did everything he expected her to do, even though it was not easy at times. But, once Eliza succeeded in doing what was expected of her, Higgins lost control of her. This was evident in Act IV when Eliza lashed out at Higgins. Throughout the entire process, Eliza followed all of Higgins orders. During this time, she also realized that she did not get what she was hoping for. When she asked Higgins for lessons, she thought that by becoming a lady, she would get the same treatment that other “ladies” got. Unfortunately, she had to learn the hard way and realized that Higgins only viewed her as much as his slippers. Thus, by throwing his slippers at him, Eliza proves to him that he no longer has power and that she has control over her own life. This event then marks Eliza’s independence, as she no longer relied on Higgins to lead her life.
In regards to the relationship between the artist and the art, the play shows that the artist is the art. Due to the fact that the artist creates art in order to convey his or her feelings, the art is the artist’s thoughts and feelings. The play is like the myth, as Higgins falls in love with his art. However, unlike Pygmalion, Higgins fails to express his love for his art. As a result, he loses control and contact with her. Thus, Higgins loses a part of himself because Eliza is his body, mind, and soul. After working on her, he passes on his traits and skills to her. Without him, Eliza would still be the same common flower girl in the gutter. However, due to Higgins’s pride and arrogance, he lets her go. For this reason, he remains a bachelor and fails to show his love for his art.
In regards to the relationship between the artist and the art, the play shows that the artist is the art. Due to the fact that the artist creates art in order to convey his or her feelings, the art is the artist’s thoughts and feelings. The play is like the myth, as Higgins falls in love with his art. However, unlike Pygmalion, Higgins fails to express his love for his art. As a result, he loses control and contact with her. Thus, Higgins loses a part of himself because Eliza is his body, mind, and soul. After working on her, he passes on his traits and skills to her. Without him, Eliza would still be the same common flower girl in the gutter. However, due to Higgins’s pride and arrogance, he lets her go. For this reason, he remains a bachelor and fails to show his love for his art.