A Study on Satire: 'Chinglish' and 'M. Butterfly' by David Henry Hwang

This essay provides a comparative analysis of David Henry Hwang's plays, 'Chinglish' and 'M. Butterfly', focusing on the themes of cultural differences, language barriers, and satire. 'M. Butterfly' explores the complexities of identity, gender, and societal stereotypes through the relationship between a French diplomat and a Chinese opera singer. The essay highlights the play's portrayal of self-deception, racial stereotyping, and the challenges of living a normal life. 'Chinglish', on the other hand, satirizes the language and cultural misunderstandings between American and Chinese societies, particularly in the context of business ventures. The essay examines the mistranslations, communication difficulties, and cultural clashes that arise when Americans attempt to do business in China. Both plays utilize satire to comment on societal issues, making them compelling subjects for cultural and literary analysis. The essay concludes by emphasizing the plays' impact and relevance in highlighting topical issues related to cross-cultural communication, societal norms, and human relationships.

ESSAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
II. ARGUMENT .............................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................6

1. INTRODUCTION
Literary text is defined as piece of written material which serves the purpose of telling a
story to the audience. Present essay is based on Chinglish which is a well-known play written by
David Henry Hwang. The play throws light on desperation of an American for opening a new
venture in China. On the other hand, M. BUTTERFLY is a Comedy play written by David
Henry Hwang and it is based on the relationship between the French diplomats. Chinglish and
M. Butterfly presents satire on current issues that are faced by the society.
II. ARGUMENT
(a) M. Butterfly is a fictional plot which revolves around a Chinese Opera singer who carry
an affair for twenty years for discovering she was actually a man. The play describes about
the loosely based relationships in the society and it was premiered on 1988 and it also win Tony
award for the best play. It depicts about true love story of the French Diplomat who has carried
out a twenty years affair. He was involved in affair with the Chinese Opera singer and he was
unaware about the fact that his partner is a man. The text starts with the description of aday in
Paris and revolves around a small prison cell (Gale, 2016). The play describes about the
humanity's need for self-deception, regret and betrayal. This drama also mentions about
common myths that are associated with the gender identity in the society.
(i) This compelling drama describes about themes of sexual and racial stereotyping and
ability shown by individuals in society. For example, in scene 2 of the play, three people are
joking on the character named Gammilard. The joke that was cracked was related to sexual
comments that were passed on that character. Therefore, it can be ascertained that the joke is a
satire on the individual in the same group Similarly, another example is from Scene 3 which is
about Gallimard's cell in which he confides that he had been loved by a “PERFECT WOMEN”.
This indicates about sexual and racial stereotyping that exist in the society. Themes in the
Butterfly are based on sexuality, ethnicity and culture (Thomas, 2015). Relationship formed by
the characters of the play namely, Gallimard and Song, creates divisions in the society on the
basis of gender. It also mentioned about how men and women are viewed in the society.
(ii)This play defines about dangers that are inherent in living a normal life in the society .
Individuals living in the society are facing different stereotypes and different misconceptions.
For example scene 4 of the play comprises of a school which is situated in Aix-en-Provence
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France. In the scene, main character of the play Marc makes efforts for persuading Gallimard for
accompanying him to the party. He had made promise that there are plenty of girls who will be
available to accompany him for the party. However, Gallimard refuses to go to the party. In this
situation, he was lacking confidence to go with the girls. l (Woo, 2017).
(iii) Gallimard's susceptibility is basically due to the fantasy that has been created by his
unsatisfactory sexual experiences. It has been depicted in the play that it is not easy to find a
woman who can easily give herself completely to a man. In scene 8 in the play, main character
Gallimard tries to pull some magazines. They are pornographic magazines and contain images of
naked girl. When he tries to pull some of the magazines out of the crate in his cell, suddenly a
pin up girl appears and disrobes Gallimard. It reflects about unsatisfactorily sexual experiences
of Gallimard. One more example sf from scene 7 in which Gallimard and Helga makes
discussion about arrogance of Chinese girls. This scene also depicts about the negative image
that has been created by Unsatisfactorily sexual experiences of main character of the play.
(Henderson, 2014).
(b) Events in drama are based on surroundings in which a Chinese opera singer and
French diplomats were imprisoned for passing information to the China. In Chinese culture,
it is believed that a woman who does not speak, feel, think and act cannot be described as a
perfect women.
(i) The play revolves around themes in which Rene remains unaware about the fact that
Song is actually a man and he is playing part of a women. There are various types of sexual
issues that are faced by them in society. Things and mentally of people have not changed for
women in China. The play also revolves around the central theme that respect and dignity does
not exist in the society for the women. M. Butterfly is all about relationship that exist between a
man and women who are facing continuous struggle because of inferiority in the society (Gale,
2016).
(c) Similarly, Chinglish is a comedy about the American Businessman who makes efforts
for opening a new venture in Chinese market area. In this plot, main character of play
Denial is an American who wants to open a new business in China. There are some
challenges that are faced by him in starting a venture. One of the major challenge faced by him is
difficulty in speaking English. He also falls in love with a woman (Hwang, 2013). There are
seven people in the cast of play in which six individuals are bilingual. It is completely a cross
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cultural play and the play revolves around vast difference in language and cultural barriers that
exist in Chinese and American society.
(i) The play reflects Malapropism and mistranslation of English language in Chinese
society. Chinglish tries for depicting about the distance that exist between two uncomprehending
societies, USA and China. Individuals coming in China from various nations for business
purpose face several complexities due to language barriers. Plot of Chinglish also revolves
around game of deception in which main characters gets betrayed (Chinglish. 2017.). Callowness
of man has been depicted in probing the illusory nature of love. In China misinterpreted English
is used by various Chinese Translators (Marino and Hwang, 2013).
(ii) Individuals belonging from different nations face difficulties in opening their
ventures in China. For example In scene 1 of the play The English reads “To Take Notice of
Safe: The Slippery Are Very Crafty”. Response given by Daniel towards this is as follows :-
Daniel: “To take notice of safe: The slippery are very crafty.” The proper translation should be:
“Slippery Slopes Ahead.”.
It shows that English is mistranslated and due to that meaning of the sentence is also
changed. People coming from other countries faces difficulties in understanding the Signs.
The play shed light on this critical issues and languages and communication barriers that are
faced by people while starting their business in new market area (Ross, 2016). This comedy play
explores about difficulties that are faced by business man in doing business in society. This play
identifies difficulties that are faced by business persons in doing business between East and
West. Denial finds it difficult to start and execute his business and thus he ends up solving wide
series of mysteries which are linked with the money-making schemes (Lee, 2017).
(iii) Satire in the play is about expected differences in languages, customs, traditions and
manners that are followed in China and USA. Local people of China wrongly translate English.
For example in Scene 2 of the play Main character of the play Denial visits Minister, Cai, Fifties.
The conversation that takes place is as follows :-
Daniel Speaks : We’re a small family firm.
Qian (Minister) Speaks : Tā nà jiā shì xiǎo gōng sī, méi shén me míng qì de. 他 他 他 他 他 他他, 他他他 他他他 。
Translator Speaks : His company is tiny and insignificant.
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Chinese people have translated their own English language and it is completely Mistranslated
version of the English language spoken by individuals living in China (Woo, 2017). Many
people from other nations visit China and they face various difficulties in carrying out their
business functions. Chinese people have created their own version of English language which is
difficult to understand for other people living in the society. It also thrown light on the fact about
how different versions of Chinese languages are followed in the society.
(d) America and China are two different nations in which vast difference in culture,
languages and traditions are observed. The play revolves around this topical issue and makes
the audience aware about this issue. There are various cultural differences that exist between
China and USA. Their social structure, morals, business relations and reputation differ from each
other and due to this vast difference is observed in the manner in which business is performed by
them.
(i) Comedy in the play is about problems and challenges that are faced by Americans.
These people follow Monolingual system and thus, they face challenges in visiting a new place
such as China. Chinglish is a sign that is depicted in Urban China and it is also a version of
comedy that has been depicted in the play. There are various Signs that are described in the
Chinese languages and postings and it mentions about various types of sign languages that are
used (Gale, 2016).
(ii) Chinglish is basically Chinese version of English language and it is basically a
mistranslated sign. A struggling businessman Daniel finds it difficult for starting and executing
his business in China. Further, he becomes successful in winning contract for making signs for a
public building. (Hwang, 2013). Chinglish play is an Attempt for identifying and depicting
about cultural barriers that are faced by people in China.
(iii) Both the texts represent satire in the form of humour and thus, it gives big impact on
audience. Chinglish and Mr Butterfly both the play depicts about the various type of tropical
issues that are faced in the society.
CONCLUSION
Chinglish and M. butterfly depicts about the satire mood and highlight the topical issues
faced by the society. Chinglish and M. Butterfly makes use of element of Satire for describing
the social issues prevailing in the society. Individuals visiting from different nations finds it
difficult to start their business in the China due to mistranslated English language used there .
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Similarly, M. Butterfly is also a play that revolves around the issue how men and women are
viewed differently in the Chinese society.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Gale, C. L. (2016). A Study Guide for David Henry Hwang's" M. Butterfly". Gale, Cengage
Learning.
Gale, C. L. (2016). A Study Guide for David Henry Hwang's" Trying to Find Chinatown". Gale,
Cengage Learning.
Hwang, D. H. (2013). Chinglish. Dramatists Play Service Inc.
Lee, S. R. (2017). The Theatre of David Henry Hwang. By Esther Kim Lee. Critical
Companions. London and New York: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama. 58(2). 257-259.
Marino, S., & Hwang, D. H. (2013). A Conversation With David Henry Hwang. The Arthur
Miller Journal. 8(2). 1-19.
Ross, D. (2016). The Theatre of David Henry Hwang by Esther Kim Lee. Comparative Drama.
50(4). 419-422.
Thomas, K. (2015). Heteronormativity and Suppressed Homosexuality in David Henry Hwang's
M. Butterfly.
Woo, M. (2017). Esther Kim Lee, The Theatre of David Henry Hwang.
Woo, M. (2017). Esther Kim Lee, The Theatre of David Henry Hwang.
Online
Chinglish. 2017. [Online]. Available through <http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-15471753>.
[Accessed on 7th July 2017].
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