Does Gallimard ever suspect that Song is a man in M. Butterfly?
In M. Butterfly, Gallimard never suspects that Song is a man until Song's true gender is revealed to him, but even then, as the previous answers say, Gallimard does not want to believe that Song is a man. This is because the realization that he has been in love with a man for almost twenty years is devastating. Song was Gallimard's perfect idealization of a woman—but this was just an act based on lies. Song's testimony in court is a betrayal, and it humiliates Gallimard. After seeing the truth, literally, Gallimard still chooses fantasy over truth. He says, "I am a man who loved a woman created by a man." He loves and chooses Butterfly; he does not love Song. Song merely created Butterfly for him to love. Gallimard's sacrifice/suicide at the end of M. Butterfly is a way for him to solidify the connection between him and Butterfly...
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from Puccini's opera. He has become Butterfly—the one who has been manipulated.
Not only does Gallimard never suspect that Song is man, but he does not even want to believe the truth after Song's true identity is revealed. No one of course believes this because it seems absurd to carry on an intimate, long term relationship without knowing the sex of one's partner. However, Gallimard maintains that he did not suspect that Song was a man. Gallimard is totally wrapped up in his fantasy of the perfect woman, and this fantasy pervades his relationship with Song. Keep in mind also that Song goes to great lengths to conceal his true identity from Gallimard, and Song uses Gallimard's desire to believe in the perfect woman to his advantage in the concealment. I do not think that Gallimard is gay; he loves Song as the ideal woman because she embodies all the stereotypes that suggest he is superior in his masculinity. His being gay would not support this. Rather, as Song says, the perfect woman could only be created by a man, so Song creates Butterfly to appeal to Gallimard's weaknesses.
Why is Gallimard susceptible to Song's deceit in M. Butterfly?
Gallimard has never been particularly successful with women, as the other educator notes. In a scene from his university days, he tells his friend that he is too insecure to approach women, as he never knows what to say and believes that women will reject him. However, he, like Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, believes that though he is not powerful, brave, or handsome, he still deserves to be with a beautiful woman. It is clear that he also believes Asian women are more submissive than Western women. He says that Asian women suggest that a man has "already given too much, when we know he's really had to give nothing at all." He enjoys being with a woman who, he thinks, does not value herself. It makes him feel more powerful and as though he is superior to her. Though Song seems haughty at first, Gallimard believes in his soul that she is submissive to him. He later falls prey to Song's deceit.
Gallimard has a pretty severe inferiority complex. At school, he is teased, even being voted ‘‘least likely to be invited to a party.’’ He is uncomfortable in his relations with the opposite sex, and has had little success in romance. He married for practical reasons rather than for love. However, he still longs for a beautiful woman who will be completely devoted to him.
When he thinks he has found such a woman in Song, he gains pleasure in dominating her, and behaves arrogantly and cruelly towards her. This makes him feel for the first time that he is a real man. Eventually, however, he does develop a genuine love for Song.
These traits, longing, vulnerability, inferiority, and dissatisfaction in his marriage are contribute to Song's success in manipulating Gallimard. Blinded by her attentions and beauty, Gallimard lets his guard down and Song is able to deceive him into turning over the classified documents.
For more information on Gallimard, Song, and other characters, please visit the link below.