Hen ce , English translations from German should always come out shorter than the ori ginal. But at other times the very thought and substance of a German text has to be made more compact in English, and in this case whole sentences of the original have to go. Now once you start this more drastic kind of "cutting" you also find yourself obliged to bridge the " g a p s" you have made with new writing.
It did so in the reworkin g of The Good WomanJ and those who wish to know exactly what Brecht said in every detail will, as I say, have to go to the German or the first Minnesota edition. The coupling of the two rumors did not, of course, make sense, since the printings that omitted the Epilogue to The Good Woman contained the Prologue to Chalk Circle. Anyhow, the present editions contain both. I would not make this identical statement about The Caucasian Chalk Circle. It is not an easier play to tum into Englis h, but it is far le ss abstract and more poetic.
This does not mean that as soon as one has written out an " accurate " translation one has finished work. A work of art is an accumulation of details. Many of the ch ang es made in the English text of Chalk Circle were incorporated in the Grove Evergreen printings of the earl y sixtie s. Many others were first printed in the presen t edition.
Of special use t o me in the selection of new readings was the Harvard University production of the pla y dire cte d by John Hancock.
The present English version is in principle b ased on the manu script supplied by Brecht in Since Brecht obviously could not have had in mind a province when he wrote "a city," I consider the original reading sounder and have kept it. Since nothing in the English of Chalk Circle is in the nature of "free adaptation," the reader can be sure that if he finds any passage there that is not in the German text he consults it is taken from some other German text.
For instance, the scabrous bit about the soldier getting an erection from stabbing was omitted from later German versions. Convers ely, at Brecht's request, I inserted some rhymes to introduce the Azdak trial scenes which had not been found in the manuscript.
Shu Fu, a barber Mrs. WONG the water seller introduces himself to the audience. It isn't easy. When water is scarce, I have long distances to go in search of it, and when it is plentiful, I have no income.
But in our part of the world there is nothing unusual about poverty. Many people think only the gods can s ave the situation. I've been coming out here to the city gates for three days now to bid these gods welcome. I want to be the first to greet them. What about those fellows over there? No, no, they work. And that one there has ink on his fingers, he's no god, he must be a clerk from the cement factory. Those two are another story. They l ook as though they'd like to beat you.
But gods don't need to beat you, do they? What about those three? He throws himself at their feet. Do with me what you will, illustrious ones!
He is pleased. So we were expected? And I knew you'd come. You know of a place? WONG : The whole town is at your service, illustrious ones! What sort of a place would you like? The GODS eye each other. Fo's place. WONG : One moment! He knocks at the first house. PO's: No! WONG returns a little nervously. WONG : It's too bad. Fo isn't in.
And his servants don't dare do a thing without his consent. He'll have a fit when he finds out who they turned away, won't he? WONG: One moment! The next house is Mr. Won't he be thrilled! WONG knocks. We have our own troubles! Cheng is very sorry, but he has a houseful of relations. I think some of them are a bad lot, and naturally, he wouldn't like you to see them. WONG: Well, only with bad people, of course.
Everyone knows the province of Kwan is always having floods. How's that? WONG : Why, because they're so irreligious. It's because they neglected the dam. WONG : Certainly. All Setzuan is competing for the honor! What happened up to now is pure coincidence. I'll be back. He walks away, but then stands undecided. People just aren't religious any more, let's face the fact.
Our mission has failed! Unrolling a scroll and reading from it: " The world can stay as it is if enough people are found at the word "found" he unrolls it a little more living lives worthy of human beings. He's good, or I'm very much mistaken. When he gave us a drink, I had the impression there was something odd about the cup. Well, look! That' s one man among millions.
And as a matter of fa ct, we only need one on ou r side. These atheists are saying, "The world must be changed because no one can be good and stay good. I say : let us find one-just one-and we have those fellows where we want them!
WONG : Nothing could be easier. It's just me. I don't go about it right. He returns to the others. WONG : Oh dear, they're catch in g on.
Ex cuse the intrusion, dear sir, but three gods have just turned up. Three of the very highest. They need a p l ace for the night. Seize this rare opportunity-to have real gods as your guests! Have you no religion, gentleman of Setzuan? Patience, illustrious ones! There's only one person left. Shen Te, the prostitute. She can't say no. Calls up to a window: Shen Te!
They're here, and nobody wants them. Will you take them? WONG : Can't you forget about him for tonight? WONG : Setzuan is one big dung hill! I'll hide till my gentleman has come and gone. Then I'll take them. She disappears. WONG : They mustn't see her gentleman or they'll know what she is. They approach WONG.
WONG jumping, as he finds them behind him : A room has been found, illu strious ones! He wipes sweat off his brow. WONG nervously : Just a minute. It has to be tidied up a bit. WONG still more nervous : No, no! Holding himself back.
Too much traffic, you know. They retire a little. They sit on a doors tep. WONG sits on the ground. WON G : A little, maybe. WONG : The good o nes do. That's true. And I don't have an easy time either! Each time WONG has given a start. I think he's gone now. WONG confused and surprised : Ye-e-es.
Getting no answer, she goes off down the street. WONG arrives just too late, forgetting his carrying pole. Shen Te! To himself: So she's gone off to earn the rent. Oh dear, I can't go to the gods again with no room to offer them. Having failed in the service of the gods, I shall run to my den in the sewer pipe down by the river and hide from their sight! He rushes off. She stops in confusion. My n ame is Shen Te. It would please me very much if my simple room could be of use to you. He'll be needing it.
It grows dark, then light. We shall not forget! And give our thanks to the water seller-he showed us a good human being.
Oh, I'm not good. And in giving us that room you did much more that you knew. You proved that good people still exist, a point that has been disputed of late--even in heaven. I'm not sure you're right. I'd like to be good, it's true, but there's the rent to pay. And that's not all: I sell myself for a living. Even so I can't make ends meet, there's too much competition.
I'd like to honor my father and mother and speak nothing but the truth and not covet my neighbor's house. I should love to stay with one man. But how? How is it done? Even breaking a few of your commandments, I can hardly manage. Give our regards to the water seller! They start to wave good-bye.
We never meddle with economics. They stop. Isn't it true she might do better if she had more money? How could we ever account for it Up Above? They put their heads together and confer in dumb show. To SHEN TE, with embarrassment: As you say you can't pay your rent, well, urn, we're not paupers, so of course we insist on paying for our room.
Awkwardly thrus ting money into her hand. But don't tell anyone! The incident is open to misinterpretation. It was never decreed that a god mustn't pay hotel bills! The GODS leave. The shop is not as yet completely furnished and hasn't started doing business.
When they said they wanted to pay for the room, I looked down at my hand, and there was more than a thousand silver dollars! I don't own the building, of course, but I can pay the rent, and I hope to do a lot of good here. Beginning with Mrs. Shin, who's just coming across the square with her pot. She had the shop before me, and yesterday she dropped in to ask for rice for her children. Enter MRS. Both women bow. How do you do, Mrs. You like your new home?
Did your children have a good night? SHIN : In that hovel? The youngest 1s coughing already. SHIN : You're going to learn a thing or two in these slums. That's not what you said when you sold me the shop! Robbing me and my innocent children of their home and then calling it a slum!
That's the limit! She weeps. SinN: And a little cash while you're at it. SinN screeching : I've got to have it. Strip the clothes from my back and then cut my throat, will you? I know what I'll do: I'll dump my children on your doorstep! You'll spill the rice. You've come into money, they tell me. And we haven't a roof over our heads! A tobacco shop.
We had one too. But it's gone. Could we spend the night here, do you think? WIFE: He's our nephew. We're inseparable! To the audience: Of course, when my small purse was empty, they put me out on the street, and they may be afraid I'll do the same to them.
Don't worry. Did you make it a tobacco shop in memory of your first real home? We can certainly give you a hint or two! That's one reason we came. As long as you have a few cus tomer s too! A customer! I'm unemployed. SHIN laughs. I thought there might be some damage w hen you're unpacking.
WIFE : What nerve, begging for tobacco! Why don't they ask for bread? One cigarette butt and I'll be a new man. You'll be my first customer and bring me luck. If you're going to keep this shop, you'll have to learn to say no.
Belongs to. SinN: That's right! What do you think you are-a philanthropist? SinN : So that's her rice? Exit MRS. Shin, it's you I want! That's a claim. And filling up the shelves already? Well, they' re not yours till they're paid f or, ma'am. I'm the car penter, so I should know. Shin, of course. All right. I demand my hundred silver dollars. Or I'll have you arrested. Carpenter, I can't set tle all claims at once.
Who's patient with me? Pay up--or I take the shelves back! Why don't you let your. Shen Te's cousin will see you get paid. He's a pers o nal friend of mine. Sharp as a razor! I'll put my claim in writing. Puts shelf on floor, sits on it, writes out bill.
Never recognize a claim. That's my motto. It's shameful that I can't give it t o him. What will the gods say? There's family feeling for you! Leaving us on the comer! To them : Now stop grumbling, and sit quietly in that comer. She's in her fifth month. WIFE to the couple : Say thank you. The cups are there. Lucky indeed! M I TZU, the landlady. I am Mrs. Mi Tzu, your landlady. I hope our relationship will be a happy one.
Here is your lease. A moment of true beauty! She is looking around. Not very much on the shelves, of course. But everything in the gods' good time! Where are your references, Miss Shen Te?
MI Tzu : After all , I haven't a notion who you are! We'd go through fire for her! Ma Fu? Your cousin! I never sign a lease without certain assurances. MI Tzu : On the square? Let's go over and see him. What does he do? Tall, skinny fellow! About the shelves? He hands it over.
I'll be back in the morning. Shui Ta pays on the nail! MI T ZU. WIFE : By tomorrow morning she'll know more about you thanyou do yourself. The B OY enters. WIF E : And the boy, how he's grown! But he always could eat enough for ten. There are more of us now than in your time. The less we had, the more there were of us ; the more there were of us, the less we had. Give me the key. We must protect ourselves from unwanted guests. She takes the key and locks the door. Just make yourself at home.
I'll light the little lamp. The strict Mr. Shui Ta! They pile into the cigarettes. Shui Ta'll pay for it! She has the carpenter's bill in one hand, the landlady's lease in the other. WIFE : How about a bit of a song?
To keep Shen Te's spirits up? Grandfather : you start! But where did all my cerebration get me? I'm just as hungry as I was before. So what's the use? See the smoke float free Into ever colder coldness! It's the same with me. That got me to disaster even faster. The future's for the younger generation! Yes, even if that future is a blank.
That tobacco was all we had to fall back on! You pig! Did you refuse to drink it? They fight. The shelves fall over.
Don't break everything! Take it, take it, take it all, but don't de stroy a gift from the gods! WIFE disparagingly : This shop is n' t big enough. I should never have mentioned it to Uncle and the others. She cools off quick! Voices outside. Knocking at the door. WIFE : Uncle! Is that you, Uncle? Auntie says to tell you she'll have the children here in ten minutes. WONG crouching there : All quiet! It's four days now since I left the city.
The gods passed this way on the second day. I heard their steps on the bridge over there. They must be a long way off by this time, so I'm safe. Breathing a sigh of relief, he curls up and goes to sleep.
Raising an arm, as if in self-defense : I know, I know, ill ustriou s ones! I found no one to give you a room-not in all Setzuan! There, it's out. Please continue on your way! Someone who took us in for the night , watched over us in our sleep, and in the early m orning lighted us down to the street with a lamp.
WONG : It was. Shen Te that took you in? When there's danger he thinks courage starts to ebb away! What hasty j udgment! What premature desperation! WONG : I'm very ashamed, illustrious ones. Go back to Setzuan. Find Shen Te, and give us a report on her. We hear that she's come into a little money. Show interest in her goodness-for no one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand. After which, the idle ch atter about the impossibility of goodness will stop! The GODS vanish.
Someone at the door. Shui Ta will pay for it. The WIFE laughs and shuffles to the door. En t er MR. WIF E : Who is it? WIFE : What? Published November 15th by University of Minnesota Press first published Shui Ta arrives at the shop, coldly explains that his cousin has gone out of town on a short trip, curtly turns out the hangers-on, and quickly restores order to the shop. Thank You for Your Contribution! One of the best plays I had to read at school. But always lurking is a battle of faith, and of good and evil, that tips the apple cart.
Three unnamed gods are looking for a good human being. First, she is good because she believes in the good in others. Soon the gods arrive and ask Wong to find them shelter for the night.
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. As the play opens, Wong, a water seller, explains to the audience that three setzuah are coming to find out if there are any good people in Setzuan, and they are looking for shelter for the night. Return to Book Page. Although only a few of his works are still read,…. It seems like goodness needs a lot of pragmatism and life experience not to backfire.
Thanks for telling us about the problem. View all 3 comments. A Study from Eight Aspects. She is forced to assume this role so often that, as Shui Ta, she is accused of murdering Shen Te. I have often thought of it.
Soon the gods arrive and ask Wong to find them shelter for the night. To ask other readers questions about The Good Woman of Setzuanplease sign up. Both figuratively and physically Shen Te, disappears from the action of the play. The prostitute, Shen Tei, has a soul like that of a blossoming flower. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.
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