My Fair Lady": a Comparison of the Vision of Two Authors and What Each Play Says to Women

My Fair Lady": a Comparison of the Vision of Two Authors and What Each Play Says to Women

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1999 "Pygmalion" vs "My Fair Lady": A comparison of the vision of two authors and what each play says to women Jessica Lynn Raymer University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Raymer, Jessica Lynn, ""Pygmalion" vs "My Fair Lady": A comparison of the vision of two authors and what each play says to women" (1999). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 980. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/fa7r-6qdw This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type o f computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Infonnation Company 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Aibor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PYGMALION vs. MY FAIR LADY: A COMPARISON OF THE VISION OF TWO AUTHORS AND WHAT EACH PLAY SAYS TO WOMEN bv Jessica Lynn Raymer Bachelor of Arts Georgia College and State University 1996 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Department of Theatre College of Fine Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 1999 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1394811 UMI Microform 1394811 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval UND/ The Graduate College University" of Nevada, Las Vegas April 23 19 99 The Thesis prepared by Jessica Lynn Raymer Entitled Pygmalion vs. My Fair Lady: A Comparison of the Vision of Two Authors and What Each Play Says to Women_____________ is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Examination Committee Chair Dean of the O toi !uate Colle;^e Examimtion Cotninittee Member ComiiiitteaMeiii^r Graduate College Faculty Representative 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Pygmalion vs. My Fair Lady: A Comparison of the Vision of Two Authors and What Each Play Says to Women by Jessica Lynn Raymer Joe Aldridge, Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of Theatre University of Nevada, Las Vegas This thesis examines the vision of George Bernard Shaw on his masterpiece Pygmalion, and compares it to that of Alan J. Lemer and composer Frederick Loewe on their adaptation of Pygmalion into a history making musical called My Fair Lady. Through this examination it is discovered what Shaw considered a romance and how his ideas could and couldn't be translated into the conventions of nineteen fifties musical theatre. This thesis follows each play from its inception through its arrival to legendary status. The last chapter is devoted to a discussion on which play, if any, makes a stronger statement in favor of women. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................ iü PREFACE..................................................................................................................................V CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: ORIGINS OF THE PLAY............................................I The Story .............................................................................................................................. I The Myth ..............................................................................................................................2 Other Sources .......................................................................................................................3 George Bernard Shaw's History ........................................................................................4 CHAPTER n LANGUAGE AND CLASS DISTINCTIONS ............................................ 6 Language..............................................................................................................................6 Shaw's Use of Language....................................................................................................7 Shaw on Class Distinctions ................................................................................................ 8 CFIAPTERIII SHAW'S VISION....................................................................................... II A Romance? .......................................................................................................................11 The Postscript.....................................................................................................................13 The Film............................................................................................................................. 16 CHAPTER IV MY FAIR LADY.........................................................................................19 The Idea ............................................................................................................................. 19 Their Vision ...................................................................................................................... 20 The Songs...........................................................................................................................22 Making History ................................................................................................................. 29 CHAPTER V SYNTHESIS................................................................................................. 31 APPENDIX..............................................................................................................................36 Permission to use copyrighted material .......................................................................... 37 Permission to quote copyrighted material .......................................................................38 Fax requesting permission to use copyrighted material ................................................ 39 WORKS CONSULTED........................................................................................................ 40 VITA........................................................................................................................................ 42 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. PREFACE I think I was three when I first stepped foot on a stage, and I was hooked. I was twelve when I was in my first musical, and I was hooked. I was about the same age the first time I ever saw the film My Fair Lady. I remember, though, not wanting to watch it when it came on. My mother, however, insisted. It is ironic, in a sense, that twelve years later I would wind up writing my Masters thesis on a play I didn't even want to see. But I did watch it, and of course, I was hooked. I am not sure what it first was about the film that I fell in love with. I absolutely adored Audrey Hepburn, but that could be a book in itself. It was such a beautiful movie to me, even then. The costumes, the sets, the glorious characters, and obviously the music lifted

View Full Text

Details

  • File Type
    pdf
  • Upload Time
    -
  • Content Languages
    English
  • Upload User
    Anonymous/Not logged-in
  • File Pages
    53 Page
  • File Size
    -

Download

Channel Download Status
Express Download Enable

Copyright

We respect the copyrights and intellectual property rights of all users. All uploaded documents are either original works of the uploader or authorized works of the rightful owners.

  • Not to be reproduced or distributed without explicit permission.
  • Not used for commercial purposes outside of approved use cases.
  • Not used to infringe on the rights of the original creators.
  • If you believe any content infringes your copyright, please contact us immediately.

Support

For help with questions, suggestions, or problems, please contact us