Genre 

Drama

Tone 

Dark humor

Setting (Time) 

Mid-nineteenth century

Setting (Place) 

England

Protagonist 

Macheath

Major Conflict 

The middle class members of society are more crooked than the low-class crooks and criminals.

Rising Action 

Polly Peachum angers her father when she marries Macheath, the biggest crook in England. The marriage negatively impacts the biggest foundation for panhandlers in the country, and Peachum vows to get revenge.

Climax 

Betrayed by his close friend, Tiger Brown, Macheath is caught for the first time, although he eventually escapes.

Falling Action 

Betrayed by his former lover Jenny, Macheath is caught for the second time and sentenced to be hanged.

Foreshadowing 

Repeated assertions about the friendship between Macheath and Brown; mention of Lucy at Macheath’s wedding; Jenny’s reading of Macheath’s palm