Page 28 - The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand Vol.XIII-2021

The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XIII – 2021

2. Representatives of the “Good”, “the Wicked” and the Role of the Gods

Shui Ta, Sun, und Herr Shu Fu, the Barber, are presented in the Good Person
of Szechuan (Der gute Mensch von Sezuan) as active “wicked” persons through
their deeds. In the literary discussion, they are considered as immoral as well.
In addition, a question has been raised as to whether the figures Shen Te and
Shui Ta are to be considered as a “Double role play“ or a “fissured character” , a

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“Schizophrenia” and “I-Fission”.
In Buddhist terms, Shen Te und Shui Ta are the same person. Just as she
wants, Shen Te dresses up as Shui Ta to get herself out of poverty and trouble.
Disappointed from her own good deeds, Shen Te has blamed all the bad social

conditions and mourns the Gods to be responsible for all her suffering.

English translation

“Die Guten Good men
Können in unserem Lande nicht lang. Cannot long remain good

gut bleiben in our country
Wo die Teller leer sind, raufen sich Where plates are empty,
die Esser. the diners fight.
Ach, die Gebote der Götter Alas, the commandments

of the gods
Helfen nicht gegen den Mangel. are no use against want.
Warum erscheinen die Götter nicht Why don’t the gods appear
auf unsern Märkten in our markets

Und verteilen lächelnd die Fülle der And, smiling, distribute
Waren? the plentiful food?
[…] […]

7 Walter H. Sockel 1962: “Brechts gespaltene Charaktere und ihr Verhältnis zur Tragik”, in: Volkmar Sander
(Hg.) 1962, Tragik und Tragödie. Darmstadt: 381-396, here: 381. Also Yuan Tan 2007: Der Chinese in der
deutschen Literatur. Göttingen: Cuvillier Verlag: 216-228.

18 Bertolt Brecht: “The Good Person of Szechwan” – Anti-Capitalist, Anti-buddhist?