Instance an excellent farce, the latest plot of your own Beggar’s Opera are quite a few threads one intertwine, developing for once the brand new line whereby the property owner criminal Chief Macheath is actually (almost) hanged. Peachum, who is an effective “fence”-a receiver out of stolen assets. Until the facts opens, Macheath features privately marry Mr. Mr. and you may Mrs. Peachum was irate once they select the surreptitious wedding-getting they had come grooming and refining the girl therefore she can be the new mistress of a few rich and influential patron. Of the marrying, Polly has thwarted the woman parents’ hopes for their community since an excellent winning prostitute (!). “All of our Polly Was a sad Whore!” (Music Example 2) is the world where Polly’s mothers berate their on her foolishness. (In one of Gay’s “digs” in the high-society, they have an exasperated Mrs. Peachum share with the lady daughter, “As to the reasons, thou stupid jade, thou wilt feel as unwell [used], so that as far neglected, since if thou hadst married a Lord”-implying one aristocrats was indeed zero complete strangers so you can spousal abuse.) Also, Mr. Peachum worries one to Macheath understands way too much towards Peachums and you will you are going to betray their father-in-legislation getting financial gain. Soon, Mr. and you will Mrs. Peachum strike through to just the right services: Polly is always to turn Macheath to the authorities, therefore getting the brand new prize to possess their stop-but rather Polly warns Macheath on his hazard.
Peachum’s child Polly
From the next act, and this reveals in the a great tavern, Macheath says to his gang that he must lie low to have a beneficial while-and paina linkkiГ¤ juuri nyt then he begins to host a group of “women of one’s area” (prostitutes) who’ve started to the brand new tavern. Unfortuitously to have him, among females provides a signal toward constables, who get into to help you stop Macheath. The second scene is determined during the Newgate jail, where in fact the jailor Lockit and Peachum try arguing from the award repayments. In the future, brand new jailor’s pregnant child Lucy enters Macheath’s prison phone; Macheath ‘s the father off the girl boy. Lucy is naturally outraged to listen to which he has actually married Polly-and that is much more irate whenever Polly arrives at the fresh new prison to go to the lady spouse. A criminal quarrel develops, mimicking a well-known actual-lifestyle conflict between a few operatic sopranos which had occurred towards phase certain age before. Shortly after Polly is actually pulled away by the the lady father, Macheath manages to peaceful Lucy off by the stating one to Polly features conceived the wedding.
When Macheath intends to wed Lucy, she support him eliminate
Macheath isn’t totally free for very long regarding 3rd act; Lockit and you will Peachum find out where Macheath is hiding. At the same time, Polly check outs Lucy so you can apologize and you can Lucy presents Polly having one cup of poisoned wine. Just before Polly can be sip regarding glass, not, she drops it when you look at the nightmare upon viewing Macheath enter in stores, having been recaptured. Each other people plead employing dads to own compassion into the Macheath, but there is some other spin into tale: five far more ladies make an appearance, for every single that have children, and each saying to get Macheath’s partner. Faced with this onslaught, Macheath announces he is happy to be hanged. Before he goes to the newest gallows, a beneficial Beggar and you will a player go into the stage. The player exclaims that Beggar (basically the writer of this story) can’t succeed Macheath so you’re able to pass away, because the that might be a heartbreaking become, and operas should end cheerfully. The latest Beggar believes to alter the new end, illogical as a result a past-minute reprieve might possibly be, as well as past Macheath admits you to their matrimony in order to Polly try totally courtroom.
Tunes Example 3 – Bastien und auch Bastienne – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Johann Andreas Schachtner (just after Weiskern) (K6. 46b), 1768 – Zero. 10: “Diggi, Daggi”