The Classic Role of the Ingenue - Book Report/Review Example

Comparison-Contrast: The ic Role of the Ing'nue In Rossini's The Barber of Seville and Puccini's Madame Butterfly An ing'nue is "a young, pretty, vulnerable female lead or second lead."1 The role of the ing'nue was developed from very early on in opera, as soprano female leads were the main stars of the show. The role of ing'nue, however, has developed over time in opera, as will be demonstrated by the comparison-contrast of two different operas, one older than the other. Rossini's The Barber of Seville, written in the golden age of opera in the 19th century-as well as Puccini's Madame Butterfly, a modern opera written in the early 20th century-are the two operas to be compared and contrasted here. The opera The Barber of Seville and Madame Butterfly both operas deal with ing'nues who have issues with suitors. The operas differ in that they each have different endings for each ing'nue, one happy and one sad. What is different about the ing'nues in The Barber of Seville and Madame Butterfly is, however, that the honor of the woman in Madame Butterfly is not maintained. In The Barber of Seville, Count Almaviva, a very rich count, is dressed up as a student named Lindoro in order to woo his love Rosina. Rosina's issue with the Count as a suitor is that she really does not know who he is. He keeps changing his appearance all the time to make excuses to come see her. First the Count arrives as a drunken soldier, then as a music apprentice to Rosina's patron Bartolo whom she lives with. These are the issues that both ing'nues dealt with with regards to their relationships with men. That, however, is about where the similarities end. The Count says that the usual music teacher is sick and proceeds to give Rosina a music lesson. This is done to fool Bartolo. Similarly, in Madame Butterfly, Butterfly and her suitor, Pinkerton, have relationship issues. This is not only because he leaves her in the opera. It's also because she tells another suitor (Prince Yamadori) that she is still a happily married woman when she is not. Basically Pinkerton marries Butterfly and leaves her, but then returns again after three years with his new wife Kate. Ultimately, Butterfly asks Pinkerton to take their child to the United States. The endings for the ing'nues are very different indeed. While the Count and his servant bring a ladder into Bartolo's house, the Count demonstrates his true nature to Rosina and basically they are not angry at each other anymore. Figaro notes that there are people on the way to get them. Figaro, the Count, and Rosina try desperately to leave through the back window. However, the ladder has been taken away. Basilio, a servant, shows up with a notary and, of course, Bartolo-who wanted to marry Rosina. The Count forces Basilio at gunpoint to have himself and Rosina married. By the time Bartolo comes back with the police, the pair have been married. In this way, the role of ing'nue is reprised by the fact that this ending is happy. Not so, however, was it to be the case with Butterfly in Madame Butterfly. Three years pass between the time Butterfly and Pinkerton are wed. She still has not heard from him. At this point in the story things already do not bode well for Butterfly, however one still hopes that the story will turn out having a happy ending. Nonetheless, Sharpless gets a letter from Pinkerton stating that he had wed with the American woman named Kate. Pinkerton makes it known that he is going on a trip to Nagasaki with Kate. Butterfly does not want Sharpless to tell her what's in the letter. This is the point at which Butterfly tells a potential suitor, Prince Yamadori, that she remains joyfully wed to her husband. Then, Sharpless finally convinces Butterfly to accept Yamadori. Sharpless asks Butterfly what would happen if Pinkerton ever came back. Butterfly replies that she would probably go back to being a geisha, or perhaps die-which would be better. Butterfly then lets Sharpless in on the secret-she has a young son that was Pinkerton's issue. There is a loud boom in the distance. Butterfly can tell Pinkerton's ship is coming near, and she is sure that Pinkerton is returning for her; however, as one shall see, this is not going to be a very auspicious meeting for Butterfly. Pinkerton does arrive with his "American wife" named Kate. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Butterfly is asleep. Butterfly had waited up all night for Pinkerton to arrive. He now knows that he cannot face Butterfly after all these years and leaves. Suzuki, however, notices Kate and finds out that she is his new wife. Suzuki is asked by others to convince Butterfly to give up her son. Butterfly, looking for Pinkerton, runs into Kate. Butterfly does say that she will give up the child. However, she says that Pinkerton must be the person who comes to pick him up. Butterfly asks to be alone. After she says goodbye to her boy, Butterfly knifes herself with a dagger, just as Pinkerton arrives, calling out for her-however, Butterfly dies in the end. Obviously, this is a very sad ending for an ing'nue such as Butterfly. This is in direct contrast with Rosina's experience in The Barber of Seville. From the first, Madame Butterfly loses her respect as ing'nue. She basically falls in love with a man who cannot commit to her-which, in Japanese culture, is frowned upon. Pinkerton was an American naval officer who took over a house in Nagasaki. Originally, his plan was to live in Japan with his wife Butterfly. Butterfly (named Cio-Cio-San) is an entertainer, actually a geisha. The matchmaker named Goro, as he is letting Pinkerton see his new environs, lets Pinkerton become introduced to his wife's maid, Suzuki. Meanwhile, a man named Sharpless tells Pinkerton not to get married. Pinkerton has devious intentions, however, because he does not plan on staying with his Japanese bride Butterfly. Pinkerton tells Sharpless that one day he is going to get a real "American bride." However, Butterfly has no clue about this and the marriage goes on as planned. Butterfly comes into the room and her family comes to her wedding. Butterfly even reveals a dagger that was utilized by her father to perform hara-kiri. The wedding, however, is interrupted by upset members of the family. This is not limited to one of Butterfly's relatives who is a Buddhist priest. The family dissipates afterwards. The couple have their first night alone with each other. However, in the mind of this author, according to cultural traditions, unlike Rosina, Butterfly is basically totally humiliated. There is a prevailing message. It is that Asian women, unlike European women, can be taken advantage of and humiliated-while a European woman (both Kate in Madame Butterfly and Rosina in The Barber of Seville) receive the prize of a true love who does right by them and marries them and stays with them. In Kate's case it is Pinkerton, and in Rosina's case it is Count Almaviva. There are several elements of the ing'nue that could be compared and contrasted. However, for our purposes we have looked at how both women, Rosina and Madame Butterfly, had difficulty in their personal relationships with men. In contrast, their endings were happy and sad, respectively. While Rosina was married and treated in a respectable way, Butterfly had to make the best of a bad situation-being left by her man. REFERENCES Bursting with Song. http://www.rationalmagic.com/Bursting/Glossary.html. Retrieved 2 Nov 2009. Read More