M.Butterfly Analysis

M.Butterfly Analysis

When Gallimard introduces the world of Pinkerton and Butterfly we as the reader are suddenly exposed to a parallel reality that provides insight into his character.

M. Butterfly proposes many different definitions of love but in that fall many categories and elements to which love is sometimes attributed to. We are sometimes misguided by our perception of what we want to see rather than what is really in front of us. Gallimard’s love for Song took a journey of its own in search of acceptance and worth his identity lay in his pursuits. Song’s identity was an illusion of ulterior motives. A true actress, playing the role of a lifetime and a man struggling to find a place in this world, playing games with her, seeking a superiority to lord over her eventual submission to him---which in the end was nothing but a lie that deceived both of them.

Gallimard longed to feel loved by someone worthy of him, someone beautiful and attractive. The greater his affliction with what he wanted versus what he could get the more magnanimous she had become in his life. She was the goal and he was playing around with her feelings to feed his ego.

“Here were women-a shelfful-who would do exactly as I wanted.” pg. 11

Gallimard wanted attention; he wanted to feel like a man. And connotatively the definition of a man was superior to that of a woman and a real man could exert his authority and desire over the female to get what he wants. He wanted to feel that but also felt he was unworthy of it because of his mediocre looks.

Again later on page 11 he continues to say “Now, she’s going to walk away. She’s going to-“

Show’s a fear of rejection, He couldn’t believe that she was naked; that she would “allow” him to do anything to her he was so flabbergasted by that very thought that he couldn’t do anything.

* “no fantasy woman would ever want me, so yes, I would settle for a quick leap up the career ladder.” Pg.13

Ever man has the instinct to...