The Beggar’s Opera · Character
Matt of the Mint
A highwayman and boon companion of Macheath, Matt of the Mint takes his name from the debtors' sanctuary where the desperate gather.
supporting
Also known as Matt
First appearance: act i
As a supporting figure in The Beggar’s Opera, Matt of the Mint is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Matt belongs to Macheath's gang, the brotherhood of road agents whose loyalty is tested the moment the reward money starts to talk. His nickname ties him to the Mint, the lawless precinct where debtors and criminals…
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The fuller portrait of Matt of the Mint sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Matt of the Mint in act iCharacter Web
15 connectionsA slice of how Matt of the Mint sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Social
- Friendship
- Other
Character groups
- Macheath's gang members
- Protagonist
- Macheath's lovers and rivals
+10 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Closing
Macheath’s psychological peak is his oscillation between defiant bravado (drinking to scorn death) and abject…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Polly Peachum
social · neutral
Matt is an acquaintance of Polly through the criminal underworld, but they have no deep… How this plays out →
- Ben Budge
friendship · positive
- Lucy Lockit
social · neutral
- Polly Peachum
social · neutral
Matt is an acquaintance of Polly through the criminal underworld, but they have no deep… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Matt of the Mint in act i