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utopiaandmelancholy's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Having adored My Fair Lady ever since I was a child, watched the 1938 film (non-musical) adaptation of Pygmalion countless times, and having seen both Pygmalion and My Fair Lady on stage, I thought it was probably time to finally read the source material. To be honest, already being very familiar with the themes, characters, and content, the main things I gained were context from the introduction, and finally reading Shaw's much debated epilogue.
I think the most interesting thing for me was how Shaw rendered the accents in the first scene. The way Shaw pokes fun at the upper class characters, particularly Mrs Eynsford-Hill, provides humourous moments. The older I get, the more drawn I am to the reactions and role of Mrs Pearce and Mrs Higgins in the story, when they support Eliza and when they fail to protect her against the systems that have trapped them. Higgins' character is unlikable, and I am impressed by the sympathy so many actors have managed to inspire for him, despite his treatment of Eliza.
Our protagonist's strong will carries the story, and I think it is the fact that she instigates her re-creation rather than being a passive Galatea, that sets the story apart from any other Cinderella story and from the original myth. Her outsider status helps to highlight the ridiculousness of the upper-class always chasing the fashionable way, and their total insulated ignorance of the 'real world'. Her speech bemoaning her lack of place in society now her elocution and upbringing are at odds around two-thirds of the way through is so so powerful, highlighting both the flaws in the characters around her, but also in the society of the time (and now!) at large.
Overall, I thought the play is a great base, but the delivery of Shaw's words in the hands of actors who interpret the material in a number of ways is what has elevated it in my mind.
Our protagonist's strong will carries the story, and I think it is the fact that she instigates her re-creation rather than being a passive Galatea, that sets the story apart from any other Cinderella story and from the original myth. Her outsider status helps to highlight the ridiculousness of the upper-class always chasing the fashionable way, and their total insulated ignorance of the 'real world'. Her speech bemoaning her lack of place in society now her elocution and upbringing are at odds around two-thirds of the way through is so so powerful, highlighting both the flaws in the characters around her, but also in the society of the time (and now!) at large.
Overall, I thought the play is a great base, but the delivery of Shaw's words in the hands of actors who interpret the material in a number of ways is what has elevated it in my mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Classism
katias's review
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
jazlem's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved this play, I'm sure would be much better to see it on stage with the proper accents, but still made great reading nonetheless. It was a scathing critique of the 19th century British class system and a lot of other is still relevant today. I loved the portrayal of Eliza and the feminist ending that Shaw gives her. The abuse that she suffered at Higgins' hands was the point; it shows the ridiculousness of the class and patriarchal systems in the context. My one critique of it would be that the prose at the end would've been better off as a scene played out, so we could've seen what the ending was rather than just being told it. But overall this was an easy read that would make for a great essay on class and feminism.
chalkycharo's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
whimsicalmeerkat's review
2.0
I might feel differently if I re-read this, but I did not care for this when I was in high school. I much prefer the original Pygmalion myth. For what it's worth, I don't particularly like "My Fair Lady" either.
faeriviera's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
slowreader3's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0