The Beggar's Opera
by John Gay
'The Beggar's Opera' Summary
"The Beggar's Opera" by John Gay is a satirical ballad opera first performed in 1728. Set in the criminal underworld of London, it uses witty dialogue and songs to mock the conventions of Italian opera and the corruption of the times.
The central character is Macheath, a notorious highwayman and rogue. He is a charismatic but unscrupulous man who is married to Polly Peachum, the daughter of a notorious fence. However, he also has romantic entanglements with Lucy Lockit and other women. Polly discovers Macheath's duplicity, leading to conflicts and complications.
The narrative revolves around Macheath's misadventures, run-ins with the law, and the tangle of relationships he finds himself in. The story takes the audience through a series of humorous and often absurd situations, showcasing the moral decay and societal hypocrisy of the time.
John Gay's writing style is sharp, witty, and filled with biting satire. The dialogues and songs are designed to lampoon the upper classes, the legal system, and the political landscape. The use of common language and relatable characters made the play accessible and entertaining for a broad audience.
In summary, "The Beggar's Opera" is a scathing satirical work that uses a mix of humor, music, and clever writing to critique the society of its time. The characters, especially Macheath, and the intricate plot provide a lens through which the audience can view and critique the societal norms and values of 18th century England.
Book Details
Authors
John Gay
United Kingdom
John Gay (1685-1732) was an English poet, playwright, and satirist. He is best known for his ballad opera The Beggar's Opera (1728), a satirical work that was a huge success at the time and is still p...
Books by John GayDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. by F. Anstey
Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. is a humorous novel that follows the adventures of a well-educated Indian man, Baboo Jabberjee, as he navigates the social and c...
Miß Sara Sampson by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Miss Sara Sampson is a pioneering work in German literature, considered the first bourgeois tragedy. It tells the story of Sara Sampson, a young woman...
Frau Jenny Treibel by Theodor Fontane
Frau Jenny Treibel is a novel by Theodor Fontane, published in 1892. It is a humorous and satirical look at bourgeois society in Berlin. The novel cen...
Author's Farce by Henry Fielding
Author's Farce is a meta-theatrical play by Henry Fielding that satirizes the struggles of playwrights in 18th-century London. The play follows Luckle...
The Runaway by Hannah Cowley
The play tells the story of Harriet, a young woman who runs away from home to escape an arranged marriage. She finds herself in the company of a group...
Cinderella by George Calderon
George Calderon's 'Cinderella' is a satirical play that reimagines the classic fairy tale through the lens of Henrik Ibsen's dramatic works. Set in a...
Van der Linden's c.s. by Paul Adriaan Daum
This novel, part of a four-part series titled 'In en Uit 's Lands Dienst,' offers a critical portrayal of Dutch society in the Dutch East Indies durin...
Tinker's Wedding by John Millington Synge
The Tinker's Wedding is a play by J. M. Synge that portrays the comical and chaotic journey of a tinker named Michael Byrne and his attempts to marry...
Wine, Water and Song by Gilbert K. Chesterton
This is a book of poems that were originally published as part of G. K. Chesterton's.
Amor por Anexins by Artur de Azevedo
Amor por Anexins é uma peça de teatro em um ato escrita por Artur Azevedo em 1872. É considerada sua primeira peça e teve grande sucesso, sendo encena...
Reviews for The Beggar's Opera
No reviews posted or approved, yet...