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Act OneBenjamin Franklin Pinkerton is temporarily stationed in Nagasaki as a marine officer of the

US Navy. He has just rented a house from the marriage broker Goro, and is about to marry

the young geisha Cio-Cio-San according to Japanese law – in other words, temporarily.

Goro shows him the house and introduces the staff, including Suzuki, Cio-Cio-San’s confi-

dante. The American Consul of Nagasaki, Sharpless, is the first guest to arrive, and Pinker-

ton explains his life motto to him: Wher-πever life takes him, he knows how to get his mo-

ney’s worth. In a country where girls can be rented by the month, like houses, there can be

no obstacle to his happiness. Sharpless exhorts him to reconsider such a frivolous way of

life, but Pinkerton boisterously proposes a toast to America and to the woman whom he in-

tends to marry in the near future.

All aflutter, Butterfly appears amidst her friends and relations to greet her American bridegroom.

In response to the Consul’s questions about her family, she talks about her origins in a well-

to-do family, which through the death of her father have fallen into poverty through no fault

of their own. This is why she has been forced to earn her living as a geisha. When Sharpless

smiles, she reprimands him: That is the way of the world.

As more guests, the Imperial Commissioner and the marriage registrar arrive, Cio-Cio-San

shows Pinkerton the few possessions she has brought with her; these include a dagger with

which her father took his life by order of the Mikado. She also confides that she secretly

intends to convert to Christianity in order to be a good wife to him.

In a brief ceremony, the couple is married; Sharpless takes his leave, while Cio-Cio-San’s

rela tives raise their glasses to the couple. Pinkerton’s hope of soon being alone with his bride

is fulfilled when the priest of the family, known as Uncle Bonze, interrupts the celebration.

He has learned that Cio-Cio-San has betrayed the Buddhist faith. Her family curses and

rejects her. A weeping Cio-Cio-San remains alone with Pinkerton, who knows how to comfort

her, lovingly calling her by her nickname: Butterfly. Cio-Cio-San is startled: Don’t they impale

butterflies in his country? Eventually she overcomes her shyness and follows him into the

house.

Act TwoThree years have passed. Pinkerton has returned to America, but has promised to return

when the robins build their nest. Butterfly has given birth to a son. Rejected by her family, all

she has is the loyal Suzuki, her child and the hope of Pinkerton’s return. Although Pinkerton

pays the rent for the house, the money for day-to-day life is running out.

Suzuki begs the gods to help; she does not believe that the American will ever return.

Cio-Cio-San, however, is imperturbable. Effusively, she envisages the arrival of his ship; their

love will triumph.

Consul Sharpless visits Cio-Cio-San; he has received a letter from Pinkerton in which the lat-

ter asks him to break it gently to Cio-Cio-San that he will no longer return. Agitated at the

arrival of such a distinguished visitor, Cio-Cio-San barely gives the Consul a chance to speak.

As he arrived accompanied by Goro, she complains that the latter has constantly tried to

marry her off ever since Pinkerton’s departure – most recently to the rich Prince Yamadori,

who also promptly appears in order to renew his advances. Goro defends himself; he only

wants the best for her, since Cio-Cio-San, having been rejected by her family, faces ruin. And

as since Pinkerton has left her, according to Japanese law she is divorced. Cio-Cio-San in-

sists that she was married according to American law, and that in America an unfaithful hus-

band would end up in court. Yamadori realises the futility of his courtship and retires.

Sharpless, who does not succeed in making Cio-Cio-San understand Pinkerton’s message –

believing as she does that the letter is a sign of her lover’s imminent return – finally asks her

what she would have done if Pinkerton had left her forever. After a brief reflection, she replies

that she would rather die than work as a geisha again. Dismayed by her perseverance,

Sharp less now recommends that she accept Prince Yamadori’s proposal. At this point,

Cio-Cio-San realises the real reason for his visit: Pinkerton will not return to her. In a final act

of desperation, she summons her child. Will that not bring him back? Sharpless promises to

inform Pinkerton, who has no idea that he has a son, about the child. No sooner has Shar-

pless left than Suzuki finds Goro still loitering about the house. She accuses him of spreading

the rumour that nobody knows who the father of Cio-Cio-San’s son is, and threatens to kill

him if he continues to spread untruths. At that moment, rumbling guns announce the arrival

of a ship. When Cio-Cio-San is able to decipher the name “Abraham Lincoln”, she can barely

contain herself for joy. Together with Suzuki she decorates the house with blossom, has Su-

zuki apply her make-up and puts on her wedding dress. She awaits her lover as night falls.

Act ThreeWhen the sun announces the new day, Pinkerton still has not arrived. Exhausted, Cio-Cio-San

retires to sleep. Meanwhile, Sharpless appears together with Pinkerton. When Suzuki sees the

latter, she wants to call for Cio-Cio-San, but the men ask her not to wake her. Suzuki tells Pin-

kerton how faithfully his Butterfly has waited for him. Suddenly she espies a woman who has

remained in the background. When Pinkerton admits that it is Kate, his American wife, Suzuki

knows that all is lost for Cio-Cio-San. While Pinkerton, stricken with remorse, flees, Kate tries

to convince Suzuki that it would be the best for the child to come with her and Pinkerton to

America. Suzuki asks for permission to speak to Cio-Cio-San alone; she is awake, discovers

the Consul and searches for Pinkerton everywhere. Finally, she catches sight of Kate and

guesses the truth: they want to take her son away from her. She says that she will be ready in

half an hour. Then she breaks down in tears.

Suzuki, who would like to help, is sent away by Cio-Cio-San, who then fetches her father’s

dagger. As she reads the inscription, her son arrives. Cio-Cio-San embraces him and bids him

farewell. Having sent the child off to play, she thrusts the dagger into her stomach.

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