Giving away the daughter

Beggar’s Opera definitely has an underlying sense of poking fun at the upper class. Here is Peachum, an accountant, who is absolutely infuriated with his daughter Polly because she went off and got married. And even worse, for love and no thoughts of money. He no longer can use her for his own good and barter with her. She’s of no monetary use to him anymore. But then he and Mrs. Peachum come to the decision that if MacHeath dies then it will be acceptable to them because Polly will be a rich widow. They have no consideration for their daughter whatsoever. But as harsh and vulgar as this appears, its exactly what the upperclass does with their daughters. They raise them up to be appealing and perfect for the just the right man. But “just the right man” is one who has money and is of high standing, one that will elevate their family and bring more money into their hands. They betroth their daughter and chose the husband they wish for her, not her choosing for love. The noble families sell off their daughters just as much, maybe even more than these lower class folk. This family is just more vocal and vulgar about it, Gay is showing us the inner workings of what goes on in the control of parents over their daughters in that age.