Peter Grimes

Prologue

The scene opens on a small fishing village in England. A coroner’s inquest is being conducted at the town hall by Mr. Swallow about the death at sea of a young fisherman apprenticed to Peter Grimes. Grimes is questioned, and all of the townspeople present make it clear that they believe him to be guilty. Swallow, however, clears Grimes of any charges, accepting his account of events, but tells him that if he ever wants to have another apprentice, he should not do so unless he lives with a woman who can look after the young boy with more care. As the town hall clears out, Ellen Orford, the village schoolmistress whom Grimes wants to marry, comforts him, pledging her help in earning the respect of the borough and creating a better life for him.

Act One

It is morning, before high tide, several days later. The townspeople go about their monotonous daily routine in the village. The women are repairing fishing nets, and fishermen are coming ashore.

Many of them head to the local