David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly

A very prominent issue that I feel was addressed in David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly, was that of race and ethnicity. The play demonstrated how having preconceived notions and stereotypes of a nations culture, race or ethnicity, can cause us to overlook the truth. These preconceived notions and stereotypes were presented in the form of René Gallimard view on Asian women. Gallimard believed that all Asian women were submissive, self-sacrificing and selfless. During his relationship with Liling Song, this facade caused him to see what he wanted to see, allowing him to jump to conclusions about Song and the Asian race as a whole. This was apparent when he advised American troops to allow the president of South Vietnam to be assassinated, believing