Pygmalion Post 3

Wimpole Street in Westminster, London, the street where Henry Higgins grew up.

The selfish, older Higgins is destined to be a bachelor for eternity because he has an infatuated view of what the perfect woman should be.  By growing up with the ideal mother (in his perspective), Higgins has very few women whom he would consider eligible for him to date.  No woman will go through the trouble of marrying him with his unreasonably high expectations.  Regardless of Higgins being a wealthy man and being able to support his possible wife, no woman can meet the high standard he envisions in his mother.  Also, Higgins already has one true love being “Milton and the Universal Alphabet.” 

The Universal Alphabet, one of Higgins' true loves.

I also have a very supportive mother who has been ideal in raising me from the time I was born.  However, I do hope, unlike Higgins, that I will find someone who I truly love and with whom I wish to spend the rest of my life. Although I have been very fortunate to have a good family life similar to Higgins, I have been fortunate also to have been growing up in two separate households with two sets of parents living only twenty-five minutes apart.  I have a lot of influences that make the person who I am today.  I am surprised that Mrs. Higgins does not convince Henry to find a wife and spend his wealth on her; and knowing Henry, because he idealizes his mother endlessly, would obey even if the woman wasn’t as perfect as his mother.  Also, I would think that Henry would want to leave a legacy in his child, whether it is a male or female, and teach him or her to have the same profession as he does.  However, with Henry’s selfish perception, his narcissistic view, and his mindset of being an old bachelor for the rest of his life; his chances of being married are questionable.  Although I respect Henry for having a good “speech training” business, I personally would want someone with whom to share my life.

A bride and groom happily married.

Pygmalion Post 2

I plan on saving my money.

I can understand Alfred Doolittle’s perspective as Eliza’s father; however I do not agree with it.  It seems to me that he wants money to temporarily escape the world by drinking alcohol.  However, he needs money to drink.  In order to find money, Doolittle attempts getting money from Henry Higgins as allowance to let Higgins keep Doolittle’s daughter.  The way I am different than Alfred is that I do not impulsively spend my money on quick relief.   I would rather save my money, plan, and search for something I truly want and need.  I have what some would say a banker’s mentality; I would rather save money than spend it.  I am not saying that this is something everyone should do, but it is my opinion on what to do with my hard-earned cash.  Everyone has a unique idea on what to do with their money.  Some people would splurge and spend all their money quickly and be poor as a result. Two of my brothers constantly spend money on things that provide a short time of usefulness or pleasure.  For example, one brother buys new surf boards every year while my other brother buys new golf clubs every year.  

My brother Jonah's next purchase.

  I plan to spend my money more conscientiously.  I believe that by carefully planning, you can spend more of your money on bigger items that you want most or that will help you with your long-terms goals.  I particularly want to save money to buy an orange Chevrolet pick-up truck when I turn sixteen in two years.   Spending money on getting drunk provides only a short suspension from facing the reality of whatever problems Doolittle was trying to avoid.  Personally, I believe that getting drunk doesn’t address how to fix problems, but just delays the inevitable fact that problems are still there in your life.  Saving your money and using it to help fix your problems could be a road to a solution.

Saving money is always a solution.

Pygmalion Post 1

Eliza Doolittle attempting to sell flowers.

I can relate to Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower girl.  Henry Higgins, the phoneticist, portrays my dad and other close members of my family who expect perfection without any flaws and who do not consider the accomplishments but dwell on the imperfections when I don’t exceed higher than standard expectations.  As the Vice President of the Rossakatum 4-H Club, as member of Delmar’s National Junior Honor Society, as a three-sport athlete who participates in JV football, wrestling, and JV lacrosse, and as an "A+" student at Delmar High School; I am a very busy, young man who deals with a lot of stress.  I understand that my father has to run my family farm business, Vincent Farms; cope with the stress of my step-sister, Haley, graduating from the University of Delaware; find a job for my oldest brother, Joshua, who just graduated from Clemson University; moving my brother Noah into his new house at Clemson for his Junior year at Clemson; and parenting my brother, Jonah, who is going into his Junior year at Delmar High School.   All I ask for is a small recognition for exceeding expectations numerous times and not condemning me when I cannot fit small events into my busy schedule.  I consider myself responsible and mature for my age, and I do not expect prizes for my achievements, rather no offensive remarks when I slightly do not fulfill the ideal imagination of what my father believes I should be.  So I can relate to Eliza Doolittle when she surpassed the traditional time it takes for a participant to learn proper and correct speech.  Henry Higgins does not appreciate Eliza’s dedication and effort that she has committed to learning and winning Henry Higgins’ bet by spending hours learning how to speak, walk, and dress.  While still at the party, she is immediately forgotten and not appreciated for what she has done.  She is like a pawn in a chess game and quickly discarded once Higgins’ bet is won. 

Eliza Doolittle felt used when she was discarded once she won Higgins' bet.

I can connect to her feelings and attitude for going on a rampage of throwing Henry’s sandals at him.  I too blow up in a rage of temper when I get frustrated and overwhelmed in the face of little appreciation for all that I do to succeed.

Eliza Doolittle's transformation from the flower girl to a pretend duchess.