Hamilton

Colin Hayes

EN.387.01

Dr. Juniper Ellis

3 April 2018

Hamilton:

            Lin-Manuel Miranda looks to the past and the historical context of America to create the breakthrough musical Hamilton. It is important to note that although the performance is filled with impressive and catchy songs, it is the factual historical context that creates this play. From the titular character Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, Miranda sought inspiration from that which came before us, proving that it will be forever relevant in contemporary society. He skillfully presents the historical narrative of America using the ever-changing vehicle of music to give the play a modern twist. In regard to time, Hamilton is a way to travel back in time to the beginning of revolutionary America. Not only does the musical transport the viewer and reader back in time, but also Alexander Hamilton himself has a distinct view on time and how much of it he has left.

            Hamilton’s many pursuits throughout his life take up a certain amount of time and he realizes that his time is in fact fleeting. This notion of time fleeting is reminiscent of Nao in, A Tale for the Time Being. She initially views time as always moving and ephemeral, stopping for nothing and no one. Not necessarily a bad thing, Hamilton is trying to utilize the time in his life to the best of his ability and his advantage. In the song, “Non-Stop” Burr and Hamilton sing with one another and Burr questions Hamilton’s perspective on time. He sings, “Why do you write like you’re running out of time” (Miranda). Interestingly, Hamilton lived a fairly short life and he wanted to create the biggest impact possible in his fleeting time on earth. It is ironic that Burr is the one singing this to him as he is the one who will prematurely kill Hamilton with a gun shot.

            Another interesting point to make about Hamilton’s evaluation of time is that while he is living in the present, he is constantly looking to the future to try and cram all that he can into his life. He seems to suffer the same issue as Nao in the sense that he cannot truly live in the moment. His constant projection of what will occur in the future seems to be hindering for Nao, but Hamilton proves to accomplish much in his life. Again, Burr sings to Hamilton saying, “Keep on fighting in the meantime” (Miranda). This speaks to Hamilton’s tendency of living in the future rather than the present. This may seem like a negative outlook, but this motivates Hamilton to continue to live each day like it is his last.