Butterfly Character Analysis in My Name is Red

Butterfly is one of the three master miniaturists trained by Master Osman and recruited by Enishte to work on the Sultan’s secret book. Extraordinarily handsome, his personality is defined by his desire to please others and his loyalty to great masters and the traditional style of miniaturist painting. Butterfly is Master Osman’s favorite miniaturist, and there are strong hints that Osman is in love with him. Other miniaturists who are jealous of Osman’s favoritism of Butterfly start rumors that Butterfly is an Erzurumi, and Butterfly makes a habit of going to the coffeehouse in order to disprove this. Of the three miniaturists, Butterfly is the least likely suspect in the murders of Elegant and Enishte.

Butterfly Character Timeline in My Name is Red

The timeline below shows where the character Butterfly appears in My Name is Red. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...“because we fear them,” and has asked his team of illustrators, Stork, Olive, Elegant, and Butterfly, to choose their own subjects as well. (full context)

...Osman. The miniaturists still call each other by the nicknames Osman gave them as apprentices: Butterfly, Olive, and Stork. (full context)

...missing for six days, and that the Sultan has instructed other young masters—Stork, Olive, and Butterfly—to work from home. (full context)

...the letter and asks her to tell Shekure that he has gone to visit Olive, Butterfly, and Stork. (full context)

Black arrives at Butterfly’s door; they embrace and Black tells Butterfly that he has come in friendship, and he... (full context)

Butterfly explains that together, the three parables explain that “style” is nothing more than imperfection, and... (full context)

The procession continues. Butterfly walks over and tells Enishte he knows Olive and Stork are behind Elegant’s death. They... (full context)

...a murderer. This means that the reader has no way of knowing whether he is Butterfly, Olive, or Stork, although the murderer challenges the reader to recognize him through his style... (full context)

...him. Enishte shows Black the picture of Death and tells him it was painted by Butterfly, whom Master Osman has been in love with for years. Enishte says he knows that,... (full context)

...knew that one of the miniaturists murdered Elegant, and that he suspected it was either Butterfly, Olive, or Stork. He panics that the Head Treasurer will think he is a liar,... (full context)

...look through the book and are able to attribute particular illustrations to Olive, Stork, and Butterfly. In this way, they are able to learn the stylistic attributes of each miniaturist. Osman... (full context)

Next Black and Osman consider Butterfly. Osman admits that he finds it unbelievable that a man could be both as handsome... (full context)

Around the time of evening prayers, someone arrives at Butterfly’s house and announces the Sultan’s horse-drawing competition. Butterfly is happy to participate but frustrated that... (full context)

After the Erzurumis leave, Butterfly walks into the coffeehouse and looks around the chaos left behind. There are bodies all... (full context)

Butterfly goes into this next room, where his wife tosses her silk nightgown at him. He... (full context)

Butterfly and Black arrive at Stork’s house in the middle of the night and ask who... (full context)

Stork feels that Butterfly and Black came to his house “out of loneliness and desperation.” Stork doesn’t wish to... (full context)

Olive notices the three men watching him and quickly finishes his prayers. He embraces Butterfly, asking: “What do they want from us? Why are they killing us?” Black states that... (full context)

...responds: “But is East is east and West is west.” The murderer asks to kiss Butterfly, but just as he is about to do so Black lunges for the murderer and... (full context)

...from again. Master Osman dies two years after going blind, and Stork becomes Head Illuminator. Butterfly spends the rest of his life drawing ornamental designs for fabric. (full context)