An In-depth Analysis of Bertolt Brecht's The Good Woman of Setzuan

This essay provides an analysis of Bertolt Brecht's play, *The Good Woman of Setzuan*, focusing on the influence of his biography and the play's themes. The essay examines the play's use of modernist experimentation to explore gender as both an individual's identity and a socially conditioned performance, specifically highlighting the contrasting behaviors of the 'good' character under different identities and the implications of gender roles within the play. The analysis also covers the play's portrayal of patriarchal capitalism, the use of music, and the significance of the original German title's gender-neutrality. The author notes the impact of Brecht's mother on his work, emphasizing the play's critique of societal norms and the challenges faced by women. The essay delves into specific scenes, such as the wedding scene, to illustrate the play's commentary on gender and social expectations. The essay highlights how Brecht uses these elements to present a critical perspective on society.

Running Head: RESPONSE TO BRECHT’S PLAY
Response to Brecht’s play
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1
RESPONSE TO BRECHT’S PLAY
It is evident from Brecht’s biography that his life and literary texts were heavily influenced
by his mother whom he states to be a dangerous image of the self-denying woman which is
also evident in the play The Good Woman of Setzuan.
The issue of gender is found in the scene 4 of the play and it is seen in the difference of
treatment towards the Shen Te. Stereotypical comments on the nature of a particular gender
and that of patriarchy is seen here. Where in scene 6, the moment when Shen Te is about to
marry Yang Sun, the woman is at the receiving end of retorts as they say to her that women
always do the wrong thing.
“song of defencelessness” is the one which has intrigued me the most since it justifies the
manner in which patriarchal capitalism has been addressed by the dramatist in the play. For
being successfully able to run a company or being a true capitalist, Shen Te has to be an alter
ego which is a man. It is highly ironic since the German version of the title of the play is
specifically a gender neutral term whereas the translation is centred on a woman. The use of
music is also found in demonstration of the economic condition that has been depicted in the
play. Whereas it is also used as a tool for encouraging people to work more efficiently.