Research on the Oriental Female Characteristics in Western Operas from the Perspective of Feminism -- Taking Opera Madame Butterfly as an Example
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Abstract
Background and Aim: From the 19th to the 20th century, European opera was significantly influenced by the ideological undercurrents of Orientalism. Within this context, the image of Eastern women was frequently constructed through an “Othering” narrative grounded in Western cultural centrism. However, existing scholarship has largely overlooked the embedded issues of cultural power dynamics in such representations. This study centers on Giacomo Puccini’s canonical opera Madame Butterfly, employing feminist theory and qualitative research methods to examine how colonialism and patriarchy intersect in shaping the representation of Eastern women.
Materials and Methods: This study adopts a qualitative approach, combining libretto textual analysis, musical thematic analysis, and academic synthesis. It also incorporates a case study analysis of contemporary reinterpretations of Madame Butterfly to validate the proposed theoretical model.
Results: Findings reveal that the representation of Eastern women in Madame Butterfly is a product of the dual oppression of colonialism and patriarchy. The protagonist, Cio Cio San, is positioned under the Western gaze as a “mysterious Other.” Her suicide is aestheticized as a metaphor for the self-destruction of Eastern civilization, and she is simultaneously disciplined by patriarchal norms into the role of the “faithful concubine.” Her subjectivity is systematically effaced through both vocal and stage elements.
Conclusion: This study constructs a dual-oppression framework—colonialism and patriarchy—to uncover the deeper mechanisms behind the portrayal of Eastern women in Western opera. The research offers new insights for cross-cultural artistic studies. Future research could further assess the applicability of this framework and explore how emerging technologies might enhance audience perception of Eastern women’s subjectivity, thereby fostering a more equitable and reciprocal model of cultural exchange.
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