What is pygmalion meaning?

Pygmalion is a mythical figure in Greek mythology who was a gifted sculptor from the island of Cyprus and fell in love with one of his own creations. Pygmalion crafted a statue, named Galatea, that was so beautiful that he became enamoured with it and prayed to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, to bring it to life. With Aphrodite's blessing, the statue came to life, and Pygmalion and Galatea lived happily ever after.

The term "Pygmalion" is also used more broadly to refer to any person or situation in which someone tries to transform or improve another person, often through education, training, or social reforms. The term has been popularized by the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, which was first performed in 1913 and later adapted into the musical My Fair Lady. In the play, a phonetics professor named Henry Higgins makes a bet with his friend that he can transform a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a polished member of high society through speech training and manners. The play explores themes of social class, identity, and transformation.