Madame Butterfly Lesson Plan

How do Suzuki's and Butterfly's relationship with religion differ? How might Butterfly's focus on the "American God" reflect the broader situation of Act II?

Suzuki has a very deep connection to her religion, it seems. She prayed in Act I and again prays at the beginning of Act II, this time to "grant that Butterfly shall weep no more!" Butterfly responds, "The Japanese gods are fat and lazy. I'm convinced that the American God is more persuasive and responds immediately to prayers." Thus, to Butterfly, it is not so much about the religion itself as it is about America, and what her conversion represents. She desperately wants to believe that Pinkerton is coming back...