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Pygmalion Pygmalion discussion


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Should I read Pygmalion or Faust?

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message 1: by Jt (new) - rated it 2 stars

Jt I have to read something for English class, and I can't decide between the two. Also, if you go with Faust, would you reccomend Goethe's Faust or Marlowe's Dr. Faustus?


Zulfiya If you have a chance to watch the movie 'My Fair Lady' and read the play 'Pygmalion', then please do. To read a play as it is written is somewhat hard, but when you have a visual support, it will open so many nuances because it is about a language and its usage, grammar, and pronunciation. The movie makes the play easy to interpret, but they are slightly different.
On the other hand, Goethe's Faust is a stunning, Gothic book about the sold, stranded soul, its travels and torments, but it is quite lengthy.


Jess I've read both Pygmalion and Marlowe's Faustus for a high school literature course... I enjoyed Pygmalion more, but I had seen the movie a few years before. Pygmalion has a very victorian, proper feel, while Faustus is dark, goth, and serious. I would go with Pygmalion if you're in the mood to read a light, most-things-go-well-in-the-end, or Faustus if you are looking for some heavy, wordy, dark literature.
Let us know which one you pick and how you liked it!


David Lentz No contest -- read "Faust." It's a genius work.


message 5: by Valerie (new)

Valerie I would go with Faust, it's one of the best written. Pygmalion might be easier to read and write on, depends on how much time you have and want to put into the project. What did you end up going with and how did it all turn out?


Kathryn Yes.


David Sarkies If by 'English' you mean English Literature, then unfortunately Faust will not do - it's German. However, I would highly recommend Marlowe's Faust (I have the pleasure of seeing it performed recently) though the language can be a little difficult. As for Pygmalion, it is a great book, and there have been a lot of imitation (such as Educating Rita). My recommendation would be to read Pygmalion and Educating Rita, and then compare the two.


Katrina Pygmalion.


Kailin pygmalion is hilarious


message 10: by [deleted user] (new)

Faust is the best. Read Goethe's, Part I


Katrina Pygmalion for easier reading. Faust for deeper reading.
Both are great!


message 12: by Cati (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cati Jt wrote: "I have to read something for English class, and I can't decide between the two. Also, if you go with Faust, would you reccomend Goethe's Faust or Marlowe's Dr. Faustus?"

I'd recommend Goethe's Faust, but if I had to choose between Pygmalion and Faust to read for school, I'd choose Pygmalion, it is far more readable and light-hearted.


David Read Pygmalion for school, Faust for life.


Anais Nee both are different. if it is for leasure, just wanting to reading something easier I would say Pygmalio. if you look for something more interesting and deep faust.
I read both and loved both


6 Years 45,000 Pages I just finished Pygmalion and loved it and I haven't read Faust yet. Pygmalion is easy to read and fun but it also has a deeper meaning to tease out which I found interesting because I felt that deepness was very lost in the movie My Fair Lady (although I love the movie too).


message 16: by Lori (new) - rated it 4 stars

Lori I never read Faust. Pygmalion is a fun enjoyable read. it is in play form. also like the musical that came from it in My Fair Lady.


Aleksandar Trapara Read both if you have time, go with Pygmalion if you want something fun and easy to read. Dr. Faustus is deeper, darker and more thrilling. As for the second question, well, I prefer Marlowe's Dr. Faustus to Goethe's Faust.


Barbara Dias Pygmalion, certainly!!!


message 19: by Sona (new) - rated it 4 stars

Sona Petrossian Faust, of course


Rohit Yadav Jt wrote: "I have to read something for English class, and I can't decide between the two. Also, if you go with Faust, would you reccomend Goethe's Faust or Marlowe's Dr. Faustus?"

I WOULD PREFER MARLOWE' FAUSTUS ITS COMPACT AND WRIITEN REALLY WELL BY ONE OF THE UNIVERSITY WITS


Rohit Yadav David wrote: "No contest -- read "Faust." It's a genius work."

TRULY SIR ONE CAN'T COMPARE TWO PLAYS I SUPPOSE


message 22: by [deleted user] (new)

having read both goethe's faust and pygmalion, did not read marlowe's i would say go with faust, it is absolutely brilliant, masterpiece to say the least. that is not to say that Shaw's pygmalion is inadequate, however faust, is more profound, it is beautifully written, just wonderful work, it will touch in a way that I dont think any other literary work can and ever will...

read both if you have time, shaw's pygmalion is an easy read, and there is a musical, but bare in mind shaw is a fabian socialist so there is a socialist bend to the play,

enjoy


message 23: by Leah (new)

Leah Pygmalion. Omg. its the BEST. you know the greek tale, right? Pyg was this master carving dude and everyone was like "woah Pygma you're beast at sculptures" and he was like "dude give me space". He totally was disinterested in women and was like "um women? ew" but then he made this pretty awesome statue of this lady that was like gorgeous. And he was like "woah man she's hot" so he dressed her and hugged her and kissed her and stuff and acted like she was real. So then at the feast of Aphrodite he was like "hey goddess, I wanna find a woman just like my statue" and Aphrodite was all like "sure man" so she made the statue real and Pygmalion was like "OH YEAHHH" and she was real and stuff and he named her Galathea.


Rohit Yadav Leah wrote: "Pygmalion. Omg. its the BEST. you know the greek tale, right? Pyg was this master carving dude and everyone was like "woah Pygma you're beast at sculptures" and he was like "dude give me space". He..."
it's from Ovid's metamorphosis i guess


message 25: by Leah (new)

Leah Rohit Yadav wrote: "Leah wrote: "Pygmalion. Omg. its the BEST. you know the greek tale, right? Pyg was this master carving dude and everyone was like "woah Pygma you're beast at sculptures" and he was like "dude give ..."

nailed it


message 26: by Anna (new) - rated it 5 stars

Anna Jess wrote: "I've read both Pygmalion and Marlowe's Faustus for a high school literature course... I enjoyed Pygmalion more, but I had seen the movie a few years before. Pygmalion has a very victorian, proper ..."

Agreed, it depends on what kind of story you're looking to read.


Feliks 'Faust' for sure, part I & II. Hopefully the edition has some kind of commentary or afterword or notes or preface or something, too.


zamra Jt wrote: "I have to read something for English class, and I can't decide between the two. Also, if you go with Faust, would you reccomend Goethe's Faust or Marlowe's Dr. Faustus?"

you had better read goethe's sorrows of young werther, it's simply awesome.......


Valerie I read Pygmalian and then watched Educating Rita for a Literature and Film class in college. My opinion is that this worked better than Faust would have.


Richard Cubitt Read both.


message 31: by Cathycaro (last edited Oct 11, 2014 02:43AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Cathycaro Read Pygmalian for world life, read Dr.Faustus to achieve a moral, eternal life


Papaphilly Why read either or? Read them both because they are both excellent.


Sarah I can't say I've read Faust in either form (which is a crying shame which I will need to fix), but I know that Pygmalion is a wonderful play that you should read for a few reasons that I'm sure you've heard (ex. character development, humor, Victorian coolness, etc.). So yes to Pygmalion, also watch My Fair Lady for comparison- I love them both.

But why not read both? You should pick one for class and one for pleasure reading if you're into reading that kind of stuff for pleasure.


David Read Pygmalion first.


message 35: by Jonathan (new) - added it

Jonathan Read Faust


message 36: by Anna (new) - rated it 4 stars

Anna Read both, these are too different but equally interesting and worth your time


Adriano Bulla It depends on what your main interests are. I'd personally go for Marlow or Goethe, as Dr Faustus / Faust are much more about the metaphysical than the social. I did like Pygmalion, but no where near as much. My first choice would be Marlow, mainly because it captures the rise of the Renaissance man (though in an ironically Medieval setting), it also deals with the origin of evil (so does Goethe's). If your interests are more skewed towrds the contemporary and the social, then Pygmalion.


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