Rewriting Matricide in Phyllis Nagy’s Butterfly Kiss

This essay discusses the matricidal tradition in western culture and how Phyllis Nagy’s Butterfly Kiss(1994)rewrites this tradition and undermines the patriarchy.It suggests Nagy’s play questions the common dishonest plays at that time,which fea⁃tures mother and daughter friendly with each other,and avoids the prevalent antagonism between mother and daughter in the real society.It considers how the play addresses this issue of maternal hatred and how Lily’s reconstruction reveals her act of matricide is actually a loving act coming from the desire to save her mother.The essay argues that Lily’s matricide rewrites the matricidal tra⁃dition in western culture and through accounting the oppression they suffer in the patriarchal society,the mothers and daughters in the play hope for a real connection that involves intimacy,love and nurturance.