An image of Pygmalion and his masterpiece, and love, Galatea together
Pygmalion, a decorated and celebrated sculptor, hailing from the land of Cyprus, was a man dedicated to his craft. This, of course, had many benefits, but it also took a personal toll on his own life. Worst of all, after seeing the wicked daughters of Propoetus, he had completely given up on the idea of women and love at all, deciding to live his life as a bachelor. The culmination of loneliness, sadness, and anger lead Pygmalion to near madness, pining for a chance to reconnect with society and with women., but he could not be with just any mere flawed woman of the earth. Therefore, he set out to carve the most realistic, detailed, and beautiful sculpture of a woman. After many weeks and months of careful craftsmanship, Pygmalion had finished. Knowing that the Festival of Aphrodite was just days away, he set out to find a most suitable offering to the goddess of love herself. On the day of the festival, he approached the altar of Aphrodite and he laid out his offering and prayed for many hours for Aphrodite to breathe life into the statue he so lovingly named Galatea. After many hours, he abandoned hope and headed back to his workshop in a depression. In a fit of sadness and loneliness, he laid his lips upon the surprisingly warm lips of the statue. The warmth shocked Pygmalion, and he kissed again to make sure his senses were not deceived. The statue gained color and eventually began walking and talking and breathing like a human. Pygmalion was deeply in love, and it appeared Aphrodite had answered his prayers. Galatea and Pygmalion began living with and for one another and they eventually had a son named Paphos, a shining example of a true man. After years on the island of Cyprus, the townspeople realized that Galatea was not of their kind and not a true Cyprian citizen. The constant scowls and ridicule from society took an even greater toll on Pygmalion, who had given up his life to dedicate it to Galatea. Eventually, the constant berating drove Pygmalion to insanity, which distressed Galatea, and seeing no way out, committed suicide to escape Pygmalion's crazed frenzy.
Author's Note: I love and respect the nature of mythology, and it has always been a great inspiration for me to read and become well-read; however, progress is only achieved through trial and error, therefore I added a twist to the ending to represent a new take on a traditional Greek tragedy.
Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000). https://sites.google.com/view/mythfolkloreanthology/metamorphosis
Woah, I didn't see that ending coming at all! I think it was a really effective twist that definitely has a more modern feel than the original tale, since the original happy ending leaves a lot of unanswered questions. It's neat that you considered how the story would end in a more practical world, and how the rest of the town would be affected by Pygmalion's sudden luck.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a great job of retelling the story in a short and sweet way. Rereading it again, though, I think you could expand a little bit on the twist ending, and how exactly Pygmalion was acting that distressed Galatea so much she committed suicide. Also, what happens to Pygmalion after Galatea dies? Does the shock bring him back to clarity, or does he only go more insane?
I also wonder what the effects of Galatea's suicide are on the town. Are they relieved that she's gone? Or is it possible that they begin to regret their actions once they see the consequences? What if the guilt motivates them to take care of Pygmalion, and the alternate happy ending is that although Galatea is gone, Pygmalion still isn't lonely and unhappy because of his new relationships within the community and possibly even a human wife?
Thanks for the great story!
Hi Chase,
ReplyDeleteI noticed you added some detail to Pygmalion's story and made the reason why he created Galatea more clear. I think that was a smart move! I am a fan of dark, tragic endings so I like what you did there. I do think it could stand to be expanded on though. Maybe just add a couple more sentences to the final paragraph.
Some questions I have:
What spurs Aphrodite to grant Pygmalion's prayers?
How did Galatea react when she first awoke as a human?
Where was Paphos when his parents were going insane?
What led the people of Cyprus to realizing that Galatea was an outsider?
Overall, I think you did a good job with your re-telling of Pygmalion. Keep up the good writing!
Chase,
ReplyDeleteI like that you gave a new ending to the story that drove home some of Pygmalion's flaws and the desperation that led him to bring his statue to life. You did a great job of keeping the basis of the story the same but still surprising people with the ending.
After finishing your story I was wondering how Paphos took the townspeople treating his mother that way? I also wonder if Galatea's suicide pulls Pygmalion back from his insanity? Do the townspeople feel regret for their treatment of her?
I really liked the story but I think it would be easier to read if you broke up the paragraphs a little. I also wish that there had been more explanation into the mental state of Pygmalion. Maybe focusing a little more on the characters themselves instead of just telling the plot straightforward.
Overall I loved your story and can't wait to read more!
Hi Chase!
ReplyDeleteLet me start of saying how much I love tragedies; it is always such a more impactful ending, and yours really carried that punch. Your story feels very meaty, there isn't a lot of unecessary fluff which I really appreciated as a reader (especially since many of us are familiar with this story). Secifically, I like how you extended the timeline of the story, giving the characters the chance to have a family, a life, and their ultimate end.
With this life they had, I was wondering how Galatea felt, her own emotions from being made from stone, from knowing she didn't belong, from knowing she was only brought to life for the sole purpose of being a companion to Pygmalion. I think adding a small part from her point of view could add a new level of depth to the story.
With the distincive sections of your story, it might be worth considering separating them into paragraphs to make it a little easier to read. Additionally, I wonder how Pygmalion felt after losing Galatea. Comparing the two states of loneliness he was in at the beginning and end of the story would really make it feel like a tragedy.
Great work! I can't wait to see what else you contribute this semester.