ACT 1
- While stationed temporarily in Nagasaki, the American Lieutenant Pinkerton
has acquired a beautiful young geisha wife, Cio-Cio-San (also called
Butterfly) from a marriage broker (Goro). He tells the American consul (Sharpless)
that he takes pleasure where he finds it, to which Sharpless responds to be
careful because the 15-year-old bride is taking the marriage seriously. At the
wedding ceremony Butterfly's uncle, the Bonze, denounces her for abandoning
her relatives and her religion. Pinkerton orders everyone to leave. After
reassuring her of his love he and Cio-Cio-San celebrate their wedding night.
ACT 2 - Three years later, Butterfly and her servant Suzuki anxiously
await the return of Pinkerton, who sailed for America shortly after the
wedding. Butterfly is desperately poor and only Suzuki will stay with her. She
is convinced that one day her husband will return and brushes aside others’
doubts. Sharpless and Goro arrive at the house. Goro is anxious to profit from
a possible new match between Butterfly and the wealthy Prince Yamadori, now
that the marriage to Pinkerton can be annulled. Sharpless shows Butterfly a
letter from Pinkerton and her excitement turns to dismay when Sharpless
intimates that he has taken an American wife. Butterfly then shows Sharpless
the child she has borne without Pinkerton's knowledge: surely this will bring
her husband back to her. The cannon sounds and Pinkerton's ship is sighted.
Butterfly waits up all night for his return.
As morning breaks, Pinkerton enters with Sharpless. To Suzuki's horror, she sees the American wife with them. They ask, through Suzuki, that Butterfly give up the child. At this point Pinkerton realizes what misery he has caused, and leaves in distress. Butterfly returns and sends Suzuki away. She bids her son a passionate farewell, then kills herself in the Japanese style "hara-kiri", to the sounds of Pinkerton in the distance, returning, calling her name but he is too late.