The Beggar's Opera

"The Beggar's Opera" by John Gay is a play, specifically a ballad opera, written in the early 18th century. This satirical work revolves around the characters of Macheath, a charming highwayman, and Polly Peachum, the daughter of a notorious thief-taker, Mr. Peachum. The narrative intertwines themes of love, betrayal, and societal mockery, primarily highlighting the hypocrisy and moral corruption within the criminal underworld and the upper classes.