Who Jenny Diver is
Jenny Diver is quick with her hands and belongs to the company of women Macheath seeks out. She appears at a tavern near Drury Lane, where song, flattery and wine surround the highwayman.
Macheath has promised Polly that he will hide, but he cannot keep away from the women. Jenny takes part in a trap that he is too pleased with himself to notice.
Jenny Diver and the others in the story
Peachum pays the women to hold Macheath at the tavern until officers arrive to arrest him. Jenny's involvement connects her to his scheme, which treats another person's freedom as a source of profit.
Gay does not present the women simply as villains for taking part in the plot. They too work for a living in a world where people sell one another out.
Questions
Who is Jenny Diver?
Jenny Diver is a clever woman who helps trap Macheath at the tavern.
Who pays Jenny Diver and the other women?
Peachum pays the women to keep Macheath there until the officers arrive.
Is Jenny Diver a villain?
The play does not treat her simply as a villain. Her role belongs to its wider picture of money undermining loyalty.
