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129. MADAME BUTTERFLY
Opera in Three Acts By Giacomo Puccini
Libretto By Illica and Giacosa (Adapted from the Romance of J. L. Long and D. Belasco)
First Produced Milan, 1904
Chief Characters Cho Cho San (Butterfly), Suzuki, Kate Pinkerton, Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton,
Sharpless, Goro, Yamadori
THE action takes place in Nagasaki, Japan, during the present time.
In Act 1 Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton, a young American naval officer, is being shown round a
pretty Japanese house, which has just been secured for him by Goro, the marriage broker, who has
also made the arrangements for his "Japanese" marriage with Cho Cho San, a pretty little geisha
maiden, known by her friends as " Butterfly," which ceremony is about to take place in accordance
with the easy Japanese law - the husbands absence for even so short a time as a month constituting
divorce. When Goro has departed Sharpless, the American Consul, appears, who, having learnt of
the real love which Butterfly has for her American sweetheart, begs Pinkerton to do nothing
rashly, and, above all, not to hurt such a sensitive and loving nature. Pinkerton, however, only
laughs at this serious talk, for he thinks only of the pleasure of the moment; and when Butterfly
presently appears with her girl companions he welcomes her with all the ardour of a young mans
first love. For a moment, when the generous-hearted Butterfly tells him that she has cut herself off
entirely from her past life by giving up the gods of her people and accepting the religion of her
lover, he has some slight qualms of conscience; but these soon disappear on the arrival of the
brides relations and the officials, who unite the happy pair in Japanese style. After the ceremony
the guests are enjoying the feast provided by the rich young American, when they are interrupted
by the sudden entrance of a Bonze, or Japanese Priest, who is Butterflys uncle, and who now
denounces her for having forsaken her religion. On hearing this the other relations also hurl forth
curses upon the now weeping bride; but Pinkerton promptly turns them all out of the house, and
soon succeeds in comforting his pretty little wife by making love to her in the moonlight.
In Act 2 three years have elapsed, and we find Butterfly alone with her maid, Suzuki, Pinkerton
having returned to America long ago; but as he has promised her to come back "when the robins
nest," she still hopes constantly for his return, and refuses to listen to a word against his fidelity. A
rich young Japanese noble, Yamadori, who has long loved her, entreats her to marry him,
announcing that Pinkertons desertion of her constitutes divorce according to Japanese law; but
Butterfly firmly refuses, proudly declaring that she considers herself bound by the laws of
America to her husband, whom she still loves passionately. Even when Sharpless enters and
endeavours to induce her to accept Yamadoris offer, knowing only too well that Pinkertons
desertion is intended, he makes no impression on her; and when she shows him her bonnie fairhaired
boy (Pinkertons child), his pity for the poor little deserted wife is increased. He bears with
him a letter from Pinkerton, whose ship is now due, announcing his lawful marriage to an
American girl, and begging him to break the news to Butterfly; but he has not the heart for such a
cruel task. Just then a cannon shot announces the arrival of the vessel; and as Sharpless hurries
away to meet his friend, Butterfly, full of excitement and joy at the probable return of her beloved