The play “Madame Butterfly” was written by David Henry in 1903 but was later produced in 1988. The great inspiration of this play rose from an opera directed and produced by the famous Italian actor and a song writer Mr. Giacomo Puccini. In a specific occasion, his opera “Madama Butterfly” was the source of inspiration in producing Hwang’s Madame Butterfly. The play is solely based on a true life experience. This play is borne on stereotypic racism in the early Asian community. The intricacies of male-female struggled relationship are clearly exposed as the play evolves into a complex tale (Wisenthal, 86). The old term misconception that rose from East-West countries is employed to openly display the usual protective fantasies that independently develop in all men. The central theme is described just after the arrest of the main protagonist; Rene Gallimard. The subject of this play drips with lot of sarcasm and the reader can clearly notice with ease on how cynicism is displayed.
The French diplomat flashbacks on his general perception of the play “Madame Butterfly”, thus, producing a clear picture on his love relationship with Li Ling. In addition, the play does not clearly describe the gender of Li Ling as Gallimard is at loose end of the identity of him/her. In addition, when “Madame Butterfly” submitted to his request, he suddenly gets overwhelmed and moves on with his constant diplomatic cycles. In my point of view, “Madame Butterfly” has revealed perfect characteristics in variety of characters according to their gender lines (Wisenthal, 88). Moreover, women face intense pressure as men tries to control their moves and decisions. Additionally, my view point explores how in my feminist view, fruitless efforts can emerge in producing a perfect relationship between different genders.
In this paper, I have analyzed the play “Madame Butterfly” mainly focusing on the theme of gender, love and the chapters and scenes in which it is divided to clearly convey my message direct into the mind of the reader(s). The play is divided into three Acts with thirteen scenes in the first Act, eleven in Act Two and three in the last Act (Long, 46). In scene one contained in Act One of the play, it describes the condition of the main protagonist in a prison cell where he has been detained for some time. The former is 65 years at this moment. The exposition of this play is openly described by his introduction about the existing background of his former life.
In addition, Gallimard tries figure out about his former life using an opera played by Giacomo Puccini. The former meets his love when he had a visit to Germany ambassador in China. This can be viewed as the point where the action emerges and rise to the end of the play (Long, 90). The second Act of the play develops the point of action with the diplomat’s love relationship with song’s pregnancy playing a role in shaping his moves. The Cultural Revolution took over after six years of his reign as a French diplomat in China. When Gallimard was fired in 1966, his wife returned back to France for personal reasons.
The climax of the play reaches when “Butterfly” appears in court to press charges against “Mr. Diplomat” and most ironically, he appeared as a man (Long, 34). He further claims that the Diplomat had issued him with confidential files and had provided him with a helping hand to raise his son while living in France for more than fifteen years.
The view point of my opinion can be clearly illustrated in my final description on this paper. In order to bring out my view on the same, I will highlight some of the major themes that come out in relation to the role of women in this play (Giuseppe, 67). The general perception illustrated by Gallimard towards women is also openly outlined in this play. In some occasion, Gallimard imagines of the same woman he used to rule over and dominating her movements. When Song was explaining the conspiracy behind Gallinard’s frequent perception on women and how submissive they should be to their men despite their love intensity towards them. The theme of cultural fantasy stereotyping is clearly portrayed in this piece of work written by Hwang.
The play explores the misunderstanding and poor interpretation that may have risen due to western stereotyping activities (Giuseppe, 25). The main protagonist explains the actual definition of western stereotyping toward Asian women through his repeated actions toward them. The colonial attitude from Gallinard toward Asian women, sexuality and gender is basically identified in this piece of writing. The fact that Gallinard accepted Song as a woman clearly indicates that he had an extended perception of Asian men mimicking feminized figures in the society.
In a concluding remark, Butterfly sacrifices her own life at the expense of love and by so doing; she finally commits suicide (Wisenthal, 29). The story line on this paper is clearly pointed out when Gallinard claims that Song had betrayed him but the fact remains that he did also betrayed his personality when he sacrificed all the personal pursuits that belonged to his country. The main protagonist openly portrays the love; yearn for freedom of conscience and his life in general.
Works Cited
Long, John L, Maureen Honey, Jean L. Cole, and Onoto Watanna. Madame Butterfly. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press, 2002. Print..
Giuseppe Giacosa, Cheryl Barker, Ann Taylor, Jean Rigby, Paul C. Clarke, Gregory Yurisich, Stuart Kale, D'Arcy Bleiker, Clive Bayley, RolWood, Yves Abel, David Belasco, and And John L. Long. Madam Butterfly. Colchester, Essex: Chandos, 2001. Print.
Wisenthal, J L. A Vision of the Orient: Texts, Intertexts, and Contexts of Madame Butterfly. Toronto [Ont.: University of Toronto Press, 2006. Print.
