The Threepenny Opera

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence, death, physical abuse, cursing, and the sexual abuse of a child.

“See the shark, how red his fins are

As he slashes at his prey.

Mac the Knife wears white kid gloves which

Give the minimum away.”

Brecht uses juxtaposition and irony in this quote to critique the deceptive nature of power and respectability. The imagery of the shark’s overt violence contrasts with Macheath’s concealed brutality, symbolized by the kid gloves, emphasizing how those in positions of influence often commit heinous acts under the guise of civility. This passage also reflects the themes of Corruption as a Universal Constant and of moral hypocrisy, illustrating how society romanticizes or ignores the crimes of the elite while condemning more obvious forms of violence.

“What good are the most beautiful, the most poignant sayings, painted on the most enticing little signs, when they get expended so quickly? The Bible has four or five sayings that stir the heart; once a man has expended them, there’s nothing for it but starvation. Take this one, for instance—‘Give and it shall be given unto you’—how threadbare it is after hanging here a mere three weeks. Yes, you have to keep on offering something new. So it’s back to the good old Bible again, but how long can it go on providing?”

This quote satirizes the commodification of morality and the fleeting nature of ideological appeal in a capitalist society. Through Peachum’s speech, which likens biblical teachings to disposable goods that lose their impact over time, Brecht critiques how moral principles are often repackaged for consumption rather than serving as ethical guides.

“PEACHUM. Those are the five basic types of misery, those most likely to touch the human heart. The sight of such types puts a man into the unnatural state where he is willing to part with money. Outfit A: Victim of vehicular progress. The merry paraplegic, always cheerful—He acts it out.—always carefree, emphasised by arm-stump. Outfit B: Victim of the Higher Strategy. The Tiresome Trembler, molests passers-by, operates by inspiring nausea—He acts it out.—attenuated by medals. Outfit C: Victim of advanced Technology. The Pitiful Blind Man, the Cordon Bleu of Beggary.”

In this passage, Peachum’s categorization of misery as a marketable commodity dehumanizes those who are impoverished, reducing them to strategic “outfits” designed to extract money from passersby. The ironic tone and exaggerated descriptions illustrate the hypocrisy of both charity and business.