37 pages • 1 hour read
Giacomo PucciniMadame Butterfly
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1904A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Madame Butterfly follows the story of a young Japanese woman, Butterfly, who marries Lieutenant Pinkerton, a U.S. Navy officer, believing in their love despite cultural differences and his intentions of a temporary union. After Pinkerton leaves, Butterfly remains faithful, awaiting his return, unaware of his new marriage, leading to devastating consequences. Sensitive topics include self-harm and the marriage of a minor to an adult.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, an opera cherished for its emotional depth and beautiful compositions, evokes admiration for its sumptuous orchestration and poignant arias. However, some critics highlight issues with its cultural portrayal and Orientalist elements, advising a more nuanced engagement. Overall, it remains a beloved, though complex, masterpiece in operatic history.
Who Should Read Madame Butterfly?
Readers who appreciate Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini likely enjoy dramatic and emotional operatic narratives with rich cultural settings. They may also enjoy works like Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and Miss Saigon by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, which share themes of love, sacrifice, and East-West cultural interactions.