The Beggar's Opera: An Encore for Crime

One impression that I felt was heavily embedded within the text is having no purpose in your actions is a crime. One example, is when Peachum is speaking about the fate of Betty. He says, “…there is nothing to be got by the death of women- except our wives” (Pg 44, 1.2). Basically, women should not be executed unless someone is gaining something. Especially in this instance, the death of a wife would provide freedom, retain the husband’s respectability, and she may have reproduced before the ‘unfortunate incident.’ This makes me wonder if there was a high mortality rate among women during this time. One’s curiosity is heightened when considering Lucy’s attempt on Polly’s life, “much of the cheap gin sold in London in the 1720s was improperly distilled and therefore literally poisonous” (Footnote 46, pg 108, 3.7). A quote that caught my interest is when the criminal gang is having a ’philosophical’ debate. Matt of the Mint says, “…where is the injury of taking from another, what he hath not the heart to make use of?” (Pg 69, 2.1). If someone is ridiculously rich, why not take money from them that they will not be able to spend? Why not have someone who is in need of that money put it to use?
This question makes it hard to rationalize who is guilty and who is innocent. Taking into account the political message, it is easy to see the point that Gay is demonstrating. Upper class criminals are the same as lower class criminals. The cynicism is just emanating from this play. All of the characters, especially the men, are motivated by selfishness. Peachum finds out that Polly may have married the Captain, or Macheath and he is furious. Polly’s parents wanted her to marry for money not love and she disobeyed their wishes. How dare her! Promoting further selfishness, Peachum and his wife are concerned that the Captain “…may hang his father and mother-in-law, in hope to get into their daughter’s fortune” (Pg 57, 1.8). Peachum beats the Captain to the game and decides to hand him over. In taking this action, not only does Peachum get a price for catching a criminal but his daughter will inherit any estate that he possesses. What else is to be expected in a cycle of deceit?
The ultimate father/daughter moment occurs during the revelation that Polly may be married. Upon interrogation of Polly, Peachum threatens her, “…But if I find out that you have played the fool and are married, you jade you, I’ll cut your throat, hussy…” (Pg 54, 1.7). This has to be one of my favorite lines in the play. This is just outrageous and over the top. Another favorite moment is near the end when Macheath is preparing to hang. All of a sudden more wives and children appear and he says, “What- four wives more! This is too much. Here- tell the Sheriff’s Officers I am ready” (Pg 120, 3.15). He is a very contradictive character. Macheath sees what he has done and does not want to accept the responsibility so he accepts death. Early in the play, when he was with the prostitutes he says, “The town perhaps hath been as much obliged to me, for recruiting it with free-hearted ladies, as to any recruiting officer in the army” (Pg 72, 2.2). Macheath recognizes that women do not have many opportunities once they are ‘ruined’ but partakes in activities that condemn them.