Nov 18, 2008

M. Butterfly | M. Butterfly

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,”...

[The entire page is 815 words long]

M. Butterfly | M. Butterfly

At a glance:

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