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[SCRIPT] What is Hamilton (the musical) trying to say? (Patreon)

Published:
2020-07-04 13:00:03
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

I'm going to pump the brakes on the D&D video temporarily just to try and get this video up within the next few days. Here's my analysis for what I think the major singular theme of Hamilton is. I you want to take a look at it to make sure it's good and not too "middle school English class" then that would be appreciated!

Script is here. 

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What is Hamilton (the musical) trying to say?

INTRODUCTION So, I'm a big fan of Hamilton - the musical, anyway - as is most everyone else on this plane of existence, it seems. And I've always wanted to make a true analytical video about the show. Problem is (a) I've never been able to see a performance of Hamilton because I just don't have m...

Comments

Uneducated & Enthused

Okay, sorry I never got back to your other script (life intervenes) but I’ve read over this once now so here are my immediate comments and thoughts: I’m assuming this is a very rough outline of talking points, but speaking solely as it is now I’m mostly hearing a fairly detailed point-by-point summary of the events in words mirroring the expositional lyrics of the show and I’m not getting enough of WHY these moments are important or how they bolster your argument. What specifically do each of these contribute to the theme, why is this instance important, why should we care. Why. I personally get where you’re coming from and am interested in hearing this argument, as I always consider this play in terms of, and listen to discourse on, impetuosity vs over-abundance of caution (i.e. “Not throwing away my shot” vs “Wait for it”), so a fresh take on the inherent Power of Words is an avenue well worth exploring. You left a thread hanging with regards to “rap” as a power of words. Your intro tends to infer that the choice of utilising the medium of hiphop as opposed to the traditional genres of music of broadway productions is significant, but other than pointing out Lafayette raps real fast, we don’t get a real sense of why this distinction matters. How is the medium the message? How does the medium mould the message? Lastly, I would like you to argue why you think his legacy is his words and writings. Because personally, I believe the end message and lesson was how Alexander mistakenly assumed it was at the expense of his loved ones. His actual legacy IS his loved ones. Specifically in context of the film, it’s Eliza. Eliza outlives him, and her actions keep his name alive. His words don’t live on of their own merit. She has to actively go out to collect them from every corner. She is who lives and who tells his story. It’s not the words. It’s not the story. It’s WHO tells it. When Alexander writes the Reynolds Pamphlet, ignoring the cautionary voice of “wait for it” in Hurricane, Alexander hurts & humiliates his family unthinkingly for the sake of HIS good name. Eliza in response rereads his letters to her (“I’m rereading the letters you wrote me”) sees his obsession with his “legacy” and paranoia of how people perceive him, emphasising painfully and with repetition “you, you, you” because that’s all his letters were about or cared about. Because his idea of legacy, his words, are what hurts the family, she burns them. It’s only after his change, when they move up town, him no longer chasing his ambitions but focussing on his immediate family and making it right, that Eliza forgives him and consequently puts herself back in the narrative, enabling the narrative itself to survive, ensuring we finally get this story from her act of collecting his letters. Legacy is family and family ensures legacy. This is why the ending of “Hamilton” is all Eliza. So if you want to argue that Legacy is his Words, I think you should compose a very thoughtful and strong argument supporting this claim. I do love the idea of Words as Power. Because Power itself is neutral, but can be wielded for both Good and Ill, as clearly demonstrated throughout the play. I am extremely excited to see the final product and hope my comments are in anyway helpful.

Uneducated & Enthused
>>39773382

Also, I think it might be worth mentioning on the play’s use of Motifs, the repetition of words & phrases and how they change throughout the course of the musical. I think it is very much on point of your arguing on the Power of Words. (Like Hamilton introducing himself to Angelica in Satisfied “I‘m never satisfied” then Angelica spitting back in his face in the Reynolds Pamphlet “You can never be satisfied, God I hope your satisfied!”

NerdSync
>>39773382

This is good feedback. I have a couple things to say in response. I guess the big one is with the whole "why these moments are important or bolster the argument." I'm having a bit of trouble understanding that because to me, the only reason I'm pointing out these moments is specifically because they bolster my argument. All these moments I mention throughout the show are examples of the power of words. I don't know how much further I need to drill down into these moments. The fact that these moments exist is why they are important. That's the "why" imo. But maybe I'm just not understanding your feedback here.

NerdSync
>>39773382

Also, in regards to "rap as the power of words" I did talk more about that in other sections throughout the script. I established the idea of rap being used to show the power of words early in the script and use a couple of quick examples just to establish that idea that I bring up later on when I talk Angelica and Jefferson being able to match Hamilton's wit and wordplay.

NerdSync
>>39773382

And I like what you're saying about his legacy not being his writings, but being the people who loved him and told his story. But, I mean, they told his story and cemented his legacy by collecting and curating his writings. So, idk. It's tricky.