Daniel Dvorin - M. Butterfly

§ November 5th, 2008 § Filed under Assignments, Madama Butterfly Discussion

“Welcome to ‘Merican house, mos’ welcome to ‘Merican girl! (Pointing to herself. They both bow)….You sleepin’ good? How are that honorable ancestors – are they well?

I chose this line because I believe this gives way to Madame Butterfly’s personality and gives birth to her character. She was a Japanese geisha that fell in love with an American soldier. After he left, she kept the notion of being an American(ized) woman. She introduces her self to an American consul as Mrs. Lt. B. F. Pikkerton, instead of Cho-Cho-San. This line honestly enhances the whole opera for me.