- 1
Why is the title “M. Butterfly”? What does this change signify in terms of characters’ relationships to their counterparts in the opera?
Hwang changes “Madame,” a feminine title, to “M.,” a gender neutral or masculine title (in French, M. stands for monsieur). This change signifies the fact that Song, the initial embodiment of the character of Butterfly, is actually a man. The change also hints that the true Butterfly of the play is not Song, but is rather Gallimard, who takes the role as butterfly at the end of the play and kills himself.
- 2
Do you believe that Song had real feelings for Gallimard? Or was Gallimard merely Song’s “acting challenge,” through and through?
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