Straying from the Binary in David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly

Abstract

There is limited literary criticism of queer theory in M. Butterfly by David Henery Hwang. Research articles, books, and interviews are used to discuss the subtle ways that queer theory is present in ways of homosexuality and nonbinary gender. The previous literary criticism on this play is expanded by looking at the ways the two main characters struggle against common binaries that were seen at the time the play was written and in present day.

In this paper, a nonbinary gender approach is applied to David Henry Hwang's play M. Butterfly. Also examined is how Song Liling, the Chinese spy, seems comfortable with being gender fluid and not conforming strictly to either male or female stereotypes. The use of a nonbinary approach to expand prior literary criticism, argues that Song is nonbinary and that the character René Gallimard believes despite his impulses that gender is strictly male or female. Most other literary criticism applies queer theory, but examines sexuality and gender roles in relation to ethnic stereotypes.