Attraction to Reality

In Hwang’s M. Butterfly, the modern style of the work, with an emphasis on emotion of the dialogue and repetition to elicit a strong reaction is very effective tool to create the mood of the piece. Although the plot is unclear at times, Hwang’s usage of short scenes full of emotions and uncertainties of everyday life as opposed to the banalities of the everyday create the dramatic and intense pace of the play. Focusing on the short scenes of importance remembered by the Gallimard, these quick scenes bring a feel of the actual progression of memory to the work, for the style is reminiscent of the seemingly unguided feel of the stream of consciousness of people, giving the work a sense of authenticity.
Hwang’s work, like much of the modern drama writers, is to portray a familiar story in an unfamiliar way, challenging the audience’s point of view, or perception of the world. In Hwang’s M. Butterfly, the traditional opera is set to a more modern setting, which creates an impression, or mood in the reader that the story that is being read, in fact, can be an ongoing story, adding to the quick pace. The Playwright’s notes, which claim the play was “suggested by international newspaper accounts”, indicate the authenticity of this play, as does the highly charged and introspective thoughts of Gallimard, such as “I lied to my wife. Why?” (23) and real dialogue such as “Hey, Rene- it doesn’t matter that youre clumsy and got zits- they’re not looking!” (9). These short scenes developed by Hwang develop the real-life aspect of this play, drawing the audience into the muti-layered aspect of the performance.