Madama Butterfly is an opera written by an Italian (Giacomo Puccini) about a fifteen year old Japanese girl (Butterfly) and an American navel officer (Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton). This opera has become one of the most widely watched and popular operas in the world since it was created more than one-hundred years ago. While the story is filled with profound sadness, it is perhaps as relevant today as it was when it was first performed.
Butterfly’s overwhelming loyalty to Pinkerton costs her the family ties that she had before she met him. When her family learns that Butterfly is marrying Pinkerton, her violent uncle disowns her. She becomes isolated from her family, from her culture, for her love for a foreigner. She is a lovesick girl yearning for her husband when he leaves back to America with the intention of marrying an American woman.
When he returns, she inevitably sees his new wife, and does what, to her, is the honorable thing, by killing herself with the same knife her father used to kill himself to save his honor. The play displays the immense differences between Asian and Western culture and thought. The points of view of the principals couldn’t be more different, especially in the areas of love and marriage, honor and hope, loyalty and trust. Puccini created a timeless classic with this story. Do yourself a favor and see it if you get the chance. It will make you stop and think about what different cultures value.