The Letters: Gallimard & Song - The West and the East

I, too, agree with Meryn’s post remarking on the very “asshole”-like behavior of Gallimard. The way Gallimard goes about his treatment of Song (and furthermore, his own wife, Helga) is utterly repulsive. Almost to the point where I want to put down the play and not read anymore. Almost, but not quite.

Song writes to Gallimard and tells him that she has given him her shame (35). Gallimard has won; he has Song “turning on [his] needle” (36). Or so he thinks. How can Gallimard, who readily admits that he is neither “good-looking,” nor “bright,” but “pretty much a wimp” (5), think he can control or possess Song? The answer is simple: Gallimard is French; he is from the West, the big, strong West. In his mind, even he, not necessarily the most attractive specimen of masculinity, can possess Song, a butterfly.

The perception of the East in Western eyes is always a fantasy image of seduction and exotic beauty; a place and people of mystery. The mystery of the East is somehow always connotative of femininity, which in alignment of Western perspective, the East is womanly and thus submissive and easily overcome. Yet, time and time again the opposite is proven. The main reason for US entrance into WWII was not an overriding fear of Nazis across the pond, but rather our Japanese neighbors. In fact, the fear was so great, that even after V-Day in Europe, two atomic bombs were dropped in Asia. Before Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan put up a pretty good fight. However, despite the evidence of the formidability of Asia in the context of war (the epitome of masculinity), the West continues to perceive the East as submissive and conquerable.

At the time of Gallimard’s meeting and subsequent relationship with Song, the Vietnam War is in full swing. But, unlike the audience, neither Gallimard nor the West knows how that all ends. In their minds, the West has an assured win. The irony is that because of the persistence in viewing the East as feminine, and thus inferior, both Gallimard and the West end up in trouble. They end up losing. Song, regardless of who she really is, is the symbol of the East through Western eyes, and this bias allows her to deceive Gallimard. But, he so willingly plays into the part and readily accepts her “modesty.” Poor Gallimard doesn’t know what is coming to him. Yet, I do not feel sorry for him in the least bit. He is going to get his just desserts.