The Silver Metal Lover

The Silver Metal Lover

The story is set in the future when robots are developed. These robots

are not only used for labour purposes, but also used for

entertainment. A special series of robots are designed to entertain

people. They are the Golders, who are the dancers, the Coppers, who

are the actors and the Silvers who are the musicians. When Jane first

saw one of the Silvers, she was enamored with the robot's perfection.

She sold all her belongings in order to own him. To Jane, he is no

longer a robot but a real human and a wonderful lover. Jane and her

silver metal lover spent several wonderful months together, until the

threats neared. The company that developed these robots - Electronic

Metals Ltd. acknowledged that the perfection of these robots were a

threat to human nature. Therefore they must destroy them. Jane and her

robot lover attempt to flee, but they failed as they were informed to

the company by a friend. Silver is caught and taken apart.

Surprisingly, Silver developed a soul while he was with Jane, and

returned Jane's love as if he was human. His soul speaks to her and

encourages her to live on.

How it is appropriated from the Pygmalion Myth

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The Pygmalion idea is creating a physical human being form that is not

alive. But then it comes to life. The concept is shown through The

Silver Metal Lover. Silver the robot is originally a machine for

entertainment. He has no emotions, no feelings and no soul and the

reason for his existence is simply to "amuse and give pleasure".

However, during the time he spent with Jane, he is not a robot but a

real human being...

... middle of paper ...

...elationship between man and woman portrayed in the play Pygmalion is

not shown in the novel The Silver Metal Lover. While males always seem

to be dominant in the play, "Galatea" in the novel is portrayed as a

male who possesses much inferiority as he is designed to please

people. However, the novel also tries to create an equal status as

Jane still respects him. The settings of both texts accommodates this

difference in relationship quite well, as the play is set in the past

when males are dominant while the novel in set in the future with the

assumption that everyone is equal. Also in the play, romance is not

valued as much as the novel. Shaw did not intend to create this love

relationship between Higgins and Eliza, while in the novel love

between Jane and Siler is the main focus and the motif that leads the

story on.