M Butterfly
...who are not handsome, nor brave, nor powerful, yet somehow believe like Pinkerton, that we deserve a Butterfly(747). Obviously Gallimard is not happy with himself or his life so he goes in search for his Butterfly or more importantly a new identity. Gallimard thinks he has found his Butterfly when he meets and Asian actress named Song Liling. Unaware of Song's real gender he shows interest in her. As the drama progresses so does Gallimard and Song's relationship. Upon becoming intimate Song exclaims, No…let me…keep my clothes. [. . .] Turn off the lights(761). Song's repeated modesty should invoke curiosity within Gallimard but he chooses to overlook her strange requests. As the readers, we too could find nothing wrong with her modesty at this point, but during the trial, revealing facts are exposed. Song replies to the judge I suppose he might have wondered why I was always on my stomach(780). Now that we have the details of their sexual relationship, it is quite clear that Gallimard chooses illusion over reality in order to maintain his new identity. Gallimard becomes as sick as his idol Pinkerton when talks about Song's reaction to his affair It was her tears and her silence that excited me, every time I visited Renee(769). Another example of Gallimard's choice of illusion is his belief that Song bore his child. Song claims she is pregnant and then runs away only to come back several months later with a child. Gallimard never sees her pregnant yet he still chooses to turn his back on reality and looks to illusion. In the end Gallimard confesses to his choice of illusion and wishes to remain there because...