Me and Katie’s first opera together!

We picked up the eldest Hebert girls, who have seen 3 other operas already and were feeling very excited, and drove through dense traffic to UT’s performing arts theater.

The girls saw many of their friends from choir and their homeschooling group, so it was neat for them. Since this was a dress rehearsal, most of the people in the audience were school groups and young families because the tickets were discounted.

Madame Butterfly can be summarized as follows:
1. American soldier (Pinkerton) marries Japanese girl (Butterfly) in Japan–he doesn’t take it seriously, she does
2. Pinkerton leaves for 3 years but, unbeknowst to him, has a child with Butterfly first, she waits for him to return
3. He returns finally but with his American wife; Butterfly is crushed; he feels very bad (he should, the jerk)
4. He and his American wife ask for Butterfly’s baby, she gives him to them, then she kills herself

Katie and I liked this opera, though by the end we were very, very tired, since it ended around 10:30 pm. The girls had a hard time following the story and then were bored by it, which is understandable as there was not much action, at least external action. It was mostly Butterfly’s internal struggle against her family’s rejection of her and all the naysayers who told her that Pinkerton was no good (which turned out to be true).
Americans and Christianity (symbolized by Pinkerton) come off as ugly and selfish. Japanese culture comes off as curious but respectful, with some harsh customs to be sure However, the story of Butterfly and how she remains steadfast and faithful in the face of all adversity is primary (and engrossing).

Watching this sad marriage between Pinkerton and Butterfly made me and Katie feel that much more amazed by our holy marriage, thanks be to Christ! Butterfly’s faithfulness was reminiscent of Jesus’ faithfulness to us, even when we are unfaithful, and how our Lord is the model of how husbands should be to their wives.