...Samuel Johnson felt compelled to refute such criticism in his "Life of Gay" in Lives of the Poets: "The play, like many others, was plainly written only...evil. Highwaymen and housebreakers seldom frequent the playhouse."47 The next chapter will examine the moral content, if any, of The Beggar's Opera, but it...

...a highwayman the hero, and dismissing him at last unpunished . . . Both these decisions are surely exaggerated. The play, like many others, was plainly...can it be conceived, without more speculation than human life requires or admits, to be productive of much evil. Highwaymen and housebreakers seldom frequent...

...Johnsons „Life of Gay". In: The Lives of the Poets. GB Hill (ed.). Oxford: Clarendon 1905, II, 278: „The play, like many others, was plainly written...and housebreakers seldom frequent the playhouse". Vgl. Michael D. Boswell ist anderer Meinung: I have ever thought somewhat differently; for, indeed,...

..." Beggar's Opera," the gangs of robbers were evidently multiplied. Both these decisions are surely exaggerated. The play, like many others, was plainly...house-breakers seldom frequent the play-house, or mingle in an'elegant diversion ; nor is it possible for any one to imagine that he may rob with safety, because...

...of highwaymen. Johnson, perhaps, struck a fair balance in regard to the play, when he said that it " was plainly written only to divert without any moral...requires or admits, to be productive of much evil." The explanation of the success of the play is not difficult, and may be found in the entire novelty...

...The play", like many others, was plainly written eeiy to divert, ivilttut any morjl furpojê, an i is therefore not likely to do 'good ^ nor can it be conceived, without more fpecuhtion than life requires oradimtv to be productive of much evil. ¡r¡gbчцаутсп апЛ...