The story of the play revolves around a young prostitute named Shen Teh. She struggles hard to live a life that is moral and good. She does not want to be abused and trod upon by those people who would accept and abuse her goodness.

Shen Teh's neighbor and friends are quite brutal and they are only worried about filling their bellies. She is compelled to invent an alter ego to protect herself. She creates a male cousin named Shui Ta. He becomes a cold and stern protector of Shen Te's interest.

Literature Companion: The Good Woman of Setzuan
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Prologue
Summary All Scenes
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis