Hamilton
By MADY BRAND
“Hamilton” started at The Public Theater and quickly worked its way to perform at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. The popular new Hip-Hop musical has a non-historically accurate, diverse cast. As creator and star of the show, Lin-Manuel Miranda describes it, “This is the story of America then told by America now.” To his belief, this has brought the audience closer to the story and is a large part of the show’s success. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has also developed and starred in “In the Heights”, got the inspiration for “Hamilton” from Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. “Hamilton” teaches us that hard work and determination can help us overcome obstacles, that we can use our talents to get somewhere, that there are consequences of not remaining true to our word, and that dying is easy while living is much harder.
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An orphan in the Caribbean, educates himself and literally writes his way out of poverty. This talent earns him a scholarship that would bring him to America. This orphan is Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton finds people who share his belief in starting a revolution, who will come to be some of the great leaders of our nation. He rises to be General George Washington's right hand man when the revolution finally takes place. Hamilton and his old friend Aaron Burr, who unknowingly have been competing to be a part of the nation’s history, find one thing that may at last bring the two to the same level - the ladies. To Burr’s surprise, it appears that he has failed again because this is how Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler meet each other.
The war is won and America is freed from the rule of Great Britain and King George. With George Washington as the nation’s new leader, Hamilton thrives as he is appointed Secretary of Treasury, but his feud with Aaron Burr remains as he continues to fight for authority. Thomas Jefferson returns from France to fulfill the position of the Secretary of State, but he soon finds himself in constant dispute with Hamilton. Their disagreement prompts Eliza to take some time away, leaving Hamilton lonely. This leads to what is perhaps the biggest mistake in Hamilton’s life; Hamilton cheats on his wife. The combination of being blackmailed to keep his secret unknown and Washington stepping down as president, leaves Hamilton vulnerable. Taking this as an opportunity to best Hamilton, three of the nation’s most powerful people prepare to take Hamilton down, but how Hamilton chooses to overcome this leads to his own defeat.
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Like “Wicked”, “Hamilton” takes a character, particularly a character that is not necessarily popular, and tells their story. These characters are seen in a new light, as the assumptions that were previously made of them are lifted alongside the new knowledge that their stories provide. Like “The Phantom of the Opera”, “Hamilton” tells of a man who blunders by losing sight of his ultimate goal. The error of both men causes them to lose what they required in order to achieve their purpose. They tried to hold on to what they lost, but this act causes their goal to no longer be attainable.
By MADY BRAND
“Hamilton” started at The Public Theater and quickly worked its way to perform at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. The popular new Hip-Hop musical has a non-historically accurate, diverse cast. As creator and star of the show, Lin-Manuel Miranda describes it, “This is the story of America then told by America now.” To his belief, this has brought the audience closer to the story and is a large part of the show’s success. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has also developed and starred in “In the Heights”, got the inspiration for “Hamilton” from Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. “Hamilton” teaches us that hard work and determination can help us overcome obstacles, that we can use our talents to get somewhere, that there are consequences of not remaining true to our word, and that dying is easy while living is much harder.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
An orphan in the Caribbean, educates himself and literally writes his way out of poverty. This talent earns him a scholarship that would bring him to America. This orphan is Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton finds people who share his belief in starting a revolution, who will come to be some of the great leaders of our nation. He rises to be General George Washington's right hand man when the revolution finally takes place. Hamilton and his old friend Aaron Burr, who unknowingly have been competing to be a part of the nation’s history, find one thing that may at last bring the two to the same level - the ladies. To Burr’s surprise, it appears that he has failed again because this is how Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler meet each other.
The war is won and America is freed from the rule of Great Britain and King George. With George Washington as the nation’s new leader, Hamilton thrives as he is appointed Secretary of Treasury, but his feud with Aaron Burr remains as he continues to fight for authority. Thomas Jefferson returns from France to fulfill the position of the Secretary of State, but he soon finds himself in constant dispute with Hamilton. Their disagreement prompts Eliza to take some time away, leaving Hamilton lonely. This leads to what is perhaps the biggest mistake in Hamilton’s life; Hamilton cheats on his wife. The combination of being blackmailed to keep his secret unknown and Washington stepping down as president, leaves Hamilton vulnerable. Taking this as an opportunity to best Hamilton, three of the nation’s most powerful people prepare to take Hamilton down, but how Hamilton chooses to overcome this leads to his own defeat.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Like “Wicked”, “Hamilton” takes a character, particularly a character that is not necessarily popular, and tells their story. These characters are seen in a new light, as the assumptions that were previously made of them are lifted alongside the new knowledge that their stories provide. Like “The Phantom of the Opera”, “Hamilton” tells of a man who blunders by losing sight of his ultimate goal. The error of both men causes them to lose what they required in order to achieve their purpose. They tried to hold on to what they lost, but this act causes their goal to no longer be attainable.
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