“The Good Woman of Setzuan” by Bertolt Brecht

Significant Elements:

1. Capitalism. In “The Song of Defenseless”, Shen Te explains that the only way to help her
community is by putting others at a disadvantage (page 946.15-16); Customers are taking
advantage of the tobacco shop as Shui Ta explains that it’s not a gold mine (page
768.28-30).

2. Patriarchy. Yang Sun insists that women are easily satisfied and that Shen Te lacks
common sense (page 949.100-104); Shen Te sings about how she will protect her son and
prevent him from becoming a man like his father (page 959.110-115).

3. Identity. Wong introduces Shen Te and identifies her as a prostitute before anything else
(page 924.73-75); Shen Te puts on her mask and becomes Shui Ta because becoming a man
is the only way she can manage money and business (page 946.14).

4. Water. Wong introduces himself as a water seller who has no income when water is
plentiful (page 922.1-4); Shen Te buys water to give to Yang Sun because she loves and
cares for him (page 941.170-190).

5. The Divine. The Third God explains the world may stay if enough humans prove to be
worthy of life (page 923.52-53); The people of Setzuan look to the Gods for a solution to
poverty but they claim to never meddle in economics (page 925.145-155).

6. Goodness. The Gods begin to lose hope in humanity as the Third God states that even good
intentions and good deeds don’t suffice (page 968.17-20); In “The Song of St. Nevercome’s
Day”, Yang Sun says that all men will be good without batting an eye (page 955.124).

Unifying Principle: A woman’s goodness is tested by divine gods as she endures the hardships of
patriarchal capitalism through a different identity.