The Beggar’s Opera · Character
Mrs. Peachum
Polly's mother, a practical woman of the criminal household who measures her daughter's marriage in lost income and damaged reputation.
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Peachum
First appearance: the beggar s opera
As a supporting figure in The Beggar’s Opera, Mrs. Peachum 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.
Mrs. Peachum shares her husband's trade and his ledger-minded view of the world, but her concern for Polly runs through the currency she understands best: reputation and money. She sees Macheath not as a romantic figure…
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The fuller portrait of Mrs. Peachum sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Mrs. Peachum in the beggar s operaCharacter Web
14 connectionsA slice of how Mrs. Peachum sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Professional
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Macheath's lovers and rivals
- Protagonist
+9 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- 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
family · negative
- Jenny Diver
professional · negative
- Suky Tawdry
professional · negative
- Marybone
professional · negative
- Jenny Diver
professional · negative
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Mrs. Peachum in the beggar s opera