I M Butterfly Stereotypes
Stereotypes. Dominance. Fantasy.
These three words I found were especially significant throughout the text. These three words alone effectively represent and capture the key events which took place throughout the play.
Stereotypes
From the start, M. Butterfly, demonstrated several different stereotypes and misconceptions which held a large significance throughout the script. Author David Henry Hwang, revealed racial stereotypes, stereotypes on white western culture, while also touching on stereotypes held relating to specific gender roles. René Gallimard comes to China holding onto the preconceived notion that Oriental women are exotic, submissive, and self-sacrificing. As stated by Song, “the west has sort of an international rape mentality towards the east” (62). Immediately, Gallimard clings to Liling Song and hopes for “her” to fulfill his sexual desires. This perfectly represents the strong stereotype held regarding western imperialism and culture."The west thinks …show more content…
Gallimard is so wrapped up in this idea that he never actually sees whats right in front of him. This desire to dominate a submissive oriental women blinds him from reality. Gallimard never turned on the lights to see this “perfect woman”. The darkness (literally and figuratively) clouded his vision. The idea of loving an oriental was so exotic that he fell in love with the illusion alone. Gallimard’s fantasy was shattered when he discovered Songs identity wasn't what he thought. Song states, “when he finally met his fantasy ‘woman’, he wanted more than anything to believe that she was, in fact, a woman” (p. 62). Gallimard was unable to accept the fact that “she” was actually a “he”. He ends up killing himself when he realized he was manipulated for all this time and didn't truly hold this dominance once
These three words I found were especially significant throughout the text. These three words alone effectively represent and capture the key events which took place throughout the play.
Stereotypes
From the start, M. Butterfly, demonstrated several different stereotypes and misconceptions which held a large significance throughout the script. Author David Henry Hwang, revealed racial stereotypes, stereotypes on white western culture, while also touching on stereotypes held relating to specific gender roles. René Gallimard comes to China holding onto the preconceived notion that Oriental women are exotic, submissive, and self-sacrificing. As stated by Song, “the west has sort of an international rape mentality towards the east” (62). Immediately, Gallimard clings to Liling Song and hopes for “her” to fulfill his sexual desires. This perfectly represents the strong stereotype held regarding western imperialism and culture."The west thinks …show more content…
Gallimard is so wrapped up in this idea that he never actually sees whats right in front of him. This desire to dominate a submissive oriental women blinds him from reality. Gallimard never turned on the lights to see this “perfect woman”. The darkness (literally and figuratively) clouded his vision. The idea of loving an oriental was so exotic that he fell in love with the illusion alone. Gallimard’s fantasy was shattered when he discovered Songs identity wasn't what he thought. Song states, “when he finally met his fantasy ‘woman’, he wanted more than anything to believe that she was, in fact, a woman” (p. 62). Gallimard was unable to accept the fact that “she” was actually a “he”. He ends up killing himself when he realized he was manipulated for all this time and didn't truly hold this dominance once