Day of the Butterfly by Alice Munro
In Day of the Butterfly by Alice Munro we have the theme of isolation, commitment, connection, betrayal, appearance and friendship. Taken from her Dance of the Happy Shades collection the story is narrated in the first person by a female narrator called Helen who is looking back at a memory from her days as a sixth-grader. What is really noticeable about the beginning of the story is that Munro appears to be exploring the theme of isolation and commitment. Both Jimmy and Myra are on the outside (or isolated) when it comes to the other children in the school. Jimmy because of the shame that he is made feel due to the fact that he wets himself on occasion and Myra because she feels obliged to look after her younger brother rather than play with any of her classmates during break-time. What is also noticeable very early on in the story is the commitment that Myra shows Jimmy. At no stage does she abandon him or think of her own needs. Rather Jimmy is Myra’s primary focus and if anything she sees herself as his sole protector. There is also a sense that by having Helen describe both Jimmy and Myra as being ‘like small figures carved of wood’ and ‘with faces smooth and aged’ that Munro is suggesting that both Jimmy and Myra are different to the other children in the school. Something that becomes clearer to the reader later on in the story after Miss Darling tells the class to play with Myra. Though it is noticeable that rather than doing so the class led by Gladys Healey make fun of Myra. Which in turn only results in Myra (and Jimmy) being isolated further.
It is also interesting that Helen is at first hesitant about walking to school with Myra and Jimmy and her reluctance to do so seems to be based solely on appearance or how she will be perceived by the other children in the school should they discover that she has walked to school with Myra and Jimmy. If anything there is a sense that Helen is concerned about her reputation among the other school children should they find out that she has walked to school with Myra and Jimmy. It is also noticeable that when Helen does decide to walk with Myra and Jimmy she is doing so because she believes that Myra is, by her continual looking back at Helen, giving Helen (and her character) an importance that Helen may not necessarily deserve. Though is nonetheless willing to accept (being considered popular). However there is a redemptive quality to Helen particularly when she shares the box of Cracker Jack’s with Myra and Jimmy and lets Myra keep the butterfly brooch. If anything by allowing Myra keep the brooch Helen is in some ways connecting with Myra.
Miss Darling’s character may also be important because out of all the teachers in the school she is the only one who makes any attempt to make the other children in the school play with Myra, though as mentioned she is not successful in doing so. Another reason that Miss Darling is important is because it is through her character that the reader realises that Myra in all likelihood will not see her eleventh birthday (20th July) and as such Miss Darling organises for the class to visit Myra on the 20th of March instead to celebrate her birthday. It is also noticeable that none of the children when they visit Myra in hospital are aware of just how sick Myra actually is and don’t seem to realise that Myra, by going to another hospital in London, is doing so because it is in London where she can get the proper (or specialist) treatment for her illness.
If anything there is a sense of artificiality when the children are celebrating Myra’s birthday with her. Though it may also be important to remember that the children themselves are still young (10-11 years old) and may not have any concept of just how deadly leukaemia actually is. Just as the reader can sense the defeat that Myra feels at the beginning of the story, likewise when she is in hospital there is also an air of defeat. This time rather than it being a defeat as a result of being made to feel like a social outcast as Myra is at the beginning of the story. The sense of defeat that exists instead is more threatening with the possibility being that Myra is close to dying.
The end of the story is also interesting as not only does Munro further explore the theme of connection (and commitment) when Myra gives Helen the gift (and their hands touch again) but she also introduces the possibility of betrayal. By unwillingly accepting the gift and then telling the reader that she would let her brother break the gift. Rather than showing any commitment to Myra there is a sense that Helen is prepared to forget about Myra just as the other children may also be prepared to do. As to why Helen wishes to forget Myra is never fully explored and is left to each individual reader to interpret as they see fit. Though some critics do suggest that Helen, as she has previously been in the story, is more concerned about her reputation (or popularity) among the other school children than she is in developing a friendship with Myra. Just as a butterfly may have a short life span so too will Myra and Helen’s friendship and not just because Myra may be dying but because Helen may not necessarily be able to overcome her own insecurities when it comes to the other girls in her class. Placing an importance on how she is perceived by others as being more important than developing a meaningful friendship with Myra.
Excellent analysis, however, I think the reason why Helen can’t accept Myra’s gift is that it is a reminder of her own treacherous ways towards Myra.
Thanks for the comment Sarah. You could be right. Helen may not have wanted the gift because of the way that she treated Myra.
Yes, it is a reminder. And since no one can live with his/her fault without any justification,she didn’t accept the gifts . Whenever she looks to them , she will remember how bad girl she was . But my question is that why Helen, from the first place,accept to walk with Myra? .She gave Myra a false hope which is something not nice at all.
Thanks for the comment Ansam. It may be a case that Helen walked with Myra in order to boost her own ego. Also Helen may feel as though Myra is giving her (Helen) a sense of importance by walking with her.
Thanks for the comment Sarah. You could be right. Helen may not have wanted the gift because of the way that she treated Myra.
I believe that you are right because the phrase ‘ immune to treachery’ at the end of the story show that there is something more to it rather than just what meets the eyes. After all if Helen was so good than she could have at least accepted Myra’s gift which was like a parting gift. Moreover the story becomes a cliché if Helen is so kind.
Thanks for the comment Gladys. It does look like Helen is thinking only of herself and not of how Myra may feel.
The butterfly brooch represents the bond of friendship between Myra and Helen (author).
Thanks for that insight Dechen.
Yup it is. The brooch is the friendship sign.
How is the topic relevant to the story
What topic?
Please can u tell me the main theme of the story?
Some readers might feel as though betrayal is the main theme.
Can peer pressure be a theme in this story? To me it’s as if Helen is greatly influenced by her friend’s idea of (sort of) bullying Myra. Even though she felt some urge of befriending Myra, she doesn’t want to go against what the other kids are doing.
I think you could be right.
What is the genre of the story?
I think it may be realism.
Contemporary realistic fiction
Thanks Choeyeng.
How is miss darling a steorotype character?
I’m not sure I would need to read the story again.
She is described being different teacher from the rest. When others are busy in staff room during recess she takes care of children and sometimes play games with girls.
Thanks Sonam.
Loved the story❤
Me too.
How is the title relevant to the story?
Supposedly a butterfly only lives for a day. So Munro may be suggesting that the friendship between both girls is and will be short.
Why do you think the title is”day of butterfly “?
Can I refer you to my previous reply (above).
This story really was fascinating, if not a little sad at the end. I wonder if Myra knew that she might not be coming back at all to play with Helen, as she said she wanted to?
Great story!
I don’t know Jessie. I’d like to think that she had high spirits at the end as it is as you mention a sad ending.
How the story is related to real life (text to life connection).
Perhaps Munro is highlighting how fickle friendships can be.
Can I get character sketch of all characters?
It’s been a while since I read the story. I would need to read it again to answer your question.
What is the” pledge” that recognizes when her finger touched myra’s finger?
I’m not sure. I would need to read the story again but perhaps it is a pledge of friendship.
I m just 14 yrs n I read this story n found out that this story contains lots of moral though it holds 4 pages… It’s interesting.. Thank u
I’m glad you enjoyed the story Adhiyan.
Where is the setting of the story
The setting of the story is a small town and in the school of the town and the hospital.
Why do you think at the end of the story Myra didn’t say goodbye to Helen?
I’m not sure as to why Myra continues to act so selfishly at the end of the story. Perhaps she is too proud to admit that she may be in the wrong.
thx so much but what would be the best quote of the story to support the theme
I would need to read the story again to find a quote.
Do you think the birthday celebration helped to improve the relation between Myra and
her class girls?
I deal with that very question in the fourth paragraph of the post.
I was reading this story and I had a sort of realization. When Helen gives Myra the Butterfly Pin it is a sign of friendship, but this friendship is not one that is meant to last. This is due to the simple fact that it is based on Helen’s own selfish needs. Helen believes that being friends with Myra could somehow boost her popularity, but at the same time, she is scared that being friends with Myra could make her the object of scorn. Myra, who is used to being an outcast, seems pleased with the idea of having a friend, but also seems to understand the meaning of their friendship. When Myra becomes sick the girls who once bullied her now use the opportunity of a “birthday” party for Myra as a way to sort of redeem themselves from the guilt of bullying her. During the party, it seems that all of the past has been forgotten, but as soon as the party is over, Myra is back to being the outcast. With the last sentence of the story “She sat in her high bed, her delicate brown neck, rising out of a hospital gown too big for her, her brown carved face immune to treachery, her offering perhaps already forgotten, prepared to be set apart for legendary uses, as she was even in the back porch at school.” The reader can tell that Myra is likely not to survive, and even if she does, she will simply go right back to being an outcast.
The butterfly pin could be a symbol of friendship, but not just friendship. It could be seen as the symbol of a friendship that is bound to die.
Thanks for that insight Becks.
How the theme betrayal reflected in the story?
Helen betrays Myra.
What is the plot, climax and resolution of the story.
I would need to read the story again to answer your question.
why is miss darling considered as an example of a stereo type character?
I’m not sure. I would need to read the story again.
Can you please send me the summary of this story?
I would need to read the story again to answer your question.
What would be the most important value that we can learn from the story
Friendship can be fickle and may not always last.
Is the setting important to the plot of the story?
I’m not sure. Maybe Munro by using a small town as the back drop is suggesting that Helen is small or narrow minded.
Mention some of the stereotypes portrayed in the story?
I’m not sure.
In the end, is Helen a good Friend, or a bad friend and could you provide one example of why?
Helen is a bad friend because she only thinks about herself.
I really enjoyed this story and i think that it was very heartfelt the way that Helen and Myra’s friendship became.
It is a touching story.
what was the conflict in the story?
Helen’s relationship with Myra.
Does anyone know the rest of the chant that Gladys performs after Miss Darling scolds the girls for not including Myra in their play? It starts off with “I don’t care if it rains or freezes . . .” and then Gladys flips her skirt at the end (which makes me think the rhyme has something vulgar . . . you can kiss my grits . . . ) Girls had lots of rhymes for skipping or for insulting someone (behind their back), but I don’t remember this one (maybe I wasn’t part of the “Mean Girls’ Club” (at least, I like to think I wasn’t).