POV Paper- Racism in Irena’s Vow and Madama Butterfly

§ December 19th, 2008 § Filed under Point Of View

Irena Gut Opdyke from Dan Gordon’s Irena’s Vow and Madama Butterfly from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly both encountered racism from their significant others. Irena endured oppression during the Holocaust, when millions of Poles (among other victimized races, including Jews) perished under German tyranny. Her lover was Major Eduard Rugemer,  a Nazi officer who clarified his distaste for non-Aryan, “inferior” races. Madama Butterfly encountered racism during the early 1900’s from her husband, American Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton. The libretto, written from a Western perspective, depicted Eastern nations as substandard. Westerners equated Easterners with feminine qualities, believing that Asians were submissive, fragile, and easily overpowered.  Pinkerton exemplified that viewpoint by dominating and manipulating Madama Butterfly. Throughout their marriage, she became completely obedient and dependent upon him. On the contrary, Irena refused to be victimized in her relationship and fought for survival and independence.
Irena’s sexual relationship with Major Rugemer and Butterfly’s marriage to Pinkerton started under different circumstances. In the former, Major Rugemer despised Poles but allowed Irena to serve as his housekeeper. She lived in constant terror, worrying whether the twelve Jewish companions she was hiding would be discovered. Eventually, Rugemer found out and threatened to expose them publicly unless Irena became his mistress. While he loved her, Irena obliged solely to ensure her and her Jewish companions’ survival. Irena agreed to this relationship with honorable intentions, fighting the Nazi regime by protecting and saving Jews. Major Rugemer’s discovery of the Jews and his consequent request created an intense, dramatic scene. Shocked and outraged by Irena’s betrayal, Rugemer smoldered with pure wrath. He withdrew his gun, silencing Irena’s feeble attempts to explain the situation. It appeared certain that Rugemer would murder Irena, until he lowered the weapon and confessed that he loved her. Unless she returned his love and became his mistress, she and her Jewish companions would be murdered. Irena’s expressions betrayed her conflicted feelings and a dreadful silence loomed as she considered the request. Remembering her promise to keep the twelve Jews safe, she finally agreed in a soft, trembling voice. Major Rugemer calmly walked away, pretending as though the encounter never happened. Although he despised Jews, he manipulated the situation to serve his selfish purpose and degraded Irena.
Similarly to Rugemer, Pinkerton used Butterfly for sensual pleasure in Madama Butterfly. Similarly to Irena, Pinkerton feigned his love. His intentions and discriminatory viewpoints were clear from the very beginning. During his brief stay in Japan, he would marry a compliant and delicate native woman. When he returned to America, he would remarry an American woman indefinitely. He actually purchased Butterfly from a marriage-broker, as though she were a disposable product rather than a human being. In these terms, Pinkerton regarded Butterfly as a toy, something to play with until he became bored or found somebody better.  Unlike Irena, Butterfly completely bought Pinkerton’s act and succumbed to racism; she was younger, 15-years-old, and naïve. She was initially unaware of the truth and unwilling to accept it after Pinkerton returned to America and deserted her.
Madama Butterfly’s submission was unrelated to honorable intentions; by marrying a Westerner and converting to Christianity, she rejected her Japanese roots. This destroyed her companions and family, who rejected her and furiously stormed out the wedding. By changing religions before marriage, Butterfly was already conforming to Pinkerton’s stereotypical belief that Easterners were easily influenced. When Madama Butterfly finally recognized Pinkerton’s true intentions and discriminatory views, she felt defeated. Unlike Irena, she could not overcome the oppression and gain control of the situation because it was too late; Pinkerton had married an American woman and her family and friends had disowned her. She had allowed herself to be swept away and dominated, coinciding with the Western world’s perception of Asians. Heartbroken by Pinkterton’s deceit and rejection because she was Japanese, Butterfly ultimately committed suicide.
Irena and Madama Butterfly both encountered different forms of racism. Irena endured oppression during the Holocaust for being Polish and therefore inferior by Nazi standards. Madama Butterfly was discriminated against Western nations viewed Eastern countries as substandard. Irena’s lover, SS officer Major Eduard Rugemer, and Butterfly’s husband, Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton, both discriminated against their significant others. Both relationships were founded on feigned interest and relatively short-term. However, Madama Butterfly was ambiguous to the racism and truly loved Pinkerton, becoming submissive and conforming to the Western perception of Asians. Irena recognized the prejudice and became Major Rugemer’s mistress to ensure her and her Jewish companions’ survival.

-Ramandeep Singh

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