Japan & America in an Opera

Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), is an Italian tragic opera, by Giacomo Puccini. Though Madame Butterfly is one of Puccini's most successful operas, Madame Butterfly was hissed and booed at its first performance in Milan’s famous opera house La Scala in 1904.

This is the basic plot summary of Puccini’s opera:

Act I:
Pinkerton, an American naval officer, has taken lease of a house in Nagasaki, Japan. He is going to live here with his future Japanese wife, Butterfly. Butterfly, (Cio-Cio-San) a giesha, is only 15-years-old. Goro, the marriage broker, while showing Pinkerton his new house, introduces him to Suzuki, his wife's maid. Sharpless, the American consul, warns Pinkerton of getting married. Pinkerton tells him that the is happy with his Japanese bride, but adds that one day he will marry a real "American bride." Butterfly enters and the family gathers for the wedding. Cio-Cio-San shows Pinkerton a dagger that was once used by her father to commit hara-kiri. The wedding ceremony is disrupted by angry family members, including Butterfly's uncle, a Buddhist priest. As the family leaves after the wedding, the couple celebrates their love and their first night alone together.

Act II:
About three years have passed and Butterfly has not heard from Pinkerton. He abandoned her after the wedding to return to America. Butterfly is convinced that he will return to her. Sharpless has received a letter from Pinkerton telling him that he has married an American woman, Kate. He states in the letter that he is bringing Kate along on a trip to Nagasaki. Butterfly will not allow Sharpless to read her the letter. She tells Prince Yamadori, a suitor, that she is still happily married. Finally, Sharpless tries to convince her to take Yamadori, and asks her what she would do if Pinkerton never returned to her. She says that she would return to being a geisha, or better yet die. Then she shows Sharpless a blue-eyed boy; Pinkerton's child. A cannon is heard being fired in the distance. She sees that it is Pinkerton's ship and she is convinced that he has finally returned for her. Butterfly has Suzuki scatter flower petals as she puts on her bridal gown for her husband's return.

Act III:
Pinkerton arrives with Kate, but Butterfly is asleep, having waited up all night for his arrival. Pinkerton, seeing her sleeping, realizes that he cannot face the woman that he deserted and he leaves. Suzuki sees the American woman (Kate) and realizes that she is Pinkerton's wife. Sharpless and Pinkerton ask Suzuki to persuade Butterfly to give up the child. Butterfly, while searching for Pinkerton, stumbles upon Kate. Butterfly agrees to give up her son, on the condition that Pinkerton be the one who comes to retrieve him. Butterfly, having asked to be left alone to say goodbye to her son, gives him an American flag. She then stabs herself with her father's dagger, just as Pinkerton runs in, calling out her name. She dies.