Wang the water-seller serves as a non-omniscient of narrator for the story, and he often speaks directly to the audience. He is poor, but unlike most of his fellow townspeople, he values the gods and their rules. However, although Wang does whatever he can to help the gods and becomes their point of contact in Setzuan, the gods quickly disqualify him as a good person because his water cup has a false bottom and he is therefore cheating his customers by not giving them a full cup. The fact that the gods do not consider Wang to be an example of a good person demonstrates the rigidity of their rules. Wang cares for other people, which he shows by looking after Shen Te and when he brings her Lin To’s son.

However, Wang also does whatever is necessary to survive, including gaming the system. When Mr. Shu Fu breaks Wang’s hand and none of the witnesses are willing to testify, Wang accepts Shen Te’s offer to speak for him even though she did not actually see the barber hit him. Wang also prioritizes self-preservation, running away from the gods at the beginning of the play when he fears that he has failed to find them a room.