Week 2 Read Anthology

Author: Tony Kline
Title: Pygmalion

The one story that stood out to me the most was the story of Pygmalion.  I am very familiar with this story but have only read the elongated version and never this one.  I feel that this story was so interesting to me because it was put into such a short context that it got the points across fast and gracefully whereas the previous ones I had read dragged out a long time to finally get to its main point.  This story really shows how the Greeks believed that if they gave thanks and worshipped the one God they wanted something from it would happen.  Not only that but Pygmalion was considered a loyal follower who never did anything wrong and was constantly helping others never asking for anything for himself.  In this one instance he asks for a woman to complete his life because he realizes he has been so lonely and he finally gets what he wants from Venus.  The meaning that I got out of this story was that good deeds and prayers will eventually be answered if one does not ask for something outrageous.  In Pygmalion's case all he wanted was a wife and Venus knew he wasn't asking for anything outlandish or outrageous and decided that since he had been such good person and follower of the God's she would grant his wish.  I feel another moral of this story is that the power of prayer is very powerful.
Pygmalion (1786)
Jean-Baptiste Regnault; Source: Pygmalion

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