The Good Person of Szechwan

Style and Technique

In «The Good Person of Szechwan», Bertolt Brecht employs epic theatre, characterized by distancing the audience from emotional involvement and encouraging critical thinking. Brecht's style is marked by the use of simple and accessible language, allowing complex social and philosophical ideas to reach a broad audience. Literary devices include the use of songs and poems that interrupt the action and serve to comment on the events. The narrative structure revolves around the conflict between kindness and survival in a harsh world, reflected in the duality of the main character, Shen Te, who is forced to adopt the persona of her ruthless cousin to protect herself. Brecht also uses the technique of the 'alienation effect' to remind audiences that they are watching a theatrical performance, not real life, and to focus on the social issues raised in the play.