In regard to the setting of the story, Ha Jin brings out the historical setting in the form of social, cultural and political setting as well as the description of the physical and geographical setting as important aspects that greatly influences the storyline. Firstly, the political setting depicted in the story shows that the Cultural Revolution was already over, and the setting now is based during the Communist party that is led by the renowned controversial leader Mao Zedong. When the main character in the story, Mr Chui is discriminated, he tries to force some senses to the policemen by claiming that the Cultural Revolution was over, and therefore acts of injustices and abuse were a thing of the past.
Cultural and social setting is clearly depicted by Mr Chui’s through his explanation about the post-cultural revolution. He argues that, although the Cultural Revolution was already over, the government agencies were not due until 1982. This period is still characterised by people suffering under the arms of the government, especially due to wrongly accused crimes that make their lives miserable. During this setting, the policeman used to harass Chinese scholars, for instance, they threw a bowl of tea at the professor Chui as a way of taunting him, the police thought Mr Chui will not react to this act
“You’re lying. You wet your shoes yourself.”
“Comrade Policeman, your duty is to keep order, but you purposely tortured us common citizens. Why violate the law you are supposed to enforce?”’ (392).
Just by questioning the authority (police), he gets arrested and accused of belonging to an unlawful group.
In regard to the geographical setting, the Saboteur, is set the town of Muji, a town 3000miles from the home area of Chui in China. Through the use of vivid description, the author of this short story gives us a clear picture of this town. The reader can visualise how busy, dirty and hot the geographical setting is. “The air smelled of rotten melon; a few flies kept on buzzing above the couples lunch, while hundreds of people were busy rushing on the platform so that they could catch the bus to downtown” (348).
In conclusion, the physical setting of Muji City as depicted by Ha Jin totally sets the mood and development of the whole story. We are made to visualize how this setting has a liberating space, dense populated and free of constraints which refers to the ability and the freedom to grow both as an individual and as a society. This is the place where Mr Chui decided to spend the last few days of his honeymoon. In general, different settings in the story have been used to signify varied intentions by the author.
