“We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.”- Unknown. Shaw wrote "Pygmalion" during a time when the class dividing lines in England began to soften due to the increase in education and the climb of communication. His objective was to prove that insignificant little traits like pronunciation had nothing to do with a person's merit as a human: A poor flower girl could be transformed into a great dame. I will discuss the themes of class distinctions and personal identities that are presented.
Psychologically, people need to make a feeling of life by categorizing everything. People need to brand everything and that includes people. Everyone (including myself) are constantly being judged based on what we wear, how we talk, and our physical appearance. I know what it feels like being judged and I am also guilty of judging people without truly knowing them. Shaw shows us that Eliza "is not at all an attractive person", but he rebuts himself in the following act. In his case, physical appearance, uncleanness, and failure to level any kind of physical interest.
Personal identity plays a major role in “Pygmalion”. The definition of appearance and actuality in Pygmalion reveals the notable inspection of identity in the book. Shaw explores conflicts between differing understanding of identity and portrays the end result of Higgins’s experiment as a turning point of identity for Liza. Liza’s transformation is wonderful but unpleasant as it leaves her shifted between her previous social identity and a new one, by which she has no remuneration or other resources to support. Not audibly belonging to a specific class, Liza no longer realizes who she is.
The purpose of a theme is so that it sends a message to a reader. Pygmalion taught me that you can become anything you want in life as long as you put faith and effort into it. I also know not to judge people and make assumptions without fully knowing who they are. In the end, it will make a significant impact on ones wellbeing.
I really enjoyed your theme about judging. I feel as if it was a theme some may have looked over because it is looked over very easily in our society.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you started the introduction with a quote. It got my attention. The last sentence in the second paragraph sounds like a fragment, try rewording it. I think your conclusion tied up your themes very well.
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