Pygmalion’s Bride. While I was reading the second half of this book, I decided that before I read the poem, I would look up the story of whoever the poem was talking about or the story of the man who was being referenced in the poem. I found that Pygmalion is a play written by George Bernard Shaw based on the mythological figure of the same name. A quick version of the story is: Pygmalion fell in love with one of his sculptures, which then came to life.

Reading this poem with the context behind it made it somewhat more bearable…but I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable because I was repeatedly getting images of rape or some type of abusive situation in my head.

When I initially read this poem, I thought of how this poem comments on how society puts an insane amount of beauty standards onto women, which in turn tends to make women more objectified. Pygmalion “builds” his perfect woman and she is an object in his hands. She has no power, and he likes it that way; shown by how she never sees him again once she comes to life.

I feel as though in many abusive situations or in a situation where someone is getting raped, they become somewhat numb to pain…they stop fighting back and just accept it, as if they are a statue – silently screaming thoughts in their head, wishing for it to end…willing to do whatever they can do make it stop.

What are your thoughts? Did anyone get the same imagery as I did?

Sources

https://www.ecarenphoto.com/Fine-Art/Pygmalion-And-Galatea/1

https://www.ecarenphoto.com/Fine-Art/Pygmalion-And-Galatea/2

https://www.ecarenphoto.com/Fine-Art/Pygmalion-And-Galatea/3

https://www.ecarenphoto.com/Fine-Art/Pygmalion-And-Galatea/4

https://www.ecarenphoto.com/Fine-Art/Pygmalion-And-Galatea/5