Week Nine- Beggar's Opera

I think one of my favorite scenes in the opera is the one in which Mrs Peachum describes the romanticism of men going off to the gallows to their death. That is a sentiment that has persisted throughout the ages and remains heavily associated with men rather than women. A modern day equivalent is men going to war. For some reason, any man joining the military become infinitely more attractive to a large number of women. It does not matter if he was at the bottom of his class or enlisted because he had no other option and viewed the military as an easy path in life (an unfortunately common occurs ce) he is still viewed as a hero. That's not to diminish the sacrifices of a soldier, but the moment they don the uniform they also assume an air of honor even if it is yet undeserved. Oddly enough, female soldiers are not often viewed in such a desirable light. Furthermore, the death itself is romanticized. To die for a cause, no matter the worthiness of that cause, is almost always viewed in a positive light. Women will fawn over these men and seem to have to years. Romanticism for criminals is also still alive, many women write to those on death row and even marry men in jail. It's interesting that this is a persisting view, seemingly without any true substance. Ironically though, that a woman devotes herself to a man that most certainly will die, because there's to be no positive outcome. Also, this infatuation disappears if the threat of death disappears, evident in the many failed military marriages (much higher than the national average for those married shortly after enlistment) and certainly if a man were to be cleared of all charge women would lose interest soon after.