The Good Woman of Setzuan Character Analysis

Shen Te

Shen Te is the play’s protagonist. A poor but kind prostitute, she takes in a trio of gods for the night after her other neighbors refuse them shelter. Shen Te thus becomes the gods’ way… read analysis of Shen Te

Shui Ta

Shui Ta is Shen Te’s alter ego. As Shen Te’s “bad cousin,” Shui Ta is an imposing and ruthless man whose business savvy and unapologetic self-interest stand in contrast to the meek and sweet… read analysis of Shui Ta

Yang Sun

Yang Sun is a depressed, out-of-work man who longs to be a pilot at an airfield in Peking. Shen Te meets Yang Sun on a rainy day just as he is about to commit suicide… read analysis of Yang Sun

Shu Fu

Shu Fu is a wealthy barber whose shop is near Shen Te’s. Shu Fu is a respected businessman who falls in love with Shen Te in spite of her involvement with the scoundrel Yang… read analysis of Shu Fu

Wong

Wong is a poor water seller in Setzuan. Wong acts as a sort of narrator or chorus for much of the action—despite his lowly profession, he is the first person to recognize the disguised trio… read analysis of Wong

The First God

The first god is the de facto leader of a trio of gods who come down to Earth to determine whether there are any truly good people left in the world. The first god knows… read analysis of The First God

The Third God

The third god is one of the trio of gods who come down to Earth to determine whether there are any truly good people left in the world. Whereas the first god is often singular… read analysis of The Third God

The Wife

The wife is one of the heads of the family of eight, a group of poor but crafty criminals who do what they must to get by in the unforgiving village of Setzuan. The wife… read analysis of The Wife

The Husband

The husband is one of the heads of the family of eight alongside his wife. He feels that no matter what he does, he cannot provide for his family—to him, living a “crooked” life… read analysis of The Husband

The Unemployed Man

The unemployed man is an elderly resident of Setzuan who dresses in rags. Shen Te often helps the unemployed man out by giving him free rice and tobacco. He is always scheming of ways to… read analysis of The Unemployed Man

The Carpenter

The carpenter is an opportunistic man who attempts to shake Shen Te down for a large sum of money for a set of previously-installed custom shelves. When Shen Te arrives dressed as Shui Ta… read analysis of The Carpenter

Minor Characters

The Second God

The second god is one of the trio of gods who come down to earth to determine whether there are any truly good people left in the world. The second god is the most pessimistic of the bunch and is quick to comment upon humanity’s collective incompetence and cruelty.

Mrs. Shin

Mrs. Shin is the former proprietor of the tobacco shop that Shin Te takes over. The crafty and nosy Mrs. Shin eventually discovers that Shin Te and Shui Ta are one person—and when she does, she simultaneously becomes Shen Te’s sole confidant and her most direct threat.

The Nephew

The nephew is a member of the family of eight. He is often coddled by the husband and wife.

The Brother

The brother is the wife’s brother and the sister-in-law’s husband. He is a member of the family of eight.

The Sister-in-law

The sister-in-law is a pregnant woman who’s married to the wife’s brother. She’s a member of the family of eight. The sister-in-law is moody due to her pregnancy and she loves to gossip.

The Niece

The niece is part of the family of eight. She works as a prostitute.

The Grandfather

The grandfather is part of the family of eight. He is a singer and storyteller who laments that money and greed ruins people’s best efforts to live life properly and morally.

The Young Boy

The young boy is the youngest member of the family of eight.

The Carpenter’s Son

The carpenter’s son is a young, destitute boy whom (along with his two brothers) the carpenter is trying to support.

Mrs. Mi Tzu

Mrs. Mi Tzu is Shen Te’s landlady. She is a demanding woman who is protective of her property’s integrity—but who ultimately proves herself, as so many other characters do, to be crooked at heart and motivated by personal greed and satisfaction.

The Old Whore

The “old whore” is an older prostitute who works alongside the niece.

The Policeman

The policeman is a local police officer in Setzuan. He dutifully upholds the law and he settles frequent disputes among neighbors.

The Old Man

The old man is the frail, kindly, and elderly proprietor of a carpet store near Shen Te’s tobacco shop.

The Old Woman

The old woman is the wife of the old man who owns the carpet shop near Shen Te’s store. She is a devoted woman who loves her husband deeply.

Mrs. Yang

Mrs. Yang is Yang Sun’s mother. She is a dishonest and unkind woman who only cares about her son.