The Beggar's Opera

Above: The original script of the Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera, a ballad musical, seemed to floor me. Perhaps because of the scenery and the fact that it was in prison (correct?) and amongst fugitives. As I read this, I thought of Romeo and Juliet and how Polly's parents were so against her secretly marrying Captain Macheath. Perhaps that is because he is a highwaymen and "highwaymen are generally very good to their whores, but they are very devils to their wives" (1617). But then a twist occurred and the parents plotted that if their daughter would kill her husband than she could take him for his money, considering he was a highwayman. And she was not going to be able to support him with her slutty ways. So, my question is, in this time did the women have to support the men? "Married! If the wench (Polly)does not know her own profit, sure she knows her own pleasure better than to make herself a property" (2617).Or was this just because they were pointing out that Polly was a hussy. But when she forbid to do that and sent him into hiding her father was even more furious and plotted with Lucy's father (the thief catcher and the warden) to kill him and split the money. Lucy, is another girl that Macheath promised to marry. Anyway there were many deceitful girls who were talking with Macheath and turned him in to Peachum. And after this, Lucy and Polly both claim that Macheath is their husband. And Macheath makes Polly seem stupid and denies their relationship. (Does he do this to save them both?) But because of this Lucy is still suspicious and tries to poison Polly. I do not understand why she does this exactly. What did Polly do to her? It is not her fault they both fell in love with the same man who ends up being a jerk and unfaithful. Perhaps that is why he is in jail. Anyway in the last scene Polly and Lucy find out that their fathers have found Macheath and both plead to save him, and on his judgment day he is willing to die especially considering four more women with four of his kids appear there claiming he is their husband as well. This really makes me mad, and realize how much of a dog this man is. He does not only lie and cheat, but he is not aware of the love these women have for him. He is willing to throw everything away for his sins. Which who blames him in his situation? Anyway the ending is rather ironic because they want to end this opera/ play with a happy ending: "Why then, friend, this is a downright deep tragedy. The catastrophe is manifestly wrong, for an opera must end happily" (2655). So they gather everyone there at his death spot to dance happily and then celebrate his mariage with Polly. I do not know about you but this was not very happy for me. I wanted the guy to die as cruel as that sounds. He does not technically deserve to be with someone as faithful and devoted as Polly. What do you think? Were your reactions the same as mine?

I found that without the Airs and ballads this opera would not make much sense. The music dialogue allowed the performers to express how they felt about the situation it gave us as the audience to get a glimpse into these characters and sympathize with what they were feeling. At times I wanted to laugh or I just shook my head...this opera allowed me to feel emotions while going through the plot. I did not like the fact that this play seemed to be downgrading women and viewing them as deceitful, stupid, and oblivious to everything around them. And women are referred to in deroggatory terms such as hussies, wenches, and sluts: "Our Polly is a sad slut...You baggage! You hussy! You incosiderable jade!" (2621). Also, at times that women depended on men and marriage and this made them property.

I found a website that goes into the history of this play it is http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/beggars_opera/.