Pygmalion is a play by George Bernard Shaw, named after a Greek mythological figure. It was first presented on stage to the public in 1913.
In ancient Greek mythology, Pygmalion fell in love with one of his sculptures, which then came to life. The general idea of that myth was a popular subject for Victorian era British playwrights, including one of Shaw's influences, W. S. Gilbert, who wrote a successful play based on the story called Pygmalion and Galatea that was first presented in 1871. Shaw would also have been familiar with the burlesque version, Galatea, or Pygmalion Reversed. Shaw's play has been adapted numerous times, most notably as the 1938 film Pygmalion, the 1956 musical My Fair Lady and its 1964 film version.
Shaw mentioned that the character of Professor Henry Higgins was inspired by several British professors of phonetics: Alexander Melville Bell, Alexander J. Ellis, Tito Pagliardini, but above all, the cantankerous Henry Sweet.
Sprache
Zielgruppe
Produkt-Hinweis
Broschur/Paperback
Klebebindung
Maße
Höhe: 210 mm
Breite: 148 mm
Dicke: 5 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-2-491251-79-6 (9782491251796)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
George Bernard Shaw, known simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist, and political activist, born on July 26, 1856, in Dublin, Ireland. Shaw s influence spanned several decades, with his contributions to Western theatre, culture, and politics shaping thought from the 1880s through to his death in 1950. His plays, known for their sharp wit, social commentary, and intellectual rigor, tackled a wide range of issues, including class, gender, and the failures of society and government. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925, which recognized his profound impact on literature and theatre. Throughout his career, Shaw remained deeply involved in political causes, advocating for social reforms, and his works often reflected his progressive views. His legacy is marked by a combination of literary innovation and commitment to social justice, and he is regarded as one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century. Shaw passed away on November 2, 1950, at the age of 94 in Ayot Saint Lawrence, United Kingdom, leaving behind a lasting imprint on both literature and political thought.
