Constable Smith Character Analysis in The Threepenny Opera

A corrupt London constable who is summoned (and, the text implies, paid) by Peachum to arrest Macheath at the brothel in Wapping. When Smith takes Macheath to be jailed at the Old Bailey, Macheath attempts to bribe him—and it’s clear that Smith is willing to be bought. Smith demands a huge sum of money in exchange for letting Macheath go—a sum that even Macheath and his gang struggle to procure quickly. Smith is emblematic of the corruption and greed which infect every level of society—he has no morals, no scruples, and no beliefs, and instead owes his allegiance only to the highest bidder.

Constable Smith Quotes in The Threepenny Opera

The The Threepenny Opera quotes below are all either spoken by Constable Smith or refer to Constable Smith. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Greed, Selfishness, and Corruption Theme Icon

ALL: Combat injustice but in moderation:
Such things will freeze to death if left alone.
Remember: this whole vale of tribulation
Is black as pitch and cold as any stone.

Related Characters: Tiger Brown (speaker), Ginny Jenny (speaker), Polly Peachum (speaker), Macheath (speaker), Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum (speaker), Mrs. Peachum (speaker), Constable Smith (speaker), Money Matthew (speaker), Hook-finger Jacob (speaker), Lucy Brown (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 96

Explanation and Analysis:

In the play’s very final lines, the entire company steps forward to address the audience as they sing this brief coda. The play’s final moments embody its bleak ethos. Brecht has his characters entreat the audience—slightly cheekily—to “combat injustice but in moderation” only. The entire play has been a screed against the ways in which the upper classes harden their hearts to the plight of the poor—and in this moment, Brecht’s cynical characters, who are all only out for themselves, suggest that for human society to continue onward, this pattern of self-concern must continue. After all, the world is only Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Volu

Constable Smith Character Timeline in The Threepenny Opera

The timeline below shows where the character Constable Smith appears in The Threepenny Opera. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...sings, Jenny slips out to the street and beckons Mrs. Peachum and a policeman, Constable Smith, from the shadows. Macheath tells the whores of how he and Jenny lived together many... (full context)

Lost in song, Macheath barely notices when Constable Smith enters the brothel and taps him on the shoulder. As Smith attempts to cuff Macheath,... (full context)

As Constable Smith enters with a pair of heavy handcuffs, Macheath reaches into his pocket and pulls out... (full context)

Constable Smith enters, goes into Macheath’s cell, and demands he return the stick. A fight ensues, and... (full context)

Lucy sits alone in an attic bedroom in the Old Bailey. Constable Smith knocks at the door and tells her that “Mrs. Polly Macheath” would like to see... (full context)

At five the next morning, as the city bells ring outside, Constable Smith and his men bring Macheath into a cell to await hanging. Smith flings Macheath in... (full context)

As Smith shuts Macheath in his cell, Tiger Brown enters. Smith asks if Brown would like to... (full context)

Money Matthew and Hook-finger Jacob enter the hall. Smith stops them from approaching Macheath’s cell. Matthew physically threatens Smith. Smith, intimidated, lets the men... (full context)

Constable Smith comes in to ask Macheath what he’d like for his last breakfast. Macheath asks for... (full context)

As the song finishes, Polly enters. Smith reappears and tells Polly that she is sixteenth in the queue of people waiting to... (full context)

...he owes the man in bribery money. As Brown produces a notebook, the sounds of Smith and his men securing the gallows can be heard. Brown enumerates the moneys due—and Macheath... (full context)

Smith enters and whispers to Macheath that there’s still time—if he’s got the money. Macheath says... (full context)

As the bells strike six, Smith eagerly orders Macheath out of the cell. As Macheath emerges, he addresses the gathered group.... (full context)

...fall—he’ll beg mercy for them, too. Macheath attempts to apologize to Polly and Lucy, but Smith leads him off to the gallows. (full context)

Constable Smith Character Analysis

Constable Smith Quotes in The Threepenny Opera

Act 3, Scene 3 Quotes

Constable Smith Character Timeline in The Threepenny Opera