Orientalism in M. Butterfly - 1278 Words

She is petite, submissive, and great in bed, the greatest combination for the perfect woman. Yellow fever is the psychological inclination towards Asian woman that has been expressed by a portion of the male population. This stereotype is a part of orientalism that continues to be discussed amongst today’s society; it is deemed odd or labeled as a fetish. M. Butterfly a Tony Award playwright written by David Henry Hwang consists of ideas related to orientalism through the layers developed in gender identity, global politics and art forms. The play begins in the present 1988 with Rene Gallimard sitting in a Paris prison. Gallimard declares himself as a celebrity, and relishes that his â€Å"fame has spread to Amsterdam,†¦show more content†¦Butterfly does not reflect the complications between the U.S. and China, but certainly depicts secret intelligence being traded among the Chinese from an outlier source, French diplomat Rene Gallimard, who did not realize this dece ption from his â€Å"Perfect Woman†, Song Liling. Before the full context of M. Butterfly can be explored, it is important to establish the oriental stereotype that is expressed in the play. â€Å"Oriental women have long been fetishized into a stereotype; they are depicted as submissive and passive, and are silenced by the double pressure from race and sex†, â€Å"Oriental woman, as Said (1979) states in Orientalism, is usually viewed ―with sexist blinders and serves as ―the creatures of a male power-fantasy† and â€Å"Asians as a whole are considered to be inferior and emasculated, easy targets for exploitations and dominance. Asian woman, always caged and subordinate both in the patriarchic society and in the Oriental rhetoric tradition, are natural subjects for the White‘s desire† (Weilin). This stereotype is still regarded in todays’ society. According to Prof. Dr. Opfermann and Prof. Dr. Wippermann from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, their thesis Orientalism in Contemporary Asian American Literature - Mounting Madame Butterfly on the Asian American Needle implies that David Henry Hwang had two objectives in mind â€Å"†¦ (1) NegatingShow MoreRelatedButterfly : A Romantic Drama Directed By David Cronenberg1515 Words   |  7 Pages M. Butterfly is a romantic drama directed by David Cronenberg in 1993. This screenplay was based on the written by David Henry Hwang on his play with the same name. Jeremy Irons and John Lone presented as the main characters of this film. The time shown in this film is from 1958, before the outbreak of the Vietnam War; across the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) until 1986, which situated in Beijing, China and Paris. Rene Gallimard as Jeremy Irons, is a diplomat at the French Embassy inRead MoreAnalysis Of Orientalism In Rice Or Song Of Orientalism1000 Words   |  4 Pagesfrom the submissive, the superior form the inferior, and the human from the other human. Orientalism is â€Å"a Western style for dominating, reconstructing, and having authority over the Orient† (Said, 3). An Orient does not choose to be oriental, someone else defines and reinforces the stereotypes that come with being oriental. Notes from a Divided Country, M. Butterfly, and The Vagrants all have traces of orientalism and through these three pieces of literature, they expand on the idea of how the labelRead MoreRacism, Sexism, and Sexuality in M. Butterfly1149 Words   |  5 Pagesseveral points that have already been previously stated. The stereotypes mentioned in M. Butterfly are direct representations of the stereotypes mentioned in the theory. Though M. Butterfly is a major piece that has been directly known for its examples, other shows are known for such examples as well. â€Å"The highly profitable reincarnation of different version of the Butterfly story, from David Belasco’s Madame Butterfly to Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg’s Miss Saigon (1989), might well embodyRead MoreAnalysis Of David Henry Hwangs M Butterfly1243 Words   |  5 PagesIn David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly exemplifies three keywords that have such a greater meaning: race, gender, and orientalism. â€Å"Race is a social construction†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hwang) Junaid Rana starts her definition of race by stating it is a social construction, which in itself is mind boggling, because it is true. Race was not an issue when it came down to deciding Ozawa V. United States in 1922 or Thind V. United States in 1923. Rana then goes on to say â€Å"...In which biology and culture are often conflatedRead MoreThe Oriental And Gender Stereotype1230 Words   |  5 Pagesindy Coronado March 2, 15 HILD 7B A10923676 TA: Josh Newton 1:00-1:50 The Oriental and Gender Stereotype M.Butterfly, an opera by David Huang, is recognized as a reexamination of John Luther Long’s Madame Butterfly. During the beginning of the 20th century, Asian and Asian Americans were often perceived to a collective stereotype. Well-defined differences between the American Westerner and the Oriental are undermined in both of these readings as â€Å"the west† is seen as the more masculine region andRead MoreRacism, Sexism, and Sexuality Shown Through M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang1782 Words   |  8 Pagescomparing them to a woman, or just simply calling their race feminine. The show M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang is able to express different issues regarding the theory of Orientalism by hiding it amongst several conversations between characters. The play can be seen as highly political because of topics it chooses to discuss despite the fact that the lead character is a diplomat. Though somewhat unrelated; M. Butterfly can even have a certain Brecht-esque quality to it. Because it contains severalRead MoreViolence As A Cleansing Force Essay1686 Words   |  7 Pagesviolence in decolonization: French colonialism is a war force; it has to be beaten by force. No diplomacy, no political genius, no skill can cope with it (Toward the African Revolution 97). The Vietnam War pervades David Henry Hwang s M. Butterfly. It deals with the international politics related to the Vietnam conflicts. In other words, the Vietnam conflicts function as the thematic pivot of the play. Hwang got the motif for the play from a real story reported by The New York Times in whichRead MoreAnalysis Of The Butterfly By David Henry Hwang1929 Words   |  8 PagesLove in M. Butterfly, by David Henry Hwang, is a fantasy. Fantasy, as defined by Teresa De Lauretis, is a â€Å"primary psychic activity, a creative activity that animates the imagination and produces imaginary scenes or scenarios in which the subject is protagonist†(4). Rene Gallimard and his wife Helga are the primary protagonists in their fantasies of love. Gallimard is a French diplomat who gives into his love for the Chinese opera singer, Song Liling. The relationships in this play exemplify a kindRead MoreASAM 5 Notes Essay6590 Words   |  27 Pagesviews these realities as constru cted and thus amenable to acts of revision-including those that transcend ethnic borders to take humanity as their subject.          Lecture 14 Thursday, February 27, 2014 9:28 AM    David H.... Hwang Madame Butterfly On DHH Born in 1957 to Chinese American immigrants in LA Educated at Standford University and the Yale School of Drama Early plays all deal with the immigrant struggle to assimilate and forge a new identity and community The next two playsRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesHistory of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer

The Crucible By William Miller - 1207 Words

There were many important themes and symbols that I noticed were crucial in Miller’s The Crucible. One theme that was evident in the play was prejudice or intolerance. The play is set in a theocratic society, a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God s or deity s laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities. Religion then becomes a strict, severe form of Protestantism or Puritanism. Because of the governmental structure this society, moral and state laws in turn become one and the same: sin and the status of one’s soul becomes the concern of the public. In other words, an individual’s actions and deeds is a reflection on their society. This society does not accept any deviation from the norms of society. Any individual whose life doesn’t conform to views and laws of this society not only affects or threatens public or society, but also poses a threat to the rule of God and true religion. To my understanding of the play, in the town of Salem, everything and everyone either belongs to God or to the devil. If an individual rejects the established laws of their society. Then this act is considered unlawful, meaning that the act of opposition against your society is viewed as satanic or devilish. This division or disagreement functions as the deep rooted logic behind the witch trials. As Danforth says in Act III, â€Å"a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.† The witch trials represent andShow MoreRelatedThe Crucible By William Miller1185 Words   |  5 PagesCrucible could be defined as a severe test, whereas in The Crucible, all of the townspeople were put to trial when it came to the assumption of witchcraft being used in Salem, Massachusetts. This play was based upon the events that were going on during that time period. During this time it was hard to actually trust someone because they could possibly falsely accuse one for a crime they had nothing to do with. After reading this play, I was able to notice the symbolism that Miller used. One may beRead MoreThe Crucible By William Miller943 Words   |  4 PagesIn the Crucible Abigail Williams is portrayed as a villain for the way she accused innocent people to cover up her affair with john Proctor.However I believe that she may have been innocent considering all the things she done but I don t think she meant any of this to be a big deal till people started flipping out and strange things started happening to the girls . Throughout the story we know that the girls lied and made false accusations against innocent and that there really was no witch craftRead MoreWilliam Miller s The Crucible1262 Words   |  6 PagesWhat are the main differences between the historical witch trials and The Crucible? Which differences do you think Miller took the most freedom with? Why? Which differences do you consider minor? Why? Burns, Margo. Arthur Miller s The Crucible: Fact Fiction. 17th Century Colonial New England. Margo Burns, 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2015. The main difference in the historical witch trial and the crucible is the people/characters. Although some names were used that are real peopleRead MoreAnalysis Of Abigail Williams In The Crucible By Arthur Miller886 Words   |  4 PagesArthur Miller’s timeless play, The Crucible, is based off the Salem witch trials that took place in the 1600’s. In The Crucible many characters are introduced to the readers as well as their relationships and interactions with other characters. Miller allows you, as a reader, to feel the emotions each character is feeling, and mostly the chemistry between them. Two characters in the play that had an extreme change of heart toward each other were Abigail Williams and John Proctor. In the beginningRead MoreAbigail Williams in The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay1710 Words   |  7 PagesAnalyse the ways in which Miller presents the character of Abigail Williams? During this essay I will introduce the main points involved in answering the proposed question. I will explore the certain aspects of Abigail’s personality and how it is an important role in portraying her reasons for her actions. I will also analyse the ways in which Abigail’s personality changes through the progression of the play. I will sum up which points have a bigger effect on her intentions and motivations andRead MoreAbigail Williams, the Villian of The Crucible by Arthur Miller667 Words   |  3 Pagescreate equilibrium in the plot. However, in The Crucible, Arthur Miller did not need to create any such characters. In writing a play based on a historical period of time and the actual Salem Witch Trials, he had no trouble depicting the lowly characters, for they existed. The most wicked one of all, the ringleader and cause of all the deaths, happens to be a teenage girl.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the inhabitants of Salem first begin questioning her, Abigail Williams tells them that Tituba was influencing her intoRead MoreEssay on Abigail Williams in The Crucible by Arthur Miller822 Words   |  4 PagesArthur Millers play, The Crucible, is about the persecution of people falsely accused of being witches or believing in witches in Salem. Many people die in the village after a series of lies and unjust practices. Abigail Williams, after having had an affair with Proctor, begins this cycle of lies to make her feel more important in Salem. Her character includes both superiority and resentment throughout the play so far and the way she does it shows that she is rebelling against the compressed societyRead MoreAbigail Williams in The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay613 Words   |  3 PagesIn Arthur Millers play The Crucible Abigail Williams, an unmarried orphan in the Massachusetts town of Salem, incessantly grows more jealous, her desire for vengeance o nly grows stronger, and her selfishness escalates. She repeatedly lies to save herself by denying her involvement in witchcraft. Abigails Jealousy of Elizabeth Proctor intensifies in attempt to realize her desire for Elizabeths husband John Proctor. In order to save herself she accuses the innocent, without any sense of ethicalRead MoreThe Presentation of Abigail Williams in Act I of the Crucible by Arthur Miller1630 Words   |  7 PagesHow does Miller present the character Abigail in Act I? We are first introduced to the ‘strikingly beautiful’ Abigail Williams in Act I of one of Arthur Miller’s most acclaimed works The Crucible. She is a dominant figure in the play who is both malicious and manipulative. She is astute and knows how to use power to her own advantage by all means possible. She is a marvellous antagonist with vengeful desires and vehicle for the mass hysteria which becomes a key theme later in the play. Abigail’sRead MoreAbigail Williams in The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay3744 Words   |  15 Pages Abigail Williams is the troubled niece of Reverend Parris of Salem. She is an orphan; made so by brutal natives who killed her parents before her very eyes. The witch-hunt begins when Abigail is at the age of seventeen. She has a large role in this novel, especially on these dark events and also her relationship with John Proctor. In my opinion from what I have understood from the text she is a tempestuous character. She is initially perceived as being wild bright and proud. Her character

A Good Man is Hard to Find1 Essay Example For Students

A Good Man is Hard to Find1 Essay Thesis: Bailey and his family discover the hard way just how ironic life can be. II.Grandmother uses many excuses not to go to Florida. III.Clues leading up to the climax. We will write a custom essay on A Good Man is Hard to Find1 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now IV.Grandmother lead family to death. In A Good Man is Hard to Find Flannery OConner tells the story of a family in route to their Florida vacation and the trouble the grandmother gets them in. The grandmother does not want to go to Florida on vacation and tries many methods of changing her son, Baileys mind. Although she tries many methods, none of them have the effect on him she desires. Bailey is as stubborn as his mother, completely shutting the door on every proposition his mother makes. When she finally makes some progress in delaying their travels things go horribly. Bailey and his family discover the hard way just how ironic life can be. The grandmother uses many excuses for the family to go to Tennessee instead of Florida on vacation. The first of her many excuses is The Misfit, a serial killer that has escaped from prison and is headed toward Florida, claiming that she would never take her children anywhere near a man like that. This didnt have the desired effect on Bailey so she explains to him and his wife ho w the children need more variety and they should take the children to see different parts of the world, East Tennessee for example. Once again her plea to Bailey and his wife had no effect. Even after they had left home she continued to try and divert them from their coarse. Finally succeeding when she convinced the children they would like to visit an old plantation home she had visited during her own childhood. There were many clues as to what was unfolding during the story, although one would have trouble noticing them upon initial reading. The first of the clues was, of coarse, the mentioning of The Misfits escaping from prison. As the family was eating at a small restaurant the second clue was given. The owner was discusing with grandmother the criminal nature the society has compared to the old day an example was three men had stolen gas from him only a few days earlier. The next clue came after grandmother and the children persuaded Bailey to turn off the main road in search of the old plantation home. The road had not been driven on in months, suggesting the perfect, deserted, hiding places for escaped prisoners. While traveling down the dirt road grandmother remembered that the house was actually in Tennessee, not Georgia. This caused her to jump, scaring the cat she had hidden in her basket. The cat jumped onto Baileys neck and head causing them to have a major accident. While sitti ng on the bank trying to recuperate from the accident a car drives down the road. Three men get out of the car and once again the grandmother messes up by recognizing one of the men as The Misfit and sealing her families doom. After The Misfit tells her that they had been better off not recognizing him the grandmother completely changes her attitude from complaining and disagreeing with everything to complimenting and agreeing with everything The Misfit said. Her complete change in attitude didnt change the fait of her family as they were all taken into the woods and shot. The ironic thing about this story is the fact that the grandmother did everything in her power to prevent the family from going to Florida and if she would have just gave in and went to Florida her and her family would have never been killed by The Misfit. She even went as far as using The Misfit heading for Florida as a reason they should go to Tennessee instead, its like she jinxed her family. Her final attempt was the one that caused all the trouble, the attempt to visit an old house that she didnt even know where was located. Its ironic how a simple thing like using someone, like an escaped prisoner, as an excuse not to go somewhere can lead to the murder of the entire family by that same person before they can even

My Teenage Life free essay sample

A personal description of teenage issues. This paper is a frank and candid narrative of typical teenage emotional storms and of how this teenager, the writer, weathered one of those storms. It describes the teenagers need for a solid and secure family environment. The teenage years can be wrought with psychological trauma; a combination of peer and parental pressures weigh on the developing young person. I was no exception and experienced the difficulties of adolescence as early as ten years old, when my parents first showed signs of separation. I remember talking to my best friend in the mall one afternoon. She told me her parents were getting divorced. At the time I thought little of it, for several of my other friends parents had already been divorced for years. But for some reason I made a confession: my parents had been fighting a lot, and it was my biggest fear. We will write a custom essay sample on My Teenage Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page If they got divorced, I wouldnt know whom to live with. If they got divorced, it would have been because Ive been talking back too much, because Im rude and belligerent. Basically, I feared that my world would be shattered.