The Good Person of Setzuan

Brecht certainly believed in the potential goodness of the human spirit. Each of you in the audience would most assuredly espouse a spirit fo good intentions, and perhaps only a few less, follow this intention with active giving to the poor, the sick and the disenfranchised. But as the causes increase and our resources diminish, the question is whispered, “how long canw e continue on this path of benevolence?”

In this “fairy tale, exotic and fabulous”, the good Shen Te cries, “I’d like to be good, but there’s the rent to pay.” Blessed y the gods with some money to support her intentions to be good, she finds that she is constantly besieged by those she wants to help - never satisfied, always screaming for more.

The little lifeboat is swiftly sent down.

Too many men too greedily

Hold onto it as they drown.

Shen Te is forced to call her alter ego, her cousin, the authoritative Shui Ta, to stand up to those who would fleece her. He is able to create a business plan that will support her efforts to reach out to those in need, but is forced to step on those very people in the process. Shen Te’s dilemma is ours.

Brecht asks what is wrong with a society in which such need exists and in which the chasm between the “haves” and the “have nots” continues to grow despite the efforts of millions of well intentioned hearts.

To let no one perish, not even oneself

To fill everyone with happiness, even oneself,

Is so good!

Is there a way to make a difference in the world? Brecht throws the challenge to us. Is this a cynical pessimistic play, or is it one of hope? The choice is yours.