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Andrea Martinez

English 102

Professor Batty

16 October 2017

Catching A Colorful Butterfly

David Henry Hwangs play M. Butterfly, is consistently reviewed by literary critics to be

a work consisting of symbols and metaphors that, together, parallel a relationship between two

men and the domination of the West over the East. This play truly takes the audience through

whirlwinds of emotions and thoughts. This play is based on a true story that stunned the world.

This play was about a French diplomat, Rene Gallimard who feel in love with a perfect

woman. The perfect woman he describes is Song Liling, the beautiful Chinese diva. However,

how could he have known that his beloved was in fact a man who was a spy for the Chinese

government. In a series of flashbacks, Gallimard relives the twenty-year affair scandal.

Throughout the play Gallimard gives us not only a look at the past but he also gives us insight

into the present where he is being held captive by the French government in a prison cell. M.

Butterfly sheds light to the conflicts between men and women, the differences between East and

West, and racial stereotypes in sexuality.

The conflicts between men and women is still a big predominant factor that effects us all.

Still to this day, women are treated less than men. We are told that we will never amount to

anything and that we need to let men take care of us. It is as if they think were children and I

suppose that is why feminism has been on the rise the past couple of years. According to a 2015

Vox Poll; conducted by PerryUndem, a research and communications firm, 85 percent of

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Americans believe in equality for women. Yet, only 18 percent of respondents identified as a

feminist. But nonetheless, the fight for women rights is still a strong subject here in the United

States. How ridiculous is it that were still fighting for equality in the 21st century, ludicrous.

However, this play did a phenomenal job at portrays equality between men and women. There is

a famous line said by one of the main characteristics, Song. When asked why, in the perking

opera, are womens roles played by mean, Song answered; Because only a man knows how a

women is supposed to act. (Hwang 63). Now this line could be interpreted differently, but I

view it as a sign of masculinity. For example, a mans view of a woman is that were the

submissive ones and we obey their every command. Unfortunately, for many men this ideology

is wired so deep into their mind there is no turning back now. I suppose that is the message

Hwang tried to portray, that only a man knows how a women should act because that is how they

want us to behave. I find it disgusting the mentality of men out there who view women almost as

their slaves and I find it pathetic that women play along to these roles. Aside from shading light

to the conflicts between men and women, Hwang also shows the differences between East and

West ideology.

The East and West ideology still plays a vital role in differentiating cultures. During the

age of colonialism, Western powers conquered the people of Asia and objectified their women

and this is the same time period as portrayed in the play. Consider the two sides like this; the East

is considered the more feminine side and the West is considered to be manly. In technical

terms; the East can be considered the Chinese and the West can be considered us here in the U.S.

or even those who are in France. Now I am not sure if this ideology is accurate, but it is in fact

debatable. However, I would like to say that the only reason these beliefs are prevailing is
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because of Chinese. It is said that the Chinese feminine ideal is for a wife to live absolutely,

selflessly for her husband. Which is another reason that made men infatuated by the vision of an

oriental woman. East and West ideology also contributes to sexuality. For example, one told

Song, Dont forget: there is no homosexuality in China! (Hwang 48). Now with this being

said, it is quite clear that the East side of the world arent quite open to new sexualities. Thus

bringing up my next point, racial stereotypes in sexuality.

For Song, he was not allowed to be who he truly was. Now many claim that Song did in

fact love Gallimard and others argue that Song was just complying with the mission and

following orders. I personally feel that Song is gay and Gallimard is either bisexual or straight

with a bit of confusion. When one takes away the sexual aspect of this relationship, they both

truly connected with one another for who they are and their personal beliefs. They enjoyed each

others company for twenty years and that says a lot. Gallimard not only had a wife, but had a

different affair with a woman name Renee (Hwang 55). Now because of this, one can infer that

he is straight and likes women. I feel that Song is in fact gay due to the fact that he portrayed

himself as a woman and enjoyed it. Now because Song is from China, and the Chinese dont

believe in homosexuality, Song had to act like this was all for the mission. However, I would like

to argue that even after the fact Gallimard knew he was a man, Song still tried to show him

affection; even when Gallimard wanted nothing to do with him anymore. The question of their

sexuality is up for debate and I too was lost at some points due to the fact that both characters

though they would fight hard, they would love harder.

In conclusion, I believe that the play is calling into question traditional power dynamics

and not only between sexes but between society as well. Whether that be with the difference of
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East and West ideology or the issues with masculinity and femininity. The play, M. Butterfly,

depicts problems with the homosexual culture that even to this day is relevant and crucial.

Hwangs important theme of Western imperialism over Eastern cultures carries with it the notion

of the heterosexual prerogative. As a result, both audience members and critics fail to see the true

importance of Gallimard and Songs relationship. Which is their inner struggle is a direct result

of the heterosexual worlds feminization and dominance of the submissive homosexual world

(Saal). Just as Western dominance has led to colonization and submissiveness of the Eastern

world, heterosexual dominance has flattened and continues to further collapse the sphere of

homosexual culture and closets queer sexualities (Eng).

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Works Cited

Eng, David L. Racial Castration: Managing Masculinity in Asian America. Durham [N.C.]:

Duke, 2001. Print.

Glover, David, and Cora Kaplan . Genders. 2nd. New York: Routledge, 2009. Print.

Hwang, David Henry. M. Butterfly. New York, N.Y.: New American Library, 1989. Print.

Hwang, David, and John Digaetani. M Butterfly: An Interview with David Henry

Hwang.TDR; 33.3(1989):141-153.

Irmscher, Christoph. The Absolute Power of a Man? Staging Masculinity in Giacomo Puccini

and David Henry Hwang." Amerikastudien / American Studies; 43.4 (1998): 619-628. Print.

Saal, Illka. Performance and Perception: Gender, Sexuality, and Culture in David Henry

Hwangs M. Butterfly. Amerikastudien/American Studies. 43.4(1998): 629

Zamora, Maria C., and Inc ebrary. Nation, Race & History in Asian American Literature:

Re-membering the Body. New York: Peter Lang, 2008.

Kliff, Sarah. Most Americans Don't Consider Themselves Feminists. Vox, Vox, 8 Apr. 2015,

www.vox.com/2015/4/8/8372417/feminist-gender-equality-poll.