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Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum
Peachum and Mrs. Peachum’s only daughter, and Macheath’s newest lover. Polly embodies the archetype of the naïve ingenue—turned by the tides of the moon and enraptured by the slick, charming Macheath’s attention toward her, Polly agrees to elope with the man in spite of his reputation as a notorious and violent gangster. The two are married, but the text implies that their union has not been sanctified or legalized in any way—though aware of their nontraditional commitment, Polly feels that their unorthodox love story makes their romance even more pure and their bond even more true. Polly is infatuated with Macheath, and truly believes the best of him—she ignores his propensity for sexual violence, his thin morals, and indeed the fact that he’s more concerned with the survival of his and his gang’s business than the health or longevity of his and Polly’s relationship. Ever the optimist, Polly rarely wanes in her affections for Macheath even when he jilts or shorts her—she discovers his many infidelities (including a second “marriage” to Lucy Brown which may or may not be legitimate,) his violent tempers, and his shaky hold on the shady business of his own making, yet remains dedicated to him until the very end. Polly’s unshakeable love for Macheath draws out the artifice of the play—she is a stock character with one directive, and due to that purpose she comes to thematically represent the ideas of love and sex as distractions from larger societal needs, corruption, greed, and selfishness (by being their opposites,) and indeed the archetypes and artifices that are part of theater.
Polly Peachum Quotes in The Threepenny Opera
The The Threepenny Opera quotes below are all either spoken by Polly Peachum or refer to Polly Peachum. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 1
Quotes
MRS. PEACHUM: You’ve got a nice opinion of your daughter!
PEACHUM: The worst! The very worst! She is nothing but a mass of sensuality.
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Act 1, Scene 2
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POLLY (crying): All those poor people, just for a few bits of furniture!
MACHEATH: And what furniture! Junk! You’re right to be angry. A rosewood harpsichord — and a Renaissance sofa. That’s unforgivable. And where’s a table?
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Act 1, Scene 3
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Act 2, Scene 1
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POLLY: Mac, last night I had a dream. I was looking out of the window and I heard laughter in the street, and when I looked up I saw our moon, and the moon was quite thin, like a penny that’s all worn away. Don’t forget me, Mac, in the strange cities.
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Act 3, Scene 3
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POLLY: Mackie, are you very nervous? Who was your father? There’s so much you haven’t told me. I don’t understand it at all: you were really always quite healthy.
MACHEATH: Polly, can’t you help me out?
POLLY: Of course.
MACHEATH: With money, I mean.
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ALL: Combat injustice but in moderation:
Such things will freeze to death if left alone.
Remember: this whole vale of tribulation
Is black as pitch and cold as any stone.
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Polly Peachum Quotes in The Threepenny Opera
The The Threepenny Opera quotes below are all either spoken by Polly Peachum or refer to Polly Peachum. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 1
Quotes
MRS. PEACHUM: You’ve got a nice opinion of your daughter!
PEACHUM: The worst! The very worst! She is nothing but a mass of sensuality.
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 1, Scene 2
Quotes
POLLY (crying): All those poor people, just for a few bits of furniture!
MACHEATH: And what furniture! Junk! You’re right to be angry. A rosewood harpsichord — and a Renaissance sofa. That’s unforgivable. And where’s a table?
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Act 1, Scene 3
Quotes
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Act 2, Scene 1
Quotes
POLLY: Mac, last night I had a dream. I was looking out of the window and I heard laughter in the street, and when I looked up I saw our moon, and the moon was quite thin, like a penny that’s all worn away. Don’t forget me, Mac, in the strange cities.
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Act 3, Scene 3
Quotes
POLLY: Mackie, are you very nervous? Who was your father? There’s so much you haven’t told me. I don’t understand it at all: you were really always quite healthy.
MACHEATH: Polly, can’t you help me out?
POLLY: Of course.
MACHEATH: With money, I mean.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
ALL: Combat injustice but in moderation:
Such things will freeze to death if left alone.
Remember: this whole vale of tribulation
Is black as pitch and cold as any stone.
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
