Pygmalion

       There are many interesting themes in Pygmalion to delve into. The most important of themes in my opinion is the importance of the english language. Also, very interesting to me, are the comparisons between the myth of Pygmalion and the play by Bernard Shaw. 

       Proper speech is very important and that theme is strongly communicated throughout the play, Pygmalion. Professor Henry Higgins studies the english language and its many dialects. He is able to determine where people are from by the way they pronounce words. When he hears Liza speak he thinks the sound is so horrendous whoever utters it should not have the right to live. He also calls her a squashed cabbage leaf because of her accent. This is important because it shows the way he perceives people who speak poorly. Throughout the play Liza is taught by Higgins how to speak more properly. When she attends a party at the embassy she is mistaken for a Hungarian princess because of the way she is speaking the english language. This example shows how people assume if you speak well you are of a higher class. 

       In Greek mythology Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with the sculpture of a woman he created out of ivory. The goddess Aphrodite, answering his wish, brings her to life . Both Pygmalion and Professor Higgins are not very fond of women, they find them undesirable. Pygmalion vows to ever marry and Higgins says he shall never seriously like a woman. As Higgins teaches Liza and presents her to people he buys her marvelous dresses and clothes for her. In the myth Pygmalion he clothes his ivory statue with gowns and jewels. Pygmalion saw pure perfection in his creation and falls in love with it naming her Galatea. Liza progresses with her lessons with Higgins and now that she speaks perfect english Higgins begins to see more in her. Being Greek reading about the mythology behind this story was very interesting to me personally.

        “The English have no respect for their language, and will not teach their children to speak it. They spell it so abominably that no man can teach himself what it sounds like,” said Bernard Shaw in the play Pygmalion. I feel as though the english language was very important for him to stress. Also, did you know Pygmalion and Galatea go on to have two children one son, Paphos, and a daughter, Metharme.

Goals

       It’s that time of year again, time to put my goals down in writing. Most people have goals, whether big or small, that they want to go after. It is hard to realize what goals I have in mind, for that reason I am grateful for this part of the year; where I am encouraged to list what I would like to accomplish for the present and future. It allows me to recognize what I want to succeed in and causes me to think on how I am going to fulfill my goals.

       During my senior year I hope to join a club, excel in my classes, and get a better score on the ACT. I have not joined a club since entering high school though I have wanted to multiple times. There are many possible clubs that I can join, so I am going to contemplate my options and choose the one that I find most interesting and enjoyable. To excel in my classes I will have to find a balance between joining a club, homework, studying, going to work, getting a sufficient amount of sleep, as well as the minuscule social life I have now. Once that balance is found I will try my best to maintain A’s or high B’s. Previously I made a twenty-five on the ACT without studying, when I take it again this fall I hope to get a better score. In order to make this happen I will hone my techniques in areas that I was lacking.

       Down the road a few years, I hope to graduate college and travel to at least three states that I have never visited, and maybe another country. At this point in my life I am still unsure of what career field I want to pursue. I hope to discover what it is I would like to do while experimenting different fields I find interesting. Once I figure out what I want to major in I will have to keep my priorities straight and continue to persist so that I can graduate. In order to travel to the places that I desire I am going to need a job and save money while attending college.

       I have three goals I want to strive to accomplish in the long run. I wish to learn multiple languages, travel to many different places, and have a career I truly enjoy. Two languages I have interest in are Japanese and Greek. They are very complex and will take time and immense effort to understand. Once I have learned them I would love to visit each country. To be able to travel the way I wish I will have to have a good career. I strongly hope I enjoy it very much. Depending on which path I choose I may even travel to new interesting places. To fulfill these things I will have to have patience and persistence with everything I do.

       As I progress through my life I hope to conquer any hardships or struggles that stand in my way. I also hope to be able to maintain the persistence needed to accomplish any goals I may set for myself. Even though this is the last paper I will write about my goals for high school I will continue to think about them as the years go on. I will keep my goals in mind and it will help me prioritize the most important things and help me  to accomplish them.