Case Study: The Purpose of Jackson’s Use of The Humming Chorus From Puccini's Opera “Madam Butterfly”

    In 'Heavenly Creatures', Jackson uses an aria from Puccini's opera 'Madam Butterfly'; of which Juliet Hulme sings on the eve of the murder she and Pauline Parker commit. This amplifies the importance of the events that follow, and adds dimension to the film.

    The inter-textual reference to Puccini's 'Madam Butterfly' in 'Heavenly Creatures' is one of great significance. The reference to opera is reflective of the two girls delusional view of their lives as some kind of grand opera, along with the actual reference to 'Madam Butterfly' in regards to tragedy and drama.
     Audiences who recognise the reference to the tragic story of 'Madam Butterfly' will be able to create a link between Butterfly's traumatic demise and the calamitous struggle that Juliet and Pauline find themselves with. In Puccini's opera, Butterfly - a 15 year old Japanese girl - marries a U.S Naval officer named Pinkerton; who leaves shortly after their wedding. Three years later, Butterfly is still waiting on Pinkerton's return - that many have told her will not happen- and it is revealed that she has given birth to his son. It is then that pinkerton arrives back to the house in Japan - but with his new American wife, Kate; as she has agreed to take care of the child. Agreeing to give up her child if Pinkerton comes to see her himself, Butterfly then prays to statues of her ancestral gods, says goodbye to her son, and blindfolds him. She places a small American flag into his hands and goes behind a screen, killing herself with her father's hara-kiri knife. It is then that Pinkton rushes in to see Butterly, but to his dismay he is too late. 

   For audiences with knowledge of Butterfly's excruciating demise, jackson's choice of soundtrack creates emphasis on the harrowing events that are about to unfold for Juliet and Pauline. It enables the audience to relate the tragedy and anguish of Butterfly's destruction to the agonising deed that is about to occur in 'Heavenly creatures', foreshadowing the events about to take place.