In the Greek myth “Pygmalion” MyFair Lady, a musical
film from 1956 whose foundation is actually the play “Pygmalion” (that was
based on the myth), the comparable underlying and perhaps unintentional
messages are quite apparent when analyzing the two in modern day society. The
authors of “Pygmalion” and My Fair Lady may not have intended to purposefully address
the issue of sexism, differences in social classes or the relationship between men and
women. After all, both
stories were created in a time all those existed, and were normal. But now,
living in a more reformed civilization, one is able to observe this with a
different perspective than of the past.
In earlier periods, discrimination towards a certain group of people was common, but the
one most
are familiar with is the discrimination women faced. It was not harsh or
violent discrimination, but women were basically viewed as unequal to men,
maybe even subhuman. “Pygmalion” is about a misogynistic sculptor who created a
statue of a flawless and perfect woman that turns to life. Similarly, My Fair Lady depicts
an educated man,
Mr. Higgins, who changes an impoverished street girl into a refined and elegant
woman. Without knowing it, Mr. Higgins molded Eliza into his ideal woman, just
like in “Pygmalion”. It is quite evident of the idea of a woman that can be
changed, as easily as changing, say, a musty curtain on a window, for the
