Galatea

Examine the relationship between the husband and the doctor. What do the social dynamics between them tell us about masculinity in the narrative?

In his analysis of figurative language, literary critic Donald Davidson believes that metaphor enables the reader to view seemingly disparate things comparatively (Davidson, Donald. “What Metaphors Mean.” Critical Inquiry, vol. 5, no. 1, 1978, pp. 31-47. JSTOR). Examine some of the metaphors and similes in “Galatea”: What different things do they allow the reader to look at side by side? How does this shape the reader’s experience of the text’s language, imagery, and meaning?

The husband’s abusive treatment of Paphos is very similar to his treatment of Galatea. Identify some of the fears, anxieties, and frustrations the husband is projecting onto his child. How might their dynamic have been different if Paphos had been born a boy?

Describing her portrayal of the husband, Miller says, “As for Pygmalion, I accepted him exactly as Ovid made him. The term ‘incel’ wasn’t in wide circulation when I wrote this, but Pygmalion is certainly a prototype.” (Miller, Madeline. “Was Pygmalion the first incel?” Telegraph.co.uk.”)

Does the husband fit the definition of an “incel”? Why or why not? Cite examples from the text.

Choose a passage from the story focused on either the doctor or the nurse, and rewrite it to include descriptions of that character’s thoughts and motivations. Include emotional indicators like body language, dialogue, and internal monologue to emphasize your understanding of their actions. How do your changes alter the significance of the scene, the reader’s sympathy for the characters, and the meaning of the story as a whole?

The story, while based on an ancient Greek myth, takes place in an ambiguous time period. When does it seem to be set, and what clues does the text provide? How does the ambiguity of the text’s location in time and space shape the reader’s broader experience of the text?

In an imaginative essay, write a sequel to “Galatea” titled “Paphos.” Using Miller’s characterization of Paphos as a starting point, think about how Paphos would relate her childhood experiences and consider what her adulthood might look like.

Many of the narratives in Ovid’s Metamorphoses—including the story of Pygmalion—center relationships between deities and mortals. What role do the gods appear to play in “Galatea”? Examine the spiritual lives of the human characters: How do they talk about things like religion, ritual, praying, and divinity?