Henri Charrière, often known as Papillon for the butterfly tattoo on his chest, penned his famous memoir after escaping from a penal colony in French Guiana. His harrowing experiences and unbreakable spirit during his quest for freedom served as the primary inspiration. Through his narrative, Charrière aimed to share not just his story of survival and escape but also to shed light on the brutal conditions of the penal system at the time.