M. Butterfly (Masterplots II: Drama, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: David Henry Hwang
- First Published: 1988
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: 1988, with flashbacks to Beijing, 1960-1970; Paris, 1966-1988; and Aix-en-Provence, 1947
- Setting: Beijing, Paris, and Aix-en-Provence
- Principal Characters: René Gallimard, Song Liling, Marc, Helga, Renée Gallimarde
- Genres: Social realism, Drama, Psychological drama
- Subjects: Racism, Sexism, Homosexuality or homosexuals, Asia or Asians, Vietnam War, Singing or singers, Stereotypes, Androgyny, Imperialism, Diplomacy or diplomats, Opera, operas, or operettas
- Locales: Paris, France, Beijing, China, Aix-en-Provence, France
The Play
From prison in Paris, René Gallimard looks back on his life, especially the love relationship and espionage trial that have made him the laughing stock of the world. Gallimard recalls his years of work in the French embassy in Beijing, where he developed an intimate relationship with Song Liling—a relationship made extraordinary by Gallimard’s faulty perception of the Chinese opera star’s sexual identity.
Gallimard recalls his first encounter with Song at the German ambassador’s house in Beijing in 1960. Song’s performance of the death scene from...
[The entire page is 2343 words long]
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