While some may say that Shen Teh has taken the high road by giving up her life to prostitution, she will soon learn to be a "good" person that consists of an alter-ego. She begins to get used, stepped on and taken advantage of; although, it’s not the glamorous life it’s thought to be. In the world of The Good Person of Szechwan, Bertolt Brencht creates the idea of how men initially have a stronger voice in society rather than women. When looking at the obvious facts that set males apart from females, it’s evident that men definitely have an advantage over women during the 1900’s.
In the play The Good Person of Szechwan, in order to be recognized as “good” in the eyes of the gods, “The world can go on as it is if we find enough good people, …show more content…
But, it’s known that women are not selected to fulfill all the jobs done by men because of their physical and mental differences. According to the article, “How have gender stereotypes changed in the last 30 years?” by Psychology of Women Quarterly (PWQ), “Women and men were believed to be more equally engaged in financial roles in 2014 than in 1982.” (Phys Org 1) This is noticed in the beginning of the play. For instance, an unemployed man entered her tobacco store he asked for a free cigarette, Shen Teh, of course, gives it to him. She did this because he didn’t have any money. The women in the store became disappointed in Shen Teh, “She can’t say no. You are too good Shen Teh. If you want to hang onto your shop you must refuse sometimes.” (Brencht 16) This proves that Shen Teh is a giver, she finds it impossible to say "no" to any request for food, help, or money. While she is attempting to be this “good” individual she is trying to accommodate others rather than thinking of herself. Society is portraying Shen Teh as a weak individual because a man would have handled the situation differently. Considering Brecht wrote this play during the 1920’s the gender role for women during this time tend to focus on the idea of women’s emotions, it’s clear that women are more emotional rather than men. For example, another customer walks in who is known as the carpenter, he demands one …show more content…
Her alternative option was the creation of “Shui Ta”. When it comes to business, it seems as though being a man you have more say, their voice is more powerful than a woman, Shen Teh’s “cousin” proves this stereotype. For instance, Shui Ta ends up coming into the tobacco shop and creates an argument with the carpenter, “I can’t afford it. Take your walnut shelves away.” (Brencht 26) If this was Shen Teh she would have been way too nice. The carpenter said to Shui Ta, “… I would like Miss Shen Teh to be fetched. She seems like a decent person, unlike you.” (Brencht 26) As it’s presented a man had no problem picking an argument rather than when Shen Teh was confronted she did not do much. Shui Ta values his money, her alter ego has great business skills that she can’t show. He settles on twenty silver dollars, rather than the one hundred that the carpenter demanded at first to her. During this time, society focuses on the male figure because they were more controlling. When Shen Teh wanted her money she had to stay back and let someone else handle the issue. Remember, this is really Shen Teh behind the disguise of Shui Ta, it’s her who is demonstrating such great business skills. She wears this mask because it allows her to be more comfortable with who she really wants to be. If she was
In the play The Good Person of Szechwan, in order to be recognized as “good” in the eyes of the gods, “The world can go on as it is if we find enough good people, …show more content…
But, it’s known that women are not selected to fulfill all the jobs done by men because of their physical and mental differences. According to the article, “How have gender stereotypes changed in the last 30 years?” by Psychology of Women Quarterly (PWQ), “Women and men were believed to be more equally engaged in financial roles in 2014 than in 1982.” (Phys Org 1) This is noticed in the beginning of the play. For instance, an unemployed man entered her tobacco store he asked for a free cigarette, Shen Teh, of course, gives it to him. She did this because he didn’t have any money. The women in the store became disappointed in Shen Teh, “She can’t say no. You are too good Shen Teh. If you want to hang onto your shop you must refuse sometimes.” (Brencht 16) This proves that Shen Teh is a giver, she finds it impossible to say "no" to any request for food, help, or money. While she is attempting to be this “good” individual she is trying to accommodate others rather than thinking of herself. Society is portraying Shen Teh as a weak individual because a man would have handled the situation differently. Considering Brecht wrote this play during the 1920’s the gender role for women during this time tend to focus on the idea of women’s emotions, it’s clear that women are more emotional rather than men. For example, another customer walks in who is known as the carpenter, he demands one …show more content…
Her alternative option was the creation of “Shui Ta”. When it comes to business, it seems as though being a man you have more say, their voice is more powerful than a woman, Shen Teh’s “cousin” proves this stereotype. For instance, Shui Ta ends up coming into the tobacco shop and creates an argument with the carpenter, “I can’t afford it. Take your walnut shelves away.” (Brencht 26) If this was Shen Teh she would have been way too nice. The carpenter said to Shui Ta, “… I would like Miss Shen Teh to be fetched. She seems like a decent person, unlike you.” (Brencht 26) As it’s presented a man had no problem picking an argument rather than when Shen Teh was confronted she did not do much. Shui Ta values his money, her alter ego has great business skills that she can’t show. He settles on twenty silver dollars, rather than the one hundred that the carpenter demanded at first to her. During this time, society focuses on the male figure because they were more controlling. When Shen Teh wanted her money she had to stay back and let someone else handle the issue. Remember, this is really Shen Teh behind the disguise of Shui Ta, it’s her who is demonstrating such great business skills. She wears this mask because it allows her to be more comfortable with who she really wants to be. If she was