A Sudden Change of Heart

In the second part of The Good Woman of Setzuan, Yang Sun becomes more attentive to Shan Te towards the end of the play. Before as we had seen he did not care about her at all. All he cared about was the money that he would obtain from Shan Te once they were married. When Shi Ta wonder on why Shan Te is devoted to Sun he says, “Because I have my hand on her breasts. Give me a cigar” (56). Evidently he does not care about Shan Te enough to say something wordy of the Good Woman of Setzuan. A bit later Sun also makes it clear that, “Ill marry her, then bring me the three hundred. Or let her bring it. One or the other” (56). His cruelty is further demonstrated when it is said that Yang Su tears Shan Te’s weeding dress after they fail to get married due to Shui Ta’s absence. Although some people might not think that this character is not important but I think it is. I think that the author is portraying a very ugly side of men that we like to hide. Yang Su behaves in the most atrocious way the only person that loves him, Shan Te. Instead of waiting or postponing the weeding to another day he simply leaves and drags Shan Te out of the cheap restaurant. After Yang Sun wastes the money that Shan Te gave him she has to find a way to replay it. After Shan Te finds a way of expanding her tobacco industry. She begins to do well for herself but in the mean time her other self, Shui Ta files a police report against Yang Sun against failed marriage and the fact that he obtained two-hundred silver dollars illegally. I really started to notice the change in heart of Yang Sun when he goes back to Shan Te’s tobacco shop dragging his feet in defeat. All he says is that, “the money is gone” (83). Shui Ta offers him a job as a test of his goodwill and he accepts. He even asks to speak to Shan Te, which he had never just thought of her before. He works in the tobacco shop long enough for Shui Ta to promote him due to his effort and hard work. After this it seems like Yang Sun is more interested in the well being of Shan Te than before. It seems like he has suddenly been struck by good will and wants to be with Shan Te. I think this is important because it shows that some people are willing to change if some hope is put on them.