How are the Flaws and crookedness of capitalist society explored in the play? To what ends?

How are the Flaws and crookedness of capitalist society explored in the play? To what ends?

The Threepenny Opera remains one of the outstanding works by Brecht. The “play with music” was first performed in 1928. The work finds its origin in the old works of John Gay “The Beggars Opera.” The intriguing masterclass piece relays some of the pertinent issues that impact society. Brecht also uses the piece to express his expertise in drama, whereby he enriches the abilities of the characters using the same aspect. The play highlights the issue of capitalism and how it impacts people. Brecht goes to extreme lengths to display how capitalism has affected the way of life of both the rich and the poor. He also focuses on how the moral concepts of society are impacted by capitalism. The idea of capitalism, in this case, is viewed from the perspective of the rich having the power to control the economic way of life as well as the legal limits of the people. The paper then focuses on how Brecht explores the flaws and crookedness caused by the concept of capitalism that controls society.

Capitalism is highly visible from all angles of the play with the rich and the poor, all seeking to improve their financial positions in an endeavor to claim more power. The setting of the story is at the center of thieves, beggars, and prostitutes, among others, whereby all are competing to attain their daily bread. Such an organization where different professions interact in a willing atmosphere describes a fundamental aspect of capitalism. It creates a setting whereby various entities interact in a business-focused forum to exchange resources within established boundaries of the law. Capitalism creates a competitive business environment whereby different businesses converge and compete to attain the highest profits as they seek to increase private property. The greater the private property, the more significant the level of control a business has in such an industry. The form of capitalism here has, however, created a lot of flaws in the community. For instance, Macheath thrives from stealing from others to meet his daily needs. He is also delved deep into prostitution as he makes numerous visits to different prostitutes. Although prostitution can be viewed as a source of income for some of the people, it remains a social vice that describes a community rotting in immorality. Prostitution has also ruined the image of the community. Prostitutes like Jenny and others entertain all types of men for financial gain. Prostitution, in this case, exposes an immoral population whereby institutions like marriage have lost their value as they are often undermined by the same. Macheath does not respect his marriage and often seeks the pleasure of prostitutes now and then.

Capitalism has created a competitive environment that has established a room for corruption to thrive throughout the story. Corruption is described as the fraudulent and dishonest actions of people to attain favors through the use of bribes. In Act I Scene 1, for instance, Peachum uses biblical understand to corrupt those around him and especially Filch. He demands that Filch pays him because the bible describes a positive rewarding of all good deeds (Brecht 12). The bible, however, does not instruct people to force others into doing good deeds. The biblical view here is applied as the bribe to force a favor from Filch. Peachum is only following the rules of capitalism, whereby he seeks to gain more to increase his private property in the competitive environment. Capitalism is thereby exposed as a flaw in society as it has ruined the people to become greedy without considerations for others. People have become selfish and only want the best for themselves, even when they are violating the rights of others.

Capitalism has completely ruined the morals of the people as the rich have made laws that only protect their wealth while they do not help the poor meet their basic needs. Capitalism encourages the establishment of rules that apply to everyone regardless of their abilities. The rich often support such legislation as a way to protect their property from the poor who might want to take it away forcefully. Eventually, the poor are left desolate without anyone to help them. These conditions have driven the increase in immoral activities such as prostitution, begging, and theft. Macheath, for instance, insists that he steals to cover his basic needs. As Act II finalizes, Macheath and Jenny sing the “Second Threepenny-Final,” whereby the two characters explain that their immoral activities stem from the neglect of the rich who are selfish (Brecht 67). The society, therefore, does not care for others and has left them to suffer. The people have to create ways to survive against the influence of the rich. It is, therefore, a crooked and selfish society.

Concluding, Brecht goes to great distances to capture and relay the impact of capitalism in the story. Capitalism controls all aspects of life in this community. The people are free to engage in business and grow their fortune. Nonetheless, the rich have established strict laws to suppress the poor, which has resulted in dishonesty, theft, and other vices. Overall, capitalism has brought flaws that make the community crooked morally.