Were you silent or silenced? A difficult question to answer when you have never had the ability to speak. In the theatrical concert "Galatea," Elaine Hakkaart, a Kleinkunst graduate, skillfully portrays the female perspective of the Greek myth of Pygmalion and Galatea. She delves into the silenced narrative of a woman sculpted from stone, devoid of a voice, solely for Pygmalion's pleasure. For Galatea’s everywhere, still silenced by Pygmalions. From spark to story
“My mind wandered to Greek myths, which I saw as a rich source for storytelling with profound meaning. These myths are among the oldest texts we have, exploring universal themes like love, power, and family, including the dynamics between men and women. This led me to the story of Galatea, a character from the myth of Pygmalion. The name Galatea is not mentioned in the original text; it was added by the French philosopher Rousseau to the female character in the myth. Galatea is presented as the perfect image of femininity, created by Pygmalion. While her story is seen as positive due to its "happy" ending, it evoked very different feelings in me.
A wife
She became his wife, his beloved image, the girl - those were the names she was given in the story. From the moment she came to life, her existence was always in relation to him. I wanted to give her a voice, and that had two reasons. Firstly, because women are still silenced. She was, of course, literally voiceless in this whole story, but it also speaks to the gender dynamics that were palpable then and still present now, albeit perhaps more subtly, more ingrained in the system. She was at the service of Pygmalion, made for his wishes, desires, and pleasures.
An ideal
From the moment she came to life, she had to fit into a box and meet what he expected of her. She had to conform to the ideal that Pygmalion had created in his head for her, with no room for her own voice or individuality. Nowadays, I see this all around me (and experience it myself), the pressure to meet what is expected of me, whether it's to be a good woman, a good person, a good singer, or a good student. I want to fit into the box created for me, into the expectations that are outlined. Galatea is a woman stuck in the boxes created for her. I wanted to give her a voice, tell her story and choose how it ends. That is why I rewrote the ending of the myth based on Madeline Miller's reimagining of Galatea. She takes her fate into her own hands and refuses to continue living in the perfection imposed by Pygmalion.
Rewrite the story
And so it happened that Galatea fled from Pygmalion. She ran away from him, her heart pounding in her chest. She ran into the water, Pygmalion didn't hesitate and immediately followed her. He grabbed her, but she resisted with all her might. Then, amid the waves, there came a moment of sudden peace. If I die now, it's okay, she thought to herself. I didn't choose this life as it is now. I didn't want this. So it's okay if I just sink to the bottom.
To illustrate this, the last line of my performance was: "The seabed is sandy and soft as a pillow. I nestle in and fall asleep." That was really her moment. He also dies, while struggling. And I found that beautiful because it didn't feel right to just think, "Oh, I'll go back." and live happily ever after. It was about reclaiming your own story. She didn't choose this life, and she chooses for it to stop.
Both themes, the assigned gender roles and societal expectations, are the main themes I wanted to incorporate into the piece, as they have real societal relevance for me. Change is happening. That's why the first lines of my performance were: "The reason I'm telling this now is because I couldn't then. But there are still many Pygmalions silencing Galatea's voice." There is progress. And although it sometimes seems like we're regressing, women do have the ability to make their voices heard. For me, Galatea was not just a graduation performance but also a statement about the power of art to bring about social change."
This is Elaine Hakkaart
The myth Pygmalion
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