The Beggar's Opera by John Gay is a satirical ballad opera that cleverly critiques 18th-century politics, society, and corruption. Set in a criminal underworld mirroring upper-class behavior, it follows the story of the roguish highwayman Macheath, who is caught in a web of betrayal, love, and deceit. With humorous commentary on greed, hypocrisy, and power, the play uses popular tunes of the time to parody traditional opera. This groundbreaking work remains a sharp, entertaining critique of human nature and societal structures - Summary by Dream AudioBooks