The arbitrariness of Values and Brutality of Humans

The arbitrariness of Values and Brutality of Humans

In the play with music, “The Threepenny Opera” by Bertolt Brecht, humans are brutal, and the arbitrariness of values demonstrated through the play. Throughout the play, the characters make decisions that portray their brutality towards one another. According to the play, “Threepenny Opera,” within a capitalist society, the exploitation is not just a product based on the system but merely a natural part of it.

There is the arbitrariness of values seen in the play, like when Peachum makes use of traditional moral stances, thus making the characters quoting the Bible as this justified cruelty and exploitation. Also, Peachum takes quotes from the Bible and uses the quotes for his objectives, as seen in Act I, scene I, when he demanded that Filch to pay him since he was to be provided with something in return. Peachum in the play is known to know how to use society’s rules, and his advantages like other people are rewarded for cruelty.

Moreover, Peachum provides a job for Filch with an exchange of payment, but the job includes praying on a person’s sympathies while pretending as being a beggar. However, Peachum is never a charitable person towards someone from the play if it is said that charity is not about making money. By him reciting several biblical lines, Peachum appeared as though he was assisting other people. Although morality is associated with biblical proverbs, it is seen from the play that characters are interested only in enriching themselves as well as not for the others when they quote lines from the Bible.

Peachum makes a similar point concerning the law as this is seen in Act III, scene I. Additionally, Macheath displays brutality that underlies the society. According to the play, “Threepenny Opera,” Macheath is a spiteful criminal, though instead of reprimanding him or making him guilt-ridden based on his crimes, his criminality is put by Brecht in such a context through comparing Macheath’s crimes to those of businesses and crimes. Businesses and banks institutions do more harm when compared with Macheath doings since they exploit the workers and the poor.

Additionally, Macheath’s decision to pursue banking is very ironic since, within this industry, he would be crueler as well as being eviler than he was once a criminal. Specifically, it is from that perspective that shows Macheath being not a menace towards the society but only part of it just like each one else. Peachum in the play proclaims his absolute dedication to obey the law, but only since he well knows that is an essential tool for assisting him to exploit the weaker than him.  Again, Brecht stresses that incase capitalism is the society’s supervisory principle; the criminals should even be accepted.  In each of the banks and businesses, traditional moral values such as obeying the law and religiosity are portrayed as being a mast for exploitation.

Brecht’s point of view is that society’s foundations are supposedly rigid moral values which are far truly made of nothing as well as appearing less noble under the surface. The actions shown by Macheath in the play shows the arbitrariness of values from a different angle. However, his middle-class ambitions exemplify another category of values. These values are economic progress and also the belief in upward mobility. Likewise, in tradition, these values are related to a progression towards responsibility and power. Macheath, in the play “Threepenny Opera,” tends to leave his life of crime altogether and puts his money into the back, then acquires trappings based on the middle-class life like the manners, quality furniture, and tableware. Despite Macheath wanting to leave a life free from crime, he has no intentions but just changing his values. Macheath even steals domestic niceties that he desires, keeps on visiting the whorehouse even though he is married, and planning to betray some of his friends, making it easier to remain on the correct path.

By demonstrating Macheath’s desires to the economic legitimacy as entirely unrelated to any change, Brecht discloses that although Macheath might plan to leave his criminal life for a safer profession, his values shall still stay unchanged. With conclusions of Act II, there is an emphasis on moral values when Jenny and Macheath both sing “Second Threepenny-Final.”  Particularly in the song, Macheath and Jenny sing before the moralists go to preach about personal behavior; they would make sure that each one is set foodwise.

Morality is a powerful tool, and for the rich to maintain all kinds of their positions. However, for low-class individuals, survival should come before any morals. According to the play “Threepenny Opera,” Brecht’s point is, therefore, to purposely not replacing any set of resonating moral values with another one. He, therefore, emphasize on the focus for the society’s most reduced wellbeing. In the play, Brecht records that Macheath is an anti-hero though he mistreats women, charismatic, and charming. Lastly, the play “Threepenny Opera” by Brecht profoundly demonstrates how arbitrariness values are seen among various characters and ho the brutality of humans is exercised.

Work cited

Brecht, Bertolt. The threepenny opera. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015.