Paper Summary:

The paper discusses Bertolt Brecht's political opera, "The Threepenny Opera" which was first performed in 1928. The paper shows that during this period of time, three distinct and separate political and economical philosophies were on a collision course in Germany: fascism, socialism and communism. It shows that while Brecht was struggling to write this opera, Hitler's first attempt attempt to grab control of the government occurred in 1923 and communism was becoming popular. The paper discusses how communism is reflected in two ways: Brecht mocks both class differences and belief in God.

From the Paper:

"Brecht reflects elements of both socialism and communism in some points in the play, such as when Peachum is giving out licenses to beg. That the needs of the poor could be so easily corrupted seems to be a condemnation of a government that would allow people to survive by begging. Peachum uses Filch's need to be allowed to bed as a platform to criticize society's apathy toward the poor. He describes five types of human misery. Each example is a beggar harmed by something the middle and upper classes view as progress in one way or another: one is in an auto accident while another is wounded in war."

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