Yellow Face

DHH is the central protagonist and the alter-ego of playwright David Henry Hwang. DHH begins the play as a confident and respected playwright who has gained celebrity status from the recent success of his award-winning play, M. Butterfly. Initially, he fulfills the archetypes of the artist and trailblazer and sees himself as a preeminent figure in the Asian American and theater communities. Like the real Hwang, DHH is renowned for his innovative works that challenge racist stereotypes and promote the representation of Asian Americans in the arts. DHH takes pride in fighting The Historical Marginalization of Asian Americans. He is “the first Asian playwright to have a play produced on Broadway” (8). He boasts about his television appearances and capacity to launch the careers of young Asian American actors and “make some fresh Asian face into a Broadway star” (18). Hwang characterizes DHH as an activist and pioneer, but also as a flawed character who cares more about his status than about the complexities of Asian American identities and experiences.

As the play progresses, DHH becomes insecure about his identity and resentful of the success that his lies create for others. DHH’s ego takes a beating when he protests the yellowface performance in Miss Saigon and faces backlash from