Reading Notes: Metamorphosis- Pygmalion

-Pygmalion seems to be awfully narcissistic. Seriously, there's not a SINGLE woman in the whole world who is good enough for him? What is so "offensive" about the female nature? Maybe no woman would have him because he's so arrogant so he had to make what sounds like the Ancient Greek version of a blow up doll.
-The prose describing how he feels about the statue is beautiful, but shallow. Of course, how deep can a love be for a statue? I think Pygmalion fell in love with the idea of a woman who looked exactly the way he wanted her to look and loved exactly what he wanted her to love. "Gifts that please girls", as if we all are brought to tears by polished rocks.
-I am disappointed in Venus in this story. I have always thought of her as an independent and empowered goddess, and in no way would I think she would grant this chauvinist's wish. However, maybe there are bigger powers at play than what we are getting in this story.
-Finally, I hate that when the statue finally gets turned into a real girl, of course she has no say in what goes on in her life. Maybe she doesn't want to marry this crazy guy who's obsessed with her? Maybe she doesn't want to have a baby immediately after gaining the ability to live. Would be nice to get her side of the story. I imagine it would be pretty disconcerting to be brought to life to begin with, but on top of that the first thing that is happening is that you are getting kissed and groped by a man. This story could be a sweet love story but only if the woman gets to have a part in this story other than the "beautiful ivory girl"

Even in this image she looks pretty peeved about the whole situation.
Image Information: Pygmalion priant Vénus d'animer sa statue by Jean-Baptiste Regnault.

Story source: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000).