Which American playwright wrote Madame Butterfly and The Girl of the Golden West and furthered Naturalism?

• A. Freie Buhne
• B. David Belasco
• C. Meyerhold
• D. George Farquhar

Answer: (B)

David Belasco wrote Madame Butterfly and The Girl of the Golden West, and he helped push Naturalism in American theatre. He brought a documentary level of realism to the stage—true-to-life settings, authentic props, contemporary dialogue, and carefully drawn everyday characters. The Girl of the Golden West, set in a mining camp, showcases his knack for convincing, lived-in environments, while Madame Butterfly (the stage version that inspired Puccini’s opera) presents intimate, psychologically truthful moments rather than purely melodramatic theatrics. Belasco’s emphasis on realistic detail, lighting, and production design shaped how American playwrights and directors approached naturalism, influencing the look and feel of modern Broadway realism. The other names are from different countries or eras and aren’t the American playwright linked to these works, so Belasco is the fitting match.