Bernard Shaws Pygmalion - Book Report/Review Example

Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion is a play in which there are many different issues that take place, however, most of them are actually incredibly subtle, and so they are often missed by some who view it. The main issue of the play, however, is one which is certainly not subtle, and that is in regards to the relationship that grows and becomes more imminent between Higgins and Doolittle; we see Higgins at the beginning as being a rather arrogant and cocky man, as he makes a bet regarding someone that did not even know they were involved; as well, we see that although at first Doolittle obviously does not purposely want to be interested in him, she does end up having feelings for him but then goes contrast to that and declares that she is going to marry someone else.

Despite the intense central relationship that takes place between Higgins and Doolittle, the play ends up with her leaving to marry another man, and we see how this negatively affects Higgins. Furthermore, in order to come to a more personal opinion on the play itself, we can look at one major factor that is incredibly critical here, and that is that Shaw, annoyed by the tendency of the audiences, actors, and even directors in regards to them seeking 'romantic' re-interpretations of this play, later ending up writing an essay for inclusion with subsequent different editions, and in these, he explained precisely why it was truly impossible for the story to end with Higgins and Doolittle to get married, rather than her getting wed to another man.

This play is one of great complexity and interest, and although the overall plot seems to come off as rather mundane, with the ending being the way it is, it is almost controversial; while most stories and plays with this same central plot and theme would end more romantically with the two lead characters getting together and staying together in the end, in Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, we can see that the ending is much different, and for good reason. This is why Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion is such a wonderful and unique play; it is formal and rather normal, and yet at the same time has many different issues and unique factors that make it what it is, and this is truly what makes it the wonderful and magnificent work that it is.