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Intro rewrite. Fame doesn't normally belong on the main work page
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Music/BenjaminBritten's most famous opera, ''Peter Grimes'' has a libretto by Montagu Slater based on the character of George Crabbe's narrative poem ''The Borough''.
to:
''Peter Grimes''
British composer Music/BenjaminBritten, with a libretto by Montagu
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/368930d1_254c_46a8_8c89_96a3ccfd1044.jpeg]]
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
%%[[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
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Actually, it'll be Music namespace
Changed line(s) 4,5 (click to see context) from:
Creator/BenjaminBritten's most famous opera, ''Peter Grimes'' has a libretto by Montagu Slater based on the character of George Crabbe's narrative poem ''The Borough''.
to:
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Redlink for creator added
Changed line(s) 4,5 (click to see context) from:
Benjamin Britten's most famous opera, ''Peter Grimes'' has a libretto by Montagu Slater based on the character of George Crabbe's narrative poem ''The Borough''.
to:
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Changed line(s) 1,3 (click to see context) from:
-->The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual.
--->-- Benjamin Britten on ''Peter Grimes''
--->-- Benjamin Britten on ''Peter Grimes''
to:
--->-- Benjamin Britten
-->-- '''Benjamin Britten''' on ''Peter Grimes''
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* OceanAwe: ''Four Sea Interludes'' evoke four separate moods of the sea.
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Trope has been disambiguated per TRS
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
-->"Now tell me this. Who helped you carry the boy home? The [[{{schoolmarm}} schoolmistress]], [[WidowWoman the widow]], Mrs. Ellen Orford?"
to:
-->"Now tell me this. Who helped you carry the boy home? The [[{{schoolmarm}} schoolmistress]], [[WidowWoman the widow]], widow, Mrs. Ellen Orford?"
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Changed line(s) 6,9 (click to see context) from:
The opera opens with a coroner's inquest: Peter Grimes's boy apprentice died in a serious illness during a fishing voyage. The coroner deems the child's death an accident, but admonishes the "brutal, callous and coarse" fisherman not to take another apprentice. Grimes grumbles that, despite the verdict, the poisonous hate of all people in the Borough village will [[ConvictedByPublicOpinion forever mark him as guilty]]. Ellen Orford, the schoolmistress, cheers him up, confident that his name will be cleared in due course.
Without another pair of hands, Grimes struggles at his trade. The Borough's apothecary Ned Keene informs Grimes about a new apprentice available from the workhouse, but no one wants to help Grimes fetch the boy -- until Ellen volunteers. The villagers are aghast, but she reasons that a boy needs someone to comfort him on his grueling journey to a strange place. The prospect of a new apprentice improves Grimes's mood, and he opens himself to his friend Captain Balstrode: people may scorn his dreams, but one day he will hit it big and marry Ellen.
Without another pair of hands, Grimes struggles at his trade. The Borough's apothecary Ned Keene informs Grimes about a new apprentice available from the workhouse, but no one wants to help Grimes fetch the boy -- until Ellen volunteers. The villagers are aghast, but she reasons that a boy needs someone to comfort him on his grueling journey to a strange place. The prospect of a new apprentice improves Grimes's mood, and he opens himself to his friend Captain Balstrode: people may scorn his dreams, but one day he will hit it big and marry Ellen.
to:
The opera opens with a coroner's inquest: Peter Grimes's Grimes' boy apprentice died in a serious illness during a fishing voyage. The coroner deems the child's death an accident, but admonishes the "brutal, callous and coarse" fisherman not to take another apprentice. Grimes grumbles that, despite the verdict, the poisonous hate of all people in the Borough village will [[ConvictedByPublicOpinion forever mark him as guilty]]. Ellen Orford, the schoolmistress, cheers him up, confident that his name will be cleared in due course.
Without another pair of hands, Grimes struggles at his trade. The Borough's apothecary Ned Keene informs Grimes about a new apprentice available from the workhouse, but no one wants to help Grimes fetch the boy -- until Ellen volunteers. The villagers are aghast, but she reasons that a boy needs someone to comfort him on his grueling journey to a strange place. The prospect of a new apprentice improvesGrimes's Grimes' mood, and he opens himself to his friend Captain Balstrode: people may scorn his dreams, but one day he will hit it big and marry Ellen.
Without another pair of hands, Grimes struggles at his trade. The Borough's apothecary Ned Keene informs Grimes about a new apprentice available from the workhouse, but no one wants to help Grimes fetch the boy -- until Ellen volunteers. The villagers are aghast, but she reasons that a boy needs someone to comfort him on his grueling journey to a strange place. The prospect of a new apprentice improves
Changed line(s) 12,17 (click to see context) from:
Some weeks later, Ellen is spending a peaceful Sunday morning with the new boy, John, and was alarmed by a bruise around his neck. Grimes comes and grabs the boy, saying they are to sail at once. Ellen complains, but Grimes says the boy is now his and he calls the shots, and that the bruise was an accident. Back in Grimes's "hut", the boy is crying, while Grimes clumsily steels him on, fantasizing how they will persevere and prosper -- but his vision is tainted by the specter of his old apprentice. "Sometimes I see that boy here in this hut. [[ISeeDeadPeople He is there now...]]"
Grimes has a more tangible threat though: the [[TorchesAndPitchforks village mob]] has resolved to take matter in their own hands: ''Him who despises us, we'll destroy''. Frightened, Grimes hurried through the cliff door, urging the boy after him. The boy, not being surefooted, falls 40 feet to his death. The mob storm into Grimes's home and find no one.
Grimes disappears for days. Eventually Balstrode spots Grimes's boat on the beach, and more disturbingly, Ellen picks up John's jersey (which she knitted herself) on the running tide. They soon come upon Grimes, obviously insane, babbling about dead boys and [[{{Satan}} Davy Jones]]. Ellen wishes to take Grimes home, but Balstrode [[LeaveBehindAPistol gives his no-nonsense advice]]: sail until you lose sight of land, then sink the boat.
Grimes has a more tangible threat though: the [[TorchesAndPitchforks village mob]] has resolved to take matter in their own hands: ''Him who despises us, we'll destroy''. Frightened, Grimes hurried through the cliff door, urging the boy after him. The boy, not being surefooted, falls 40 feet to his death. The mob storm into Grimes's home and find no one.
Grimes disappears for days. Eventually Balstrode spots Grimes's boat on the beach, and more disturbingly, Ellen picks up John's jersey (which she knitted herself) on the running tide. They soon come upon Grimes, obviously insane, babbling about dead boys and [[{{Satan}} Davy Jones]]. Ellen wishes to take Grimes home, but Balstrode [[LeaveBehindAPistol gives his no-nonsense advice]]: sail until you lose sight of land, then sink the boat.
to:
Some weeks later, Ellen is spending a peaceful Sunday morning with the new boy, John, and was alarmed by a bruise around his neck. Grimes comes and grabs the boy, saying they are to sail at once. Ellen complains, but Grimes says the boy is now his and he calls the shots, and that the bruise was an accident. Back in Grimes's Grimes' "hut", the boy is crying, while Grimes clumsily steels him on, fantasizing how they will persevere and prosper -- but his vision is tainted by the specter of his old apprentice. "Sometimes I see that boy here in this hut. [[ISeeDeadPeople He is there now...]]"
Grimes has a more tangible threat though: the [[TorchesAndPitchforks village mob]] has resolved to take matter in their own hands: ''Him who despises us, we'll destroy''. Frightened, Grimes hurried through the cliff door, urging the boy after him. The boy, not being surefooted, falls 40 feet to his death. The mob storm intoGrimes's Grimes' home and find no one.
Grimes disappears for days. Eventually Balstrode spotsGrimes's Grimes' boat on the beach, and more disturbingly, Ellen picks up John's jersey (which she knitted herself) on the running tide. They soon come upon Grimes, obviously insane, babbling about dead boys and [[{{Satan}} Davy Jones]]. Ellen wishes to take Grimes home, but Balstrode [[LeaveBehindAPistol gives his no-nonsense advice]]: sail until you lose sight of land, then sink the boat.
Grimes has a more tangible threat though: the [[TorchesAndPitchforks village mob]] has resolved to take matter in their own hands: ''Him who despises us, we'll destroy''. Frightened, Grimes hurried through the cliff door, urging the boy after him. The boy, not being surefooted, falls 40 feet to his death. The mob storm into
Grimes disappears for days. Eventually Balstrode spots
Changed line(s) 22,23 (click to see context) from:
* AngryMobSong: "Now is gossip put on trial" and "Who holds himself apart"
* BSODSong: Grimes's final scene.
* BSODSong: Grimes's final scene.
to:
* AngryMobSong: "Now is gossip put on trial" and "Who holds himself apart"
apart."
* BSODSong:Grimes's Grimes' final scene.
* BSODSong:
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
--> "Now tell me this. Who helped you carry the boy home? The [[{{schoolmarm}} schoolmistress]], [[WidowWoman the widow]], Mrs. Ellen Orford?"
to:
Changed line(s) 40 (click to see context) from:
* TheVoiceless: Grimes's second apprentice John, except for a death scream. A pragmatic decision by the creators: they wrote him a voice originally, but couldn't find a boy who could sing the part. The librettist's wife told him in exasperation to "make him mute, for goodness sake!" At one stage they had Ellen referring to the tragedy of the boy's actual inability to speak, before deciding (probably for the best) to make him simply happen not to speak (though under the circumstances his behaviour suggests pathological elective muteness - not impossible, as his upbringing was probably traumatic).
to:
* TheVoiceless: Grimes's Grimes' second apprentice John, except for a death scream. A pragmatic decision by the creators: they wrote him a voice originally, but couldn't find a boy who could sing the part. The librettist's wife told him in exasperation to "make him mute, for goodness sake!" At one stage they had Ellen referring to the tragedy of the boy's actual inability to speak, before deciding (probably for the best) to make him simply happen not to speak (though under the circumstances his behaviour suggests pathological elective muteness - not impossible, as his upbringing was probably traumatic).
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None
Changed line(s) 1,3 (click to see context) from:
--> The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual.
---> -- Benjamin Britten on ''Peter Grimes''
---> -- Benjamin Britten on ''Peter Grimes''
to:
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None
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
--> "Now tell me this. Who helped you carry the boy home? The [[{{schoolmarm}} schoolmistress], [[WidowWoman the widow]], Mrs. Ellen Orford?"
to:
--> "Now tell me this. Who helped you carry the boy home? The [[{{schoolmarm}} schoolmistress], schoolmistress]], [[WidowWoman the widow]], Mrs. Ellen Orford?"
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* MrExposition: In the opening inquest scene, Mr. Swallow introduces and identifies all the major characters, one by one.
--> "Now tell me this. Who helped you carry the boy home? The [[{{schoolmarm}} schoolmistress], [[WidowWoman the widow]], Mrs. Ellen Orford?"
--> "Now tell me this. Who helped you carry the boy home? The [[{{schoolmarm}} schoolmistress], [[WidowWoman the widow]], Mrs. Ellen Orford?"
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None
Changed line(s) 4,5 (click to see context) from:
Benjamin Britten's most famous opera, ''Peter Grimes'' is based on the character of George Crabbe's narrative poem ''The Borough''.
to:
Benjamin Britten's most famous opera, ''Peter Grimes'' is has a libretto by Montagu Slater based on the character of George Crabbe's narrative poem ''The Borough''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Although there are multiple accepted standards for the punctuation mark that goes after a trope name at the beginning of the trope entry, the page should be consistent. There are NOT, however, multiple standards for the first word of the description beginning with a capital letter: it does, end of story. There's also no valid reason to use "titular character" rather than "title character". A trope name with no description is not a proper example, and putting a full stop after the trope name does not change this. "And how" is not context, it's meaningless Word Cruft. Don't use numerals instead of words for single digit numbers; it looks lazy. Hyphens used as emdashes get spaces on both sides, not just on one side. And that's just what I remember.
Changed line(s) 21,34 (click to see context) from:
* AdaptationExpansion -- the opera is a much fleshed-out adaptation of the original poem: instead of being a Bluebeard-like sadist who, taking advantage of lax child-labor regulations, leaves a trail of dead boys in his wake, Grimes in the opera has more human motivations.
* AngryMobSong -- "Now is gossip put on trial" and "Who holds himself apart"
* BSODSong -- Grimes's final scene.
* ConvictedByPublicOpinion.
* DeadHatShot -- John's jersey.
* EmpathicEnvironment -- The weather, in particular the fog and storm, are narrative devices in this work. The famous ''Four Sea Interludes'' are frequently performed as separate orchestral items.
* TheFundamentalist -- Bob "Methody" Boles.
* HystericalWoman -- Miss Sedley, who needs opium to sleep.
* IWantSong -- Grimes has two: a sunnier one when he confides to Captain Balstrode, and a more disquieting one ("In dream I've built myself some kinder home") that he sings to his new apprentice John.
* LeaveBehindAPistol -- Balstrode's final words to Grimes. No actual pistol is involved, but the idea is the same.
* LonersAreFreaks.
* MissKitty -- while we don't know about the background of the tavern landlady "Auntie", many productions treat her as a "lady with a past" who runs a less than kosher establishment.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero -- the villagers are as much a cause of the second apprentice's death as Grimes.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure -- The retired old sea-dog Captain Balstrode, who dispenses practical advices to Grimes and [[BadassPacifist casually defuses]] a fuming Bob Boles. It is an indication of how bad things have gone when he suggests Grimes should commit suicide.
* AngryMobSong -- "Now is gossip put on trial" and "Who holds himself apart"
* BSODSong -- Grimes's final scene.
* ConvictedByPublicOpinion.
* DeadHatShot -- John's jersey.
* EmpathicEnvironment -- The weather, in particular the fog and storm, are narrative devices in this work. The famous ''Four Sea Interludes'' are frequently performed as separate orchestral items.
* TheFundamentalist -- Bob "Methody" Boles.
* HystericalWoman -- Miss Sedley, who needs opium to sleep.
* IWantSong -- Grimes has two: a sunnier one when he confides to Captain Balstrode, and a more disquieting one ("In dream I've built myself some kinder home") that he sings to his new apprentice John.
* LeaveBehindAPistol -- Balstrode's final words to Grimes. No actual pistol is involved, but the idea is the same.
* LonersAreFreaks.
* MissKitty -- while we don't know about the background of the tavern landlady "Auntie", many productions treat her as a "lady with a past" who runs a less than kosher establishment.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero -- the villagers are as much a cause of the second apprentice's death as Grimes.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure -- The retired old sea-dog Captain Balstrode, who dispenses practical advices to Grimes and [[BadassPacifist casually defuses]] a fuming Bob Boles. It is an indication of how bad things have gone when he suggests Grimes should commit suicide.
to:
* AdaptationExpansion -- the AdaptationExpansion: The opera is a much fleshed-out adaptation of the original poem: instead of being a Bluebeard-like sadist who, taking advantage of lax child-labor regulations, leaves a trail of dead boys in his wake, Grimes in the opera has more human motivations.
*AngryMobSong -- AngryMobSong: "Now is gossip put on trial" and "Who holds himself apart"
*BSODSong -- BSODSong: Grimes's final scene.
%%* ConvictedByPublicOpinion
*ConvictedByPublicOpinion.
* DeadHatShot --DeadHatShot: John's jersey.
*EmpathicEnvironment -- EmpathicEnvironment: The weather, in particular the fog and storm, are narrative devices in this work. The famous ''Four Sea Interludes'' are frequently performed as separate orchestral items.
*TheFundamentalist -- TheFundamentalist: Bob "Methody" Boles.
*HystericalWoman -- HystericalWoman: Miss Sedley, who needs opium to sleep.
*IWantSong -- IWantSong: Grimes has two: a sunnier one when he confides to Captain Balstrode, and a more disquieting one ("In dream I've built myself some kinder home") that he sings to his new apprentice John.
*LeaveBehindAPistol -- LeaveBehindAPistol: Balstrode's final words to Grimes. No actual pistol is involved, but the idea is the same.
%%* LonersAreFreaks
*LonersAreFreaks.
* MissKitty -- whileMissKitty: While we don't know about the background of the tavern landlady "Auntie", many productions treat her as a "lady with a past" who runs a less than kosher establishment.
*NiceJobBreakingItHero -- the NiceJobBreakingItHero: The villagers are as much a cause of the second apprentice's death as Grimes.
*ReasonableAuthorityFigure -- ReasonableAuthorityFigure: The retired old sea-dog Captain Balstrode, who dispenses practical advices to Grimes and [[BadassPacifist casually defuses]] a fuming Bob Boles. It is an indication of how bad things have gone when he suggests Grimes should commit suicide.
*
*
%%* ConvictedByPublicOpinion
*
* DeadHatShot --
*
*
*
*
*
%%* LonersAreFreaks
*
* MissKitty -- while
*
*
Changed line(s) 36,39 (click to see context) from:
* SuicideBySea: Rather than face a mob angry over the death of 2 apprentices, the titular character sinks his boat with himself in it.
* TenorBoy - Subverted. And ''how.''
* TheVoiceless -- Grimes's second apprentice John, except for a death scream.
** A pragmatic decision by the creators: they wrote him a voice originally, but couldn't find a boy who could sing the part. The librettist's wife told him in exasperation to "make him mute, for goodness sake!" At one stage they had Ellen referring to the tragedy of the boy's actual inability to speak, before deciding (probably for the best) to make him simply happen not to speak (though under the circumstances his behaviour suggests pathological elective muteness- not impossible, as his upbringing was probably traumatic)
* TenorBoy - Subverted. And ''how.''
* TheVoiceless -- Grimes's second apprentice John, except for a death scream.
** A pragmatic decision by the creators: they wrote him a voice originally, but couldn't find a boy who could sing the part. The librettist's wife told him in exasperation to "make him mute, for goodness sake!" At one stage they had Ellen referring to the tragedy of the boy's actual inability to speak, before deciding (probably for the best) to make him simply happen not to speak (though under the circumstances his behaviour suggests pathological elective muteness- not impossible, as his upbringing was probably traumatic)
to:
* SuicideBySea: Rather than face a mob angry over the death of 2 two apprentices, the titular title character sinks his boat with himself in it.
%%* TenorBoy: Subverted.
*TenorBoy - Subverted. And ''how.''
* TheVoiceless --TheVoiceless: Grimes's second apprentice John, except for a death scream.
**scream. A pragmatic decision by the creators: they wrote him a voice originally, but couldn't find a boy who could sing the part. The librettist's wife told him in exasperation to "make him mute, for goodness sake!" At one stage they had Ellen referring to the tragedy of the boy's actual inability to speak, before deciding (probably for the best) to make him simply happen not to speak (though under the circumstances his behaviour suggests pathological elective muteness- muteness - not impossible, as his upbringing was probably traumatic)traumatic).
%%* TenorBoy: Subverted.
*
* TheVoiceless --
**
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Deleted line(s) 26 (click to see context) :
* DrivenToSuicide.
Added DiffLines:
* SuicideBySea: Rather than face a mob angry over the death of 2 apprentices, the titular character sinks his boat with himself in it.
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None
Added DiffLines:
** A pragmatic decision by the creators: they wrote him a voice originally, but couldn't find a boy who could sing the part. The librettist's wife told him in exasperation to "make him mute, for goodness sake!" At one stage they had Ellen referring to the tragedy of the boy's actual inability to speak, before deciding (probably for the best) to make him simply happen not to speak (though under the circumstances his behaviour suggests pathological elective muteness- not impossible, as his upbringing was probably traumatic)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
--> The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual.
---> -- Benjamin Britten on ''Peter Grimes''
Benjamin Britten's most famous opera, ''Peter Grimes'' is based on the character of George Crabbe's narrative poem ''The Borough''.
The opera opens with a coroner's inquest: Peter Grimes's boy apprentice died in a serious illness during a fishing voyage. The coroner deems the child's death an accident, but admonishes the "brutal, callous and coarse" fisherman not to take another apprentice. Grimes grumbles that, despite the verdict, the poisonous hate of all people in the Borough village will [[ConvictedByPublicOpinion forever mark him as guilty]]. Ellen Orford, the schoolmistress, cheers him up, confident that his name will be cleared in due course.
Without another pair of hands, Grimes struggles at his trade. The Borough's apothecary Ned Keene informs Grimes about a new apprentice available from the workhouse, but no one wants to help Grimes fetch the boy -- until Ellen volunteers. The villagers are aghast, but she reasons that a boy needs someone to comfort him on his grueling journey to a strange place. The prospect of a new apprentice improves Grimes's mood, and he opens himself to his friend Captain Balstrode: people may scorn his dreams, but one day he will hit it big and marry Ellen.
Storm hits the Borough that night; the people are staying at the village tavern. Grimes barges in, with no rain-gear and soaked to the skin. He sings a mysterious aria about the circles of stars and fish and fate. Everyone is sure he is [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} loony]]. Bob Boles the Methodist calls Grimes a killer, but is promptly pacified by Captain Balstrode. Ellen comes in with the boy, both tired and wet. To everyone's horror, Grimes seizes the boy and goes straight into the storm, back to his so-called hut (an upturned boat) on the cliff.
Some weeks later, Ellen is spending a peaceful Sunday morning with the new boy, John, and was alarmed by a bruise around his neck. Grimes comes and grabs the boy, saying they are to sail at once. Ellen complains, but Grimes says the boy is now his and he calls the shots, and that the bruise was an accident. Back in Grimes's "hut", the boy is crying, while Grimes clumsily steels him on, fantasizing how they will persevere and prosper -- but his vision is tainted by the specter of his old apprentice. "Sometimes I see that boy here in this hut. [[ISeeDeadPeople He is there now...]]"
Grimes has a more tangible threat though: the [[TorchesAndPitchforks village mob]] has resolved to take matter in their own hands: ''Him who despises us, we'll destroy''. Frightened, Grimes hurried through the cliff door, urging the boy after him. The boy, not being surefooted, falls 40 feet to his death. The mob storm into Grimes's home and find no one.
Grimes disappears for days. Eventually Balstrode spots Grimes's boat on the beach, and more disturbingly, Ellen picks up John's jersey (which she knitted herself) on the running tide. They soon come upon Grimes, obviously insane, babbling about dead boys and [[{{Satan}} Davy Jones]]. Ellen wishes to take Grimes home, but Balstrode [[LeaveBehindAPistol gives his no-nonsense advice]]: sail until you lose sight of land, then sink the boat.
A new day. Coastguard reports of a sinking ship. Life goes on in the Borough as usual.
!! ''Peter Grimes'' contains examples of:
* AdaptationExpansion -- the opera is a much fleshed-out adaptation of the original poem: instead of being a Bluebeard-like sadist who, taking advantage of lax child-labor regulations, leaves a trail of dead boys in his wake, Grimes in the opera has more human motivations.
* AngryMobSong -- "Now is gossip put on trial" and "Who holds himself apart"
* BSODSong -- Grimes's final scene.
* ConvictedByPublicOpinion.
* DeadHatShot -- John's jersey.
* DrivenToSuicide.
* EmpathicEnvironment -- The weather, in particular the fog and storm, are narrative devices in this work. The famous ''Four Sea Interludes'' are frequently performed as separate orchestral items.
* TheFundamentalist -- Bob "Methody" Boles.
* HystericalWoman -- Miss Sedley, who needs opium to sleep.
* IWantSong -- Grimes has two: a sunnier one when he confides to Captain Balstrode, and a more disquieting one ("In dream I've built myself some kinder home") that he sings to his new apprentice John.
* LeaveBehindAPistol -- Balstrode's final words to Grimes. No actual pistol is involved, but the idea is the same.
* LonersAreFreaks.
* MissKitty -- while we don't know about the background of the tavern landlady "Auntie", many productions treat her as a "lady with a past" who runs a less than kosher establishment.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero -- the villagers are as much a cause of the second apprentice's death as Grimes.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure -- The retired old sea-dog Captain Balstrode, who dispenses practical advices to Grimes and [[BadassPacifist casually defuses]] a fuming Bob Boles. It is an indication of how bad things have gone when he suggests Grimes should commit suicide.
* SanitySlippageSong: Peter's final aria. One of the most famous "mad scenes" in opera, at least outside of bel canto.
* TenorBoy - Subverted. And ''how.''
* TheVoiceless -- Grimes's second apprentice John, except for a death scream.
----
---> -- Benjamin Britten on ''Peter Grimes''
Benjamin Britten's most famous opera, ''Peter Grimes'' is based on the character of George Crabbe's narrative poem ''The Borough''.
The opera opens with a coroner's inquest: Peter Grimes's boy apprentice died in a serious illness during a fishing voyage. The coroner deems the child's death an accident, but admonishes the "brutal, callous and coarse" fisherman not to take another apprentice. Grimes grumbles that, despite the verdict, the poisonous hate of all people in the Borough village will [[ConvictedByPublicOpinion forever mark him as guilty]]. Ellen Orford, the schoolmistress, cheers him up, confident that his name will be cleared in due course.
Without another pair of hands, Grimes struggles at his trade. The Borough's apothecary Ned Keene informs Grimes about a new apprentice available from the workhouse, but no one wants to help Grimes fetch the boy -- until Ellen volunteers. The villagers are aghast, but she reasons that a boy needs someone to comfort him on his grueling journey to a strange place. The prospect of a new apprentice improves Grimes's mood, and he opens himself to his friend Captain Balstrode: people may scorn his dreams, but one day he will hit it big and marry Ellen.
Storm hits the Borough that night; the people are staying at the village tavern. Grimes barges in, with no rain-gear and soaked to the skin. He sings a mysterious aria about the circles of stars and fish and fate. Everyone is sure he is [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} loony]]. Bob Boles the Methodist calls Grimes a killer, but is promptly pacified by Captain Balstrode. Ellen comes in with the boy, both tired and wet. To everyone's horror, Grimes seizes the boy and goes straight into the storm, back to his so-called hut (an upturned boat) on the cliff.
Some weeks later, Ellen is spending a peaceful Sunday morning with the new boy, John, and was alarmed by a bruise around his neck. Grimes comes and grabs the boy, saying they are to sail at once. Ellen complains, but Grimes says the boy is now his and he calls the shots, and that the bruise was an accident. Back in Grimes's "hut", the boy is crying, while Grimes clumsily steels him on, fantasizing how they will persevere and prosper -- but his vision is tainted by the specter of his old apprentice. "Sometimes I see that boy here in this hut. [[ISeeDeadPeople He is there now...]]"
Grimes has a more tangible threat though: the [[TorchesAndPitchforks village mob]] has resolved to take matter in their own hands: ''Him who despises us, we'll destroy''. Frightened, Grimes hurried through the cliff door, urging the boy after him. The boy, not being surefooted, falls 40 feet to his death. The mob storm into Grimes's home and find no one.
Grimes disappears for days. Eventually Balstrode spots Grimes's boat on the beach, and more disturbingly, Ellen picks up John's jersey (which she knitted herself) on the running tide. They soon come upon Grimes, obviously insane, babbling about dead boys and [[{{Satan}} Davy Jones]]. Ellen wishes to take Grimes home, but Balstrode [[LeaveBehindAPistol gives his no-nonsense advice]]: sail until you lose sight of land, then sink the boat.
A new day. Coastguard reports of a sinking ship. Life goes on in the Borough as usual.
!! ''Peter Grimes'' contains examples of:
* AdaptationExpansion -- the opera is a much fleshed-out adaptation of the original poem: instead of being a Bluebeard-like sadist who, taking advantage of lax child-labor regulations, leaves a trail of dead boys in his wake, Grimes in the opera has more human motivations.
* AngryMobSong -- "Now is gossip put on trial" and "Who holds himself apart"
* BSODSong -- Grimes's final scene.
* ConvictedByPublicOpinion.
* DeadHatShot -- John's jersey.
* DrivenToSuicide.
* EmpathicEnvironment -- The weather, in particular the fog and storm, are narrative devices in this work. The famous ''Four Sea Interludes'' are frequently performed as separate orchestral items.
* TheFundamentalist -- Bob "Methody" Boles.
* HystericalWoman -- Miss Sedley, who needs opium to sleep.
* IWantSong -- Grimes has two: a sunnier one when he confides to Captain Balstrode, and a more disquieting one ("In dream I've built myself some kinder home") that he sings to his new apprentice John.
* LeaveBehindAPistol -- Balstrode's final words to Grimes. No actual pistol is involved, but the idea is the same.
* LonersAreFreaks.
* MissKitty -- while we don't know about the background of the tavern landlady "Auntie", many productions treat her as a "lady with a past" who runs a less than kosher establishment.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero -- the villagers are as much a cause of the second apprentice's death as Grimes.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure -- The retired old sea-dog Captain Balstrode, who dispenses practical advices to Grimes and [[BadassPacifist casually defuses]] a fuming Bob Boles. It is an indication of how bad things have gone when he suggests Grimes should commit suicide.
* SanitySlippageSong: Peter's final aria. One of the most famous "mad scenes" in opera, at least outside of bel canto.
* TenorBoy - Subverted. And ''how.''
* TheVoiceless -- Grimes's second apprentice John, except for a death scream.
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