The play's title is an allusion to Greek mythology. Pygmalion was a Cyprian king who was disgusted by the immorality of women, so he poured his affection into a beautiful marble statue. He prayed to Aphrodite, and she gave the statue life. Pygmalion married his beautiful "new" woman. This allusion foreshadows the play itself, the remaking of the imperfect into a more socially acceptable form.
Pygmalion