Pygmalion

George Bernard Shaw was a prominent Irish writer, known for his contributions to literature and criticism. His work "Pygmalion" remains one of the most significant and influential plays, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 and an Oscar for best screenplay in 1939 as an inspiration for the film "My Fair Lady".

Shaw's "Pygmalion" is a contemporary version of the ancient myth, where the main protagonist, sculptor Pygmalion, falls in love with a statue he has crafted. In his adaptation, Shaw brings the story to pre-World War I England, a society where old-fashioned class perceptions struggle and gender roles undergo significant changes.

• Eliza Doolittle, a flower seller, is led by Professor Henry Higgins to educate her and teach her to speak like a duchess.
• Lisa transforms from a cabbage leaf into a duchess, allowing Shaw to critique the superficial class prejudices of that time.
• Shaw abandons the romantic element of the myth, emphasizing ideas of independence, equality, and reform of gender and social roles.

This play, since its first performance in English in 1914, has inspired many adaptations, with the 1964 film "My Fair Lady" remaining the most famous version.