Loango 1

Yeltsin Loango

English 102

Professor Batty

December 11, 2017

Coming out of the Cocoon

The play; M Butterfly, by Henry David Hwang, talks about the complicated relationship

of two men. A French diplomat Rene fell in love with, what he thought was a woman named

Song. Later in the play we realize that Song is a Chinese spy, and a man. Sent on a mission to

gain any information that is of any possible value to the Chinese government. Many critics have

applied the queer theory to analyze the play for what it truly is. Queer theory is the study of the

LGBTQ+ community in general. The sexuality of the characters is questioned as the play goes

on. Gender identity, sexual orientation, and homosexual suicide are three main components that

can be analyzed through the queer theory lens all challenging traditional power dynamics.

Rene Gallimard is identified as a dynamic character. As we read the play, we see the

perspective of Gallimard and the way he views woman. The term western male," is referred to

him often times in the book by Song, because of the way he presents and treats women. His

gender identity is very masculine as he introduced. The idea behind the western man, is very

demanding, masculine, gets what he wants. Gallimard says it himself, ... fears that the western

man who catches a butterfly will pierce its heart with a needle, then questions himself if that is

who he is to become (act 1- scene 11). Keeping in mind that this idea went towards every man at

this time no matter how handsome or ugly one can be. Mark is introduced into the story, in a

very interesting and unique way. I believe that mark is not credited the amount he deserves for
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the role he plays. Which is that although hes a minor character, hes the one that brings the

powerful western ideal man to Gallimard. Gallimard not being the greatest looking guy, mark

pushes him to get with woman no matter the lack of respect. Mark says you dont have to ask!

Thats the beauty-dont you see? They dont have to say yes (act 1-scene4). Perfect example is

presented here to see the empowerment of a man over a female idea. Many influences around us

come to play a very important factor on how we act and respond to circumstances.

Although many may think sexual orientation may be similar to gender identity, there is

something distinct about each. Sexual orientation is who you like and have strong emotions

towards, while gender identity is more of what you were born as - male or female. The

orientation of Song is of a woman while in reality its a man. Ironically the case is that Song

being an actor in a play, comes to be an actor outside of the play. Although as a woman she falls

in love with Gallimard, the question that rises up is, if she also loved him as a man. If so this

makes Song a gay character. The only thing that could be holding him back would be culture, in

the sense that Chinese were anti-homosexual. Songs character does everything to satisfy

Gallimard as we learn in the play, something interesting is there was no limit for her to stop the

act she was putting up.

In todays time of life, we notice that many homosexuals tend to hide their identity and

keep it personal, because they arent ready for what people will say about them. The act of

coming out, involves the person to [firstly accept themselves and understand who they want to

be], and then come out(psychiatrictimes). Song maybe never accepted it himself, and possibly

told himself he was on a mission. Therefore it was all to help his fellow Chinese, when truly he

didn't want to accept the idea that he has gone against his culture.
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Gallimard after 20 years comes to realize that he has been sleeping with another man. He

is sent to court and put in prison for his action. In prison where he tells us all this story he ends it

by killing himself at the end. This point in specifically can be interpreted as homosexual suicide.

Comparing both the book and the movie we understand the same ending with a twist that may

seem minor but a huge impact on society. That case being that yes, he does kill himself in both

endings, but in the book version we understand that he is alone with Song and kills himself.

While in the movie all the other prisoners in the jail are listening, and watching what he's doing.

Now why is this important to understand? Reason being is that the audience gives much

more of an important meaning in real life. The idea of committing suicide for being gay, bi, or

lesbian. The audience can present all the people from different views in life, and Gallimard

killing himself can present those people that have come out of the closet but couldnt withstand

others opinions on it. Statics show that in the LGBT population, more than 75% of people in a

community setting reported suffering verbal harassment while one-in-seven reported physical

attacks. (Tracy) This is a serious case that can happen and has happened from the youngest age

to the oldest age possible. Many factors come into play such as family and friends in these cases.

The ending of the play in the book is gives us a better sense of Gallimards character. As

Song presents to strip for him for the very first time he objects continuously. Then states he

doesnt want to see because he already knows what he will see. That line says a lot. The reason

its such powerful line, is because it opens even more the true sexuality of Gallimard. Him

stating the fact that he already knew what he would see, says hes known for a while now that

Song was a guy. We dont know how long hes known, but the fact that he knew for a time says

that he couldnt live with himself knowing he isnt straight. The important point here is that he
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never accepted it himself. The term used is minority stress, where stress levels are high due to

what will people say factor.

Gallimard can be seen as the protagonist, and as a dynamic one as well. Gallimard is

given the term dynamic, because even though we dont see much change between the book we

do see the change at the end. Where he goes from a powerful western man to a gay guy. Song on

the other hand can be seen in two different ways. Those two being either a protagonist or

antagonist. He can be identified as an antagonist because of the fact that he was just using

Gallimard for information that he could have taken from him. On the other hand, he could have

been seen as a protagonist as a hero. Reason being that he got Gallimard to express his true

sexual orientation. If we go back to the beginning of the play Gallimard was never the type of

guy to get at woman never had the confidence to talk to them. Can him being gay be the reason

for that? If it was, then Song is seen as a hero for getting that out of his cocoon.

Although many, just see this as a play that is left open ended with many questions, its

further meaning is seen when its viewed through the postcolonial lens. The true story can be

whether you stay truth to yourself or decide to live life as a lie. "Song reinforces the stereotype of

the passive woman and Gallimard buys into it because he relies on her image in order to reflect

his vision of himself as a "real" man"(Balaev). Here we see once again the Eastern vs Western

idea between Song and Gallimard. Song presenting herself vulnerable in order to get info from

Gallimard. Gallimard never holds back in what he can take from Song, because thats who's

created to be. The idea between Westerner and Easterners, connects also to what is a woman and

what is a man in general. What does it take to be an actual man, Gallimard's goal is to be the

perfect ideal man, therefore when he understands the true person Song is he rejects the idea.
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Because in a world where a lot is expected from male, "a male is not to fall in love with another

male(Balaev)."

Mr. Hwang writes this play not to hit just one point, but to hit many points of society in

the real life. LGBT being the biggest aim of his play, while at the same time comparing the

West/East empowerment over each other. Its important to understand and realize the serious

cases of suicidal outside in the real world. As well as understanding what is expected from a

western man and what is expected from an eastern woman. The play has important messages and

is left openly to the reader to interpret it as freely as he or she likes.

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WORK CITED

Balaev, Michelle. "Performing gender and fictions of the nation in David Hwang's M. Butterfly." Forum for

World Literature Studies, vol. 6, no. 4, 2014, p. 608+. Literature Resource Center,

http://library.lavc.edu:2102/apps/doc/A398253065/GLS?

Hwang, David Henry. M. Butterfly. Dramatists Play Service, 2008.

Tracy, Natasha. Homosexuality and Suicide: LGBT Suicide A Serious Issue - LGBT Mental

| Psychiatric Times, www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/closet-psychological-issues-being-and-

coming-out.