The Threepenny Opera

Summary

The Threepenny Opera is a satirical play by Bertolt Brecht set in London. The main character, Macheath, also known as Mack the Knife, is a charismatic criminal who marries Polly Peachum, the daughter of Jonathan Peachum, the head of a gang of beggars. Displeased with this marriage, Peachum decides to get rid of Mack by using his connections with the police. However, Mack manages to evade arrest with the help of his lover Lucy, the daughter of the police chief. Ultimately, after a series of betrayals and intrigues, Mack ends up in prison and is sentenced to execution. In the play's finale, in a grotesque farce, he unexpectedly receives a pardon from the Queen and saves his life. The play explores themes of corruption, hypocrisy, and social injustice, mocking bourgeois values and showing how crime and power intertwine in society.