into moral superiority.

Jack “Tiger” Brown

Jack “Tiger” Brown, the high sheriff of London, Mac’s friend since childhood days and a former fellow soldier with him in the colonial army in India. Brown receives a cut from all profits of Mac’s gang. He suffers pangs of conscience over his friend’s arrest and is only partially embarrassed when Mac escapes. He is soon caught in a quandary, however, when Peachum threatens to compromise the high sheriff by amassing hundreds of beggars at the queen’s coronation. Brown learns that, unless Mac hangs, he will have to undergo the unpleasantness of removing the destitute from the shadow of regal splendor by brute force. On the other hand, the sheriff is worried that, if a public execution is carried out, the crowds that would have cheered the queen will throng to the side of the gallows. Brown outdoes himself arranging a deal, gaining not only a reprieve but also the queen’s award of an honorary peerage, a pension, and a castle to Mac the Knife. This device satisfies the Peachums.

Lucy Brown

Lucy Brown, the daughter of High Sheriff Brown. She has been involved amorously with Mac. After her discovery of Mac’s marriage and her first confrontation with Polly, her role is that of a frenetic woman propelled by jealousy. As the plot advances, however, and Mac must flee both women to avoid arrest, Lucy’s weaknesses show through. Mac succeeds in making her believe that he loves only her, and (perhaps because she is so gullible as to believe Mac) she comes to commiserate with her rival Polly, whom she now calls “Mrs. Macheath.” Both women come to the conclusion that men are not worth the frustration that they cause.

Ballad Singer

The Ballad Singer, an unnamed character, acts as a kind of Greek chorus, offering commentary and explanation as the play progresses. He begins the narrative with a darkly humorous tale about Mac the Knife, a real historical figure who was known for murdering prostitutes in London. While John Gay's The Beggar's Opera—the inspiration for Brecht's work—featured ballads about the thieves in his world, they were not as extreme as those performed by Brecht's narrator. This is a testament to the musical skills of Brecht and his composer, Kurt Weill. Throughout The Threepenny Opera, the Ballad Singer interjects with biting and sardonic observations about the sordid events of the play, all set to a dissonant melody. He performs the play's most famous song, "Moritat" (or "Theme from The Threepenny Opera"), which became widely known as "Mac the Knife" and was famously popularized by Bobby Darin in 1959.

Sheriff Jackie Brown

Sheriff Jackie Brown is a corrupt High Sheriff who takes a cut from the beggars' earnings in exchange for warnings about upcoming police raids. He has a long-standing friendship with Macheath, having served together as soldiers in India. Brown attends the wedding of Polly and Mac, surprised by the wealth surrounding his old friend. However, when confronted by Peachum, who lists Macheath's crimes, Brown is compelled to send Constable Smith to arrest his former comrade. Despite being weak-willed and greedy, Brown feels remorse when he sees Macheath imprisoned at the Old Bailey but still accepts a bribe from Peachum. Ultimately, as Macheath faces execution, Brown arrives on horseback with a last-minute reprieve.

Lucy Brown

Lucy is the daughter of Tiger Brown and is having an affair with Mac, unbeknownst to both her father and Polly. She appears to be pregnant, with Macheath presumed to be the father, but she later confesses to Polly that she faked the pregnancy by placing a pillow under her dress. Initially, Lucy treats Polly with disdain but eventually acknowledges Polly's claim that Macheath loves her more. In the end, Lucy befriends her lover's wife.

Charles Filch

Charles Filch innocently enters Peachum's beggar's outfitting shop, seeking permission to beg at a specific street corner. However, Filch proves to be poorly suited for the life of a beggar due to his compassionate nature, feeling guilty about taking money from people.

The Gang

The Gang, composed of characters like Bob the Saw, Crook-fingered Jake, Jimmy, Matthew (or Matt of the Mint), Ned, Robert, and Dreary Walt, includes thieves, pickpockets, prostitutes, pimps, and beggars. They are all provided with costumes for begging by Mr. Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum and must give a share of their earnings to Macheath, who uses the money to bribe Sheriff Brown for protection of their operation. There is no loyalty among these thieves; they are all willing to betray one another for a night of food and entertainment. They present stolen gifts to Mac and Polly at their wedding.

Reverend Kimball

Kimball conducts the spontaneous wedding ceremony between Polly and Macheath. He is likely not a legitimate priest, as he is also a member of the thieving gang.

Low-dive Jenny

Low-dive Jenny is a former lover of Mac's and is now just one of the gang's prostitutes. Similar to the Biblical figure Judas, who betrayed Jesus Christ, Jenny betrays Macheath. She pretends to read Macheath's palm, suggesting a grim future event, and then informs Constable Smith of the thief's location.

Mac the Knife

See Macheath

Celia Peachum

Celia is Polly's mother and Peachum's wife. She assists her husband at the emporium by managing the beggars. She faints upon discovering Polly's marriage to Macheath because she views it as a failed investment; in her mother's eyes, Polly had the potential to become a society lady and could have elevated the family's status by marrying a wealthy man.

Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum

Peachum is the owner of "The Beggar's Friend, Ltd." He operates the begging in London like a well-run business, equipping the beggars, training them to perfect their techniques (especially the art of deceiving unsuspecting people), and assigning them specific areas to work in. Like Fagin in Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist, Peachum takes a cut of each gang member's earnings, gradually amassing wealth while his workers live day-to-day. Peachum relies on Polly's presence in his business to attract customers with her beauty. This exploitation of his daughter's allure is disrupted when she falls in love with Macheath and marries the thief without her father's consent. True to his greedy and ruthless nature, Peachum resolves the issue by turning Macheath over to the authorities.

Polly Peachum

Polly is the daughter of the beggar king, Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum. Her father refers to her as "a lump of sensuality," a trait he shamelessly exploits to boost his business. Polly marries her lover, Macheath, in an impromptu ceremony held in a stable. During the event, she discovers that Macheath has also been involved with Lucy.
When Lucy and Polly meet, they blame each other for ruining their respective relationships with Macheath. They sing a duet, exchanging lines that criticize one another. While Polly and Lucy are quite similar, Polly ultimately maintains a lasting relationship with Macheath. Although she disapproves of her husband's sexual promiscuity, she accepts it as an inherent aspect of his character.

Constable Smith

Smith is the police officer who arrests Macheath, though he agrees to leave the handcuffs off in exchange for a bribe. He later offers to help Macheath escape for a one-thousand-pound bribe.

Tiger

See Sheriff Jackie Brown