The IVC Borderline Literary Journal

The Tragic Death of Cho-Cho-san in Madama Butterfly - by Maria Bell, Isua Camarena, and Armando Marquez- English 201

In M. Butterfly, we first get a sense for who Rene is when he reveals his love for the opera Madama Butterfly. The first line he speaks in the first scene of the play is "Butterfly, Butterfly..." He's serving time for treason in a prison on the outskirts of Paris. He once lived the international life of a French Diplomat; now he's confined to live out his life in a tiny dark prison cell. He has nothing to live for. Everything he has ever had has been taken away from. The only thing that keeps him going is this fantasy he has for Madama Butterfly. It dampers his reality. The story gives him hope. He shares it with his fellow prisoners: "My name is Rene Gallimard - also known as Madame Butterfly."

Below, students collaborated on the meaning of Western Male Fantasy. Nothing good becomes of it. In Madama Butterfly, Cho-Cho-san kills herself with her uncle’s knife.  In M. Butterfly, Rene takes his life in pretty  much the same way.  In the following essay, students examine the deep dark hole of the Western Male Fantasy.   Once you fall for it, you’ll never crawl your way back.

To read the entire essay, please CLICK on the following link: http://www.ivcborderline.org/2017/03/the-tragic-death-of-cho-cho-san-group-essay-maria-bell-isua-camarena-armando-marquez-english-201.html

To watch a short video rendition of Cho-Cho-san's tragic death, please CLICK on the following clip of Maria Callas singing "Love Duet" : 

 

Love and Cruelty - by Ivette Lopez, Suelen Lopez, Brisa Casarez, Giselle Batista, Edgar Cornejo, and Joel Aldasoro - English 201

In M. Butterfly, Rene overwhelmed by his own Male Ego. This is the belief a man might have that he is better or much more important than other people. As a Westerner working in China, he feels superior to the Asians he meets and works with. Rene is not the best looking or most clever man, but his encounter with Song transforms him. He knows what he knows – he’s familiar with the common Asian stereotypes. He wants to believe that all Asian women are obedient, devoted, and submissive. He wants, needs, and obsesses with the love and attention from Song. Her love brings up something in him that becomes addictive as any drug.  I mean, he has to be INSANE. Or, incredibly stupid. He believes what he wants to believe.

    To read entire group essay, please CLICK on the following link: http://www.ivcborderline.org/2017/03/love-and-cruelty-group-analysis-of-the-male-ego-in-m-butterfly-by-ivette-lopez-suelen-lopez-brisa-ca.html

    To see a brief clip from Broadway production of M. Butterfly starring Clive Owen and Jin Ha , please CLICK below: 

 

Rape Mentality - by Cecilio Cazares, Astrid Nunez, Sophia Nunez, Karen Rodriguez, and Maribel Gorosave - English 201

Before we even started with the drama of M. Butterfly, we read the story behind Giacomo Puccini’s 1904 opera Madame Butterfly – this is the one where a beautiful Japanese geisha girl throws her life away for the love of a lying, cheating white sailor.   Pinkerton is his name. He gets what he wants from his Cho-Cho-san  and discards her when his ship leaves.   With each act and scene in M. Butterfly, we can see the parallels develop before our eyes.    Our Western protagonist, Rene,  is well familiar with the white sailor in Madame Butterfly.  In fact, he becomes obsessed with the notion of dominating a modest, obedient, and submissive Asian woman.   When Rene is with Song, what he thinks he is feeling the passion.  My students, however, think differently.  They discuss the tendency of his culture to demean and oppress people of color. They suggest there is little romance in his heart.  They write he is overcome with “rape mentality.”

    To read this essay in its entirety, please CLICK on the following link: http://www.ivcborderline.org/2018/03/rape-mentality-m-butterfly-group-analysis-paper-by-cecilio-cazares-astrid-nunez-sophia-nunez-karen-r.html

    To bring this discussion up-to-date in an interesting way , please watch the video below:

 

Culture Crash - by by Marissa Rashid, Ruben Ramirez, Rogelio Ruvalcaba, Francisco Camarena, and Melissa Butron - English 201

In English 201, we read  M. Butterfly,  a crazy theatre piece based on a true-to-life love affair between a French diplomat and a Chinese opera singer. The action takes place during the sixties which I like because we learn about the Chinese Cultural Revolution and the Vietnam War.   We talk about cultural conflict both a personal and political levels. The protagonist of the play is a man named Rene Gallimard who is obsessed with the Asian Mystique: “I have a vision.  Of the Orient,” he says. “That, deep with its almond eyes there are still women.  Women willing to sacrifice themselves for the love of a man.  Even a man whose love is completely without worth.” 

Below students worked in groups to analyze key passages from the text.  They have agreed Rene becomes overwhelmed with his own Male Ego. This is the belief a man might have that he is better or much more important than other people. As a Westerner working in China, he feels superior to the Asians he meets and works with. Rene is not the best looking or most clever man, but his encounter with Song transforms him. In Act One, Scene Three, Rene widens his vision.  He sees more than he ever wanted to of see his "Dream Lover."   Rene, be careful what you wish for. 

 

    To read this group's entire essay, please CLICK on the following link: http://www.ivcborderline.org/2017/03/culture-crash-group-essay-by-by-marissa-rashid-ruben-ramirez-rogelio-ruvalcaba-francisco-camarena-an.html

    To watch an excerpt from M.Butterfly, please CLICK on the clip below:

 

True Colors in M.Butterfly - by Noel Cruz, Noe Torrecilla, Clarissa Escalante, and Priscilla Ramirez - English 201

As Rene’s relationship with Song grows, so does his self-deception. He’s caught up in his own perverted image of Western Rule. As white man, he objectifies his Asian woman. He treats her like a pet. “Butterfly, Butterfly,” he repeats. This is his favorite line from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. This is the story of the Asian girl throwing her life away for the American sailor. Like, she only exists to satisfy his every whim and pleasure. Rene can’t get it out of his head. At one point in M. Butterfly, he turns he ignores Song only to exert his power over her. He recounts to the audience a scene from Madame Butterfly in which Cho-Cho-san imagines herself a captured butterfly stuck on a needle – the sharp point pierces her heart. Rene’s love for Song is based on total submission. 

According to this group of students, Song understands Rene better than he knows himself. He plays on his weaknesses.  Rene won’t know this until it’s too late.  That’s when he sees Song’s “true colors.”

    To read this group essay in its entirety, please CLICK on the following link: http://www.ivcborderline.org/2017/03/true-colors-group-analysis-paper-for-m-butterfly-by-noel-cruz-noe-torrecilla-clarissa-escalante-and-.html

    For a behind the scenes look at the making of M. Butterfly, please CLICK below: