The Big Idea of Hamilton

Those who know me know that I LOVE Hamilton. But what could possibly be my reasons? Well, for one, it’s a musical; for two, it’s educational without you even having to think about it; and for three, the storyline. It takes you through the life of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers. While he did some amazing things, he also did some morally corrupt things, like all humans. This shows that no one stands above anyone else and that we all have our own flaws. Ultimately, this forces us to consider where we draw the line between admirable actions and sincere character.

Alexander Hamilton starts off as a lowly orphaned immigrant born in the Caribbean. After seeing his intellectual sense, the community around him comes together to raise money to send him to New York, where he “can be a new man” (Hamilton, Act I, 2). Throughout his time involved in the government, Hamilton leads a raid to steal British cannons in Manhattan (Right Hand Man), helps write the Federalist Papers (Non-Stop), and writes essays and lobbies Congress to assume state debts and establish the national bank (Cabinet #1). 

While he did some noble acts to try and benefit the government, one could argue that he lacks moral character. Should that play a role in how we view Alexander Hamilton or how we judge what he did for the United States? The biggest stain on his record is committing adultery. He has a year-long affair with Maria Reynolds while his wife, Eliza, and the children are away for the summer (Say No To This). I think this is one of his worst acts, but Hamilton adds the cherry on top when he publishes the Reynolds pamphlet that discloses explicit details about the affair (Reynolds Pamphlet). He claims that by writing this pamphlet, it is the only way to “protect my legacy” (Hamilton, Act II, 47). Hamilton actively destroys his life and Eliza’s life and invites everyone around to witness it. Of course, he did some other damaging things, such as sabotaging his own political party by writing detrimental things about the Federalist president, John Adams. And certainly, this led to the Federalist Party’s power becoming non-existent (The Adams Administration). You’d think he’d have some loyalty…but then again, I guess not. 

Personally, I think this should serve as an indicator of a person’s character and influence how we see them, even if they have done “great” things. As shown with Hamilton, if a characteristic exhibited in one’s home life leads to evidence of unfaithfulness, they shouldn’t be trusted in areas such as business or politics. They are a confirmed cheater. I realize this is blurring the lines between professionalism and personal life, but isn’t professionalism personal? A person’s past actions can offer insight into how they might approach responsibility and collaboration. Patterns matter, especially when trust and shared work are involved. Even so, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt until you give me a personal reason to think otherwise. In this sense, “History has its eyes on you” (Hamilton, Act I, 67). Your past moves with you, so it’s better to avoid making unrationalized decisions. 

Unlike Alexander Hamilton, let’s remember our legacy is made up of every aspect of our lives. You cannot cover any wrongs just because you do a right. Our legacy is “planting seeds in a garden you never get to see” (Hamilton Act II 77), so build something your family will be grateful for, something that leaves them smiling when someone mentions your name. Be someone future generations will be glad existed. 

Works cited:

Hamilton-Lyrics-ACT-I1-e82b4f261a. PDF file. 

Recommended Songs:

1. Alexander Hamilton

2. My Shot

3. The Schuyler Sisters

4. Satisfied

5. Wait For It

6. Guns and Ships

7. Dear Theodosia

8. Non-Stop

9. What’d I Miss

10. One Last Time

11. Hurricane → The Reynolds Pamphlet → Burn

12. It’s Quiet Uptown

13. The Election of 1800

14. Your Obedient Servant

15. The World Was Wide Enough

16. Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story