What is the significance of the title of Shaw's Pygmalion?

Shaw took the
title of his play from an ancient Greek legend. According to this legend,was a sculptor who
disliked women and did not see any reason to ever get married. Nevertheless, Pygmalion grew
lonely and decided to create an ivory sculpture of a beautiful woman. This sculpture was so
beautiful, in fact, that Pygmalion fell in love with it.

Shaw's
Pygmalion therefore reflects this legend and the title pays homage to its
message. At the beginning of the play, Profession Henry Higgins has negative views of women,
just like Pygmalion. He believes that women are a "damned nuisance," for instance, who
"upset everything" when they enter a man's life.

Similarly, by
receiving elocution lessons from Professor Higgins, Eliza becomes a symbol of Pygmalion's
sculpture. At the start of the play Eliza is a flower girl but, by the end, speaks as well as
any duchess. She is indeed a creation of Professor Higgins, just like Pygmalion's beautiful
sculpture.