Baruch College – CUNY
English – Great Works of Literature II Prof. Jeffrey Peer
Rafael Cargas
Blog Post – The Threepenny Opera by B. Brecht

The Threepenny Opera is an excellent presentation of what happens in the streets inhabited by those of the lowliving standards of our land. There are three main characters in the story: Macheath (the protagonist), Peachum (the antagonist) and Polly Peachum (Peachum’s daughter). Macheath is a gangster who stealthily steals. In the song ‘The Moritat of Mackie the Knife’ it is said “…Macheath has got his money. Try to prove that if you can!” Macheath is a gangster who has killed several people. It is no wonder he is called ‘Mackie the Knife.” He lives by the sword. Peachum is the ‘King of the beggars.’ Just like Filch who is referred to him for help, he welcomes poor people in his home and gives them attire for begging. They pay a small fee for the service. They are then sent to the streets to beg. The cash they get is partly Peachum’s and theirs (Brecht 1928).

Peachum is married to Celia Peachum who assists him in the business. The Peachums have a daughter called Polly. She falls in love with Macheath who marrys her in a secret wedding ceremony. Polly’s parents are unaware of her whereabouts. They are so much in love. Mackie sweetly says to Polly in the song they sing at the end of Act one, scene two;

“And if there’s no licence or Registrar

Nor lovely flowers to make you a crown.” (Brecht 1928).

The news of Polly and Mackie’s marriage eventually reaches her parents. Mr. Peachum is furious that her daughter could get married to a gangster. This was a demeaning act and he sought to restore respect to his good name. Macheath and Mr. Peachum become enemies since they hold different opinions with regards to life.

In act on, scenes one and two, we see the writer using songs, suggestive names of characters and juxtaposition to portray his message. The songs introduce breaks in the play and reinforce the theme being discussed. For instance after a threat of verbal war between Mackie and Walter; the ‘Wedding Song for Poorer People’ is sang. The song creates the mood for the occasion and captures the attention of people to the events of the wedding. The theme of the wedding explains why the wedding was done in an empty stable. That is what Macheath could afford. Juxtaposition is used in the first song ‘The Moritat of Mackie the Knife’ to portray how good he was at his stealing job. He was never caught in action. Only reports of missing persons and missing cash could point to his existence in the scene. The writer also uses names such as ‘Macheath’ to point to his unorthodox way of doing things. On the other hand ‘Peachum’ is a name that sounds welcome. The writer chooses this name to show that Peachum had a better character and good life compared to Mackie and the beggars around him.

As you skim through the pages of the play, the writer explores the theme of arbitrariness of values where one justifies wrong deeds by things such as bible quotes like Mr. Peachum does. He quotes Luke 6:38 “Give and it shall be given to you…” to justify the pay he gets to hire beggars. The play also endeavors to demonstrate a conflict between self interest and love. We see love prevailing in the conflict between Mr. Peachum and Mackie. The play also shows the

extremes that people are ready to go in the society to get money. These actions include stealing and killing and are typical of a Capitalist economy.

Blog post: The effects of a Capitalist Economy

Several questions arise from the play, ‘The Threepenny Opera.’ One of those questions is whether love justified Polly’s marriage to Macheath. Well, it is said that love is blind. Polly runs away from home to get married to a gangster. On the other hand, Polly’s parents hoped that she would have a chance to live a normal life. They wished that her life would be different from the beggars’ life that she had seen in their home and criminal activities like robbery.

A second question is ‘What was the actual reason why Mr. Peachum did not want her daughter to marry Mackie? Was he trying to protect his respect as an honorable man who took care of beggars? Was he afraid that Polly would spill out the beans concerning his beggars business? Or did he just detest Macheath? The answers to these questions are unclear. It seems like Mr. Peachum’s actions were partly defined by each of those questions.

Macheath’s actions also raise many questions. He is a gangster surrounded by the company of thieves who served him. His actions and mannerisms show aggression, ruthlessness and lack of thoughtfulness. It is hard to believe he was so much in love with Polly. He is so full of himself even at the wedding. He doesn’t show appreciation for those he volunteered to help him plan the wedding. The presence of the Reverend is the only thing that seems to calm him down. He is respectful to him and asks the rest to be respectful too.

The ‘Threepenny Opera’ play reveals the part of the society that is often forgotten. However, some actions such as killing and stealing are unjustifiable. The arrest and jailing of Mackie indicate the actions that need to be taken for justice to be served.

Reference
Brecht, B. (1928). The threepenny opera.