The Turning Point in M. Butterfly

Act 1, Scene 13 "Are you my Butterfly?

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In this scene, the play includes a turning point. In scene 12, Gallimard has not seen Song for about eight weeks and is told that he will be promoted to vice-counsel, so he believes it is because of Song. He had not wanted to call or write her in order to see whether she truly had an interest in him. Therefore, he goes to Song's flat and asks her directly whether she is his "butterfly." This is a clear reference to the opera Song performed the day Gallimard and her met, Madame Butterfly. In the opera, the Oriental girl, Cio-Cio San, kills herself when she finds out that her American husband, Pinkerton, has married an American woman and will therefore not come back to her. At first Song refuses to admit it, but Gallimard keeps on asking her because he wants to hear her say it. Song’s Western side may be telling her to refuse, but her Oriental and loving side tells her that she must speak the truth about how she really feels and is willing to do. Eventually she states that indeed, she is his butterfly. This is an important part because that would mean that she would love and devote her life to Gallimard—the same way Kate does to her husband in Madame Butterfly. Thus, this would cause a victory for Gallimard (the Western power) because she would submit to him and the power struggle would favor him in the relationship. From this point on, Song leaves behind her strong self and becomes the fantasy of Butterfly. Even though she claimed she was modest but not submissive, by stating that she was his butterfly, she was acknowledging that she would anything for Gallimard. His "experiment" then proved to be successful because he discovered that Song loved him despite her humiliations. I am personally against that because Gallimard only did that in order to increase his male ego. Most men want a pretty woman, and when he finally has her, he makes her suffer just to see whether she is willing to make some sacrifices for him. Gallimard wants to feel the power of having a woman give up everything for him, and he finally accomplishes it when Song tells him she will be his perfect fantasy girl.

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