M. Butterfly (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: David Henry Hwang
- First Published: 1988
- Type of Work: Play
- 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
In an intriguing use of “found” material, Hwang used a newspaper article for the basic story line of M. Butterfly: A French diplomat falls in love with a Chinese opera singer, and they have a twenty-year love affair before the singer is shockingly exposed as both a spy and a man. The play begins with Rene Gallimard in his prison cell, musing and reflecting about the “perfect woman” as he utters the opening lines, “Butterfly, Butterfly,” which give rise to flashbacks that piece together the story. The play closes with Song Liling, Gallimard's “perfect woman,”...
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See Also:
David Henry Hwang (Cyclopedia of World Authors)David Henry Hwang (Identities and Issues)David Henry Hwang (Drama)
See Also:
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