Newgate Prison
Because this prison frequently appears in the works I am studying, I am going to look further into this place and its significance.
Newgate was originally built as a 5th gate into London complete with dungeon and a guardroom. There were evidences all the way back to the 1200s of Newgate prison being used as a place to keep prisoners right before they are executed.
The condition at Newgate is horrible. Although it didn’t feel that bad in the Beggar’s Opera since there was bribery going on, Hogarth definitely showed the worst of it in one of his paintings. You can see a scene of chaos at Newgate prison where people are dying and being dragged around while other people are trying to bribe the prison keeper. The ugly faces of the people in the scene as well as the lack of light coming through the small window adds to a depressing atmosphere — a place where the worst of society congregates.
People who are in Newgate prison are placed into the prison with the minimum required for survival. Sometimes, they are tortured and blackmailed for money while other time they are just treated badly and are expected to pay the keepers. The existence of bribery only makes it worst by instigating unfairness within the inmates.
It is interesting to think of the conversation between Macheath, Polly and Lucy occurring at a place like this. When the two women are trying to argue that they are the real wife of Macheath, they further add to this chaotic atmosphere and creates discord in this space. However, The play still managed to downplay the seriousness of Macheath’s situation by adding comic elements through the conversations. This lifts up the tension and depressing atmosphere associated with Newgate for the audiences and supports the play’s idea of turning something very serious into something fun and playful for the general public. It also supports the style of literature at that time where the focus of the work is less about passing a message and more about creating entertainment.
