Madame Butterfly

Compare and contrast Butterfly’s and Pinkerton’s conceptions of love and marriage. How do they view their own power in relation to the power of love?

While Pinkerton is unfaithful in love, Butterfly rejects her faith in her family’s religion. How is infidelity in faith presented differently and/or similarly to infidelity in love? How does fidelity to love cause infidelity in faith?

The opera presents a convoluted picture of religion in Japan, often confusing or conflating Shinto and Buddhist practices. However, Suzuki is depicted as faithful to the “Gods of Japan” (97). How are Suzuki’s religious practices depicted in comparison to Butterfly’s religious conversion? Do these depictions comment on Japanese and American nationalities? How?

Why would Butterfly believe that life in America is better than life in Japan? How do her attitudes toward America and Americans, and especially Pinkerton, demonstrate Cultural Conflict and Exotification?

Why is comparison, specifically the simile, the dominant mode of characterization in the opera? Why do we only understand characters in how they relate to something else?

Flowers appear many times in the opera. What do they symbolize? How do different characters relate to flowers differently?

Pinkerton’s full name is Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, and he arrives on the ship USS Abraham Lincoln. These names make Pinkerton extremely American. How does Pinkerton represent America in this Italian opera?

Madame Butterfly has been adapted many times, often changing the location of the opera. What role does the setting play in the opera? Why is pre-World War I Japan significant to the tragedy?