Three Texts Of Pygmalion: An Initial Study Of Transformation From The Perspective Of Confucianism

It is acknowledged that metamorphosis, together with art, comes into existence in remote antiquity, and plays an increasingly important part in its historical development. Metamorphosis is so attractive and inscrutable that more and more scholars set out to discourse on this subject. Philosophers, litterateurs, psychologists and anthropologists make a great effort to interpret transformation in some relative fields. However, multifarious definitions do not clarify it, but make it more confusing. In order to remove the obstacles on the study of literary transformation, it is necessary to figure out what transformation is in the first place."Change"is emphasized and fully discussed in Chinese culture from time immemorial; therefore, the thesis tries to offer an answer to the question above in the light of Confucianism. It also makes effort to reveal the hidden law of transformation and applies it to the discussion of three versions of Pygmalion.This thesis consists of six parts.Introduction presents the motivation for choosing this topic, gives a delimitation of the object of study and a brief literature review, and then outlines the organization of the thesis.Chapter One"What Transformation Is"tries to find out transformation's intrinsic meaning in Confucianism through an ontological and etymological analysis. It is observed that transformation actually refers to a certain"change"(易, yi) which in its original sense embodies the thinking of"production and reproduction"and represents the flow of life. In addition, according to contemporary scholar Pang Pu, Tao, recognized as the fundamental law of all changes, can be externalized as trichotomy. Since trichotomy emphasizes the unity of opposites, the harmony of difference and sameness, and the unification of variability and invariability, it views transformation as a change from"one"to"three". Specifically, it implies that transformation tends to remove the contradictions by blending the two opposites into a"Third". The following chapters would employ trichotomy as an analytic method in the interpretation of the three versions of Pygmalion to disclose the significance of metamorphoses in literature.Chapter Two"Ancient Transformation", through a discussion of Ovid's Pygmalion in the light of"trichotomy", argues that transformation in ancient literature represents and emphasizes"communication"which enables the ancient to overcome the fear of death, and change them into pious believers of"life's integration". This thinking lies in the depth of their thoughts and leads them to recognize the world, accumulate experience, and create knowledge.Chapter Three"Modern Transformation"revolves around the investigation of Shaw's Pygmalion to expose the significance of transformation in modern times. According to trichotomy, transformation in Shaw's Pygmalion unifies the upper and lower classes into the transformed Eliza. As the terminal of metamorphosis, she stands for the"Third"between the two contrary classes. But Eliza's tragic ending implies not only her personal failure but also the impossibility of communication as well as alienation, loneliness and other dilemmas which modern people are faced with. According to Xunzi, this situation is caused by the imbalance of human nature for which the established culture and morality should be responsible.Chapter Four,"Romantic Transformation"comes to J. J. Rousseau's Pygmalion. In line with Ovid and Shaw's transformations, Rousseau's Pygmalion presents the unity of"self'and"the other". Though originating from Ovid's Pygmalion, his lyrical drama, shows a totally different Galathea, who gains her true"self"by fighting against her creator's control and abandoning the marble statue's"self". From subjective viewpoint, this transformation discloses the way to guide the modern man out of confusion to restore life's force and the ultimate freedom. At the end of this chapter, the three versions of Pygmalion are summarized. It is believed that they are interrelated, for people's different stages of being, reflected in the three texts under the guidance of Confucianism, are in agreement with Nietzsche's statement about man's three spiritual states. In the last part, the thesis is summed up; and upon reviewing this paper, it is pointed out that the three versions of Pygmaion are interrelated with each other and all of them reveal people's different opinions about transformation and their states of being. In addition, trichotomy, the reification of"Tao"and the underlying law of transformation, is proved valid for the interpretation of metamorphoses, and it may provide a new perspective for the future study of transformation.