Research Paper on:
M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Hwang wrote the screenplay. The story itself is one that serves as a deconstruction of the illusions and realities of West versus East, hetero- versus homosexual realities, and what  is "proper" and what is taboo. Bibliography lists 3 sources. BWhwang.rtf David Henry Hwangs "M. Butterfly" By: C.B. Rodgers  - November 2001 -- for more information on using this paper properly! Introduction Illusion and reality are the key ingredients in Chinese-American playwright David  Henry Hwangs "M. Butterfly" (1988) and those factors are what have had the greatest influence in terms of how his work has been interpreted by audiences seeing it performed or  its film adaptation for which Hwang wrote the screenplay. The story itself is one that serves as a deconstruction of the illusions and realities of West versus East, hetero-  versus homosexual realities, and what is "proper" and what is taboo. Puccinis opera, "Madame Butterfly," only serves as the setting for the larger story of "M. Butterfly." However,  it does invite and examination of the stereotypes presented. In the Afterword of the published play, Hwang writes: "The idea of doing a deconstructivist Madame Butterfly immediately appealed to me.  This, despite the fact that I didnt even know the plot of the opera! I know Butterfly only as a cultural stereotype; speaking of an Asian woman we would sometimes  say, Shes pulling a Butterfly," which meant playing the submissive Oriental number. Yet, I felt convinced that the libretto would include yet another lotus blossom, pining away for a cruel  Caucasian man, and dying for her love. Such a story has become too much of a clich? not to be included in the archtypal [sic] East-West romance that started it