George Bernard Shaw - Pygmalion

In ancient Greek mythology, the figure of Pygmalion fell in love with one of his own sculptures, which miraculously came to life. This myth was a popular theme among Victorian-era British playwrights, including W. S. Gilbert, whose play Pygmalion and Galatea was a notable adaptation first performed in 1871. Shaw would have been aware of this and other adaptations such as the musical Adonis and the burlesque Galatea, or Pygmalion Reversed.

The character of Eliza Doolittle was inspired by Kitty Wilson, who operated a flower stall on Norfolk Street, Strand, London. Wilson continued to sell flowers at this location until September 1958, when her daughter, Betty Benton, took over the stall. However, Benton had to close the stall a month later after the City of London declared the spot unsuitable for street trading.

Shaw mentioned that Professor Henry Higgins was based on several British phonetics experts, including Alexander Melville Bell, Alexander J. Ellis, and Tito Pagliardini, but most notably on the irascible Henry Sweet.

Shaw was also likely familiar with the story of Jacob Henle, a professor at Heidelberg University who, like Pygmalion, fell in love with Elise Egloff, a Swiss maid. Henle subjected her to years of rigorous education to prepare her as a suitable wife, but she died shortly after their marriage. This story inspired various literary works, including a play by Charlotte Birch-Pfeiffer and a novella by Gottfried Keller, which drew comparisons between Henle and the Greek Pygmalion.