Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What does Sharplessâs letter reveal about Pinkertonâs life in America?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Madama Butterfly
Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, 1908.
In Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly, the letter brought by the American consul, Sharpless, reveals that B.F. Pinkerton has married an American woman.12
The letter serves as a notification of this new marriage and indicates that Pinkerton is relying on Sharpless to "prepare" Butterfly for the news of his changed circumstances. While the letter confirms Pinkerton's intent to return to Japan, it also reveals his desire to avoid seeing Butterfly, prompting Sharpless to attempt to break the news to her gently.1