Question

The story of Jacob Henle and Elise Egloff provided a real-life parallel to what central theme of "Pygmalion"?

• A. The phonetics of language
• B. The transformation of a lower-class woman through education
• C. The relationship between a father and daughter
• D. The hypocrisy of middle-class morality

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The transformation of a lower-class woman through education

Explanation: Parallel between Jacob Henle and Elise Egloff, and George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion

• Core Theme of Pygmalion

  • George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion centrally explores the theme of social transformation through education and linguistic refinement.
  • It challenges the notion that social class is solely determined by birth, suggesting it can be altered through deliberate effort and training.

• Synopsis of Pygmalion

  • The play features Henry Higgins, a phonetician, who wagers he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, into a duchess purely by teaching her proper speech and manners.
  • Eliza's journey from lower-class to socially acceptable status highlights the profound impact of education and elocution on social perception.
  • The title is derived from the Greek myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with his own creation, Galatea, who then comes to life. Shaw's play reflects this idea of 'creating' a new person.

• The Jacob Henle and Elise Egloff Parallel

  • The relationship between Jacob Henle (a prominent German anatomist and pathologist) and Elise Egloff provides a real-life analogy to the core theme of Pygmalion.
  • Elise Egloff was a young woman from a humble, uneducated background who became Henle's housekeeper and later his wife.
  • Henle, much like Professor Higgins, undertook the task of educating and refining Egloff, teaching her languages (including Latin and Greek), literature, and proper societal conduct.
  • This transformation elevated Egloff's social standing and intellectual capacity, making her a suitable companion for Henle and reflecting a real-world example of upward social mobility through tutelage.

• Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams

  • Author of Pygmalion: George Bernard Shaw (Irish playwright, critic, political activist).
  • Year of Pygmalion's premiere: 1913.
  • Musical adaptation: My Fair Lady (1956), based on Pygmalion, with music by Frederick Loewe and book/lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner.
  • Shaw's Nobel Prize: He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925, partly for Pygmalion, recognizing his work as marked by idealism and humanity, its stimulating satire often infused with a unique poetic beauty.
  • Jacob Henle's significance: Known for his anatomical discoveries, including Henle's loop in the kidney. His relationship with Egloff is a notable biographical detail that illustrates the transformative power of education in society.
  • The parallel emphasizes Shaw's critique of the rigid class system and his belief in the transformative power of education, regardless of one's origin, a recurring theme in his social commentaries.