The Beggar's Opera by John Gay

Read now or download (free!)

Choose how to read this book Url Size
Read online (web) https://sendtokindle.compellingsciencefiction.com/ebooks/2421.html.images 149 kB
EPUB3 (E-readers incl. Send-to-Kindle) https://sendtokindle.compellingsciencefiction.com/ebooks/2421.epub3.images 81 kB Send
to
kindle
email:

EPUB (older E-readers) https://sendtokindle.compellingsciencefiction.com/ebooks/2421.epub.images 79 kB
EPUB (no images, older E-readers) https://sendtokindle.compellingsciencefiction.com/ebooks/2421.epub.noimages 78 kB
Kindle https://sendtokindle.compellingsciencefiction.com/ebooks/2421.kf8.images 155 kB
older Kindles https://sendtokindle.compellingsciencefiction.com/ebooks/2421.kindle.images 130 kB
Plain Text UTF-8 https://sendtokindle.compellingsciencefiction.com/ebooks/2421.txt.utf-8 127 kB
Download HTML (zip) https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2421/pg2421-h.zip 72 kB
There may be more files related to this item.

About this eBook

Author Gay, John, 1685-1732
Title The Beggar's Opera
Note Reading ease score: 83.2 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Credits Transcribed from the 1922 William Heinemann (1765 text) edition by David Price
Summary "The Beggar's Opera" by John Gay is a satirical play written in the early 18th century. The work presents a frothy critique of societal norms and corruption, focusing on the lives of characters existing on the fringes of society. The narrative revolves around the lives and interactions of Anne "Polly" Peachum, her father, Mr. Peachum, and the charming but unscrupulous highwayman, Captain Macheath, whose tangled relationships and various exploits drive the plot forward. At the start of the play, we are introduced to the Beggar and Players, who set the satirical tone for the story. The Beggar claims his status as a poet through the lens of poverty and introduces the themes of deception and moral ambiguity prevalent in the opera. The first act unfolds in Mr. Peachum's house, where he and his associate Filch engage in discussions about their business concerning criminals and their dealings. As characters express their views on crime and morality, we see the juxtaposition of respectability and roguery. Captain Macheath's reputation is established, hinting at his romantic interests, particularly with Polly, while Mrs. Peachum voices her concerns over her daughter's choice in a husband. The opening portion effectively establishes the play's dark humor and biting social critique while foreshadowing the conflicts and intrigues to come. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class ML: Music: Literature of music
Subject Ballad operas -- Librettos
Category Text
EBook-No. 2421
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Aug 14, 2019
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
Downloads 200 downloads in the last 30 days.
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!