The Relatable Characters of Hamilton
In my last blog, I noted that I could relate to the characters of Hamilton and would probably write a blog on how I see myself in all of the characters of Hamilton. This is that blog. But before we dive into all of that, I do want to make one point of clarification. I will be writing about how I relate to the characters of the musical Hamilton, not necessarily the historical figures. Lin-Manuel Miranda made some creative choices to deviate from historical accuracy, so I will be writing about the characters, not the historical figures. Anywho, let’s dive in…
King George III
“When you’re gone, I’ll go mad.”
King George III is the comedic relief in Hamilton, and his words also allude to the fact that he suffers some mental difficulties later in life after the events of the musical. I love laughing, and it is one of the ways I deal with my own mental difficulties. It has always been a desire of mine to make people laugh and feel that rush of joy I get when I laugh. A younger me would have loved to be King George III in Hamilton. However, as I have grown older and matured both as a performer and a human, other characters have appealed to me. I want to wrestle with complex emotions and tell real stories, not just be silly. Don’t get me wrong. I still love being silly and making others (and myself) laugh, but there is more to life than just being silly.
Peggy Schuyler
“...and Peggy!”
Peggy is used mostly as a punchline in her limited stage time in Act I. She is almost an afterthought. She is the third of the Schuyler sisters. I, too, am the third child and have felt like an afterthought. I have had to scrap and fight to feel relevant in many situations. Sometimes, I even resign myself to the fact that I will just have to be a smaller role.
Maria Reynolds
“Beatin’ me, cheatin’ me, mistreatin’ me...”
Maria Reynolds is a tragic figure. She is used by both her husband and Hamilton. She trusted both of those men, and they should have stepped up and helped, rather than focus on what they could get from her. I can relate. It is hard when you place your trust in someone and they end up using you. I have been in utilitarian friendships, and those never satisfied me. I have been led on by ladies I thought had romantic interest in me. I should have had better relationships, but I found myself used and mistreated by others.
John Laurens
“We’ll never be free until we end slavery.”
John Laurens is Hamilton’s close friend. He stands up for Washington on Hamilton’s behalf. I am also a loyal friend, often sticking with friendships (or even dating relationships) long after than they have shown me they are not worthy of my affection. Now, Hamilton isn’t a bad friend to Laurens, but that sense of loyalty, dedication, and sacrifice is something to which I can relate.
Furthermore, Laurens has a strong sense of justice. He dreamed of ending slavery and wanted to raise up those who were oppressed in colonial America. I get that. I don’t like seeing injustice in the world either. I want everyone to be treated with morality and justice. Both Laurens and I try to do the right thing.
Philip Hamilton
“Ladies, I’m lookin for a Mr. George Eacker
Made a speech last week, our Fourth of July speaker
He disparaged my father’s legacy in front of a crowd
I can’t have that, I’m making my father proud”
The tragedy of Philip Hamilton is that he placed his father on a pedestal and saw him as a larger than life figure, even going so far as to fight a duel over his father’s legacy. He wanted to make his parents proud. I relate to that. My behavior in life has often been influenced by what I thought my parents wanted of me. I have had to learn how to see my parents as the people they are, not the figures I made them out to be in my mind. Seeing them this way has been good for me and my relationships with my parents. However, I have to fight all the time to not be a son like Philip Hamilton is in Hamilton. I do not want the negative consequences of being boldly enraptured with a false image of my parents. I do not want to operate in any such way that might lead to a lack of peace. I want to see my parents as human beings, not the larger-than-life way Philip sees his father.
Hercules Mulligan
“When you knock me down I get the f*** back up again”
Mulligan introduces himself in “Aaron Burr, Sir” as this brash, bold individual, a persona I have taken on at times to hide my insecurities. I wonder if Mulligan has his own insecurities.
Mulligan also works as a spy. As a kid, the idea of being a spy and going undercover intrigued me. I liked the idea of doing something clever for a cause that is bigger than myself.
The quote from “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” at the start of this section, though, is the best representation of how I relate to Hercules Mulligan. He gets back up after being knocked down. I, too, have had to persevere in my life. When I get knocked down, I get back up. I have endured a lot, but never have I given up.
James Madison
“*coughs*”
Madison is an odd character in Hamilton. The real-life Madison was a brilliant statesman. However, in the musical we don’t really see that. We see someone with health issues. That’s not historically inaccurate, but it is really all we see of Madison. I, too, have had some health issues in my life. As a child, I had asthma and was hospitalized at a young age due to pneumonia, and as an adult, I have dealt with gastrointestinal issues. I want people to remember me for more than just my health issues (whether that be physical health or mental health). The same is true for Madison. He has to remind people that he wrote the Bill of Rights during “Washington on Your Side.” I want to be remember for other things other than my struggles.
Marquis de Lafayette
“No one has more resilience
Or matches my practical tactical brilliance.”
When we first meet Lafayette, he struggles with English and struggles to come up with the word “anarchy.” Yet, by “Guns and Ships,” he is rapping incredibly fast. I have grown in my life as well. I was very timid and shy as a child, but over time, I have found myself growing more confident and bold. I have leadership qualities, but I have to be intentional about bringing them out. So, I am trying to grow into my abilities in the same way Lafayette does.
Lafayette helps the American army come up with a good strategy for winning the Revolutionary War. He is brilliant. I too possess intellectual and strategic skills. One time, I was playing a game that was a bit like Capture the Flag. After playing for a bit, both teams were at a stalemate. The person in charge of running the game paused the game and told both teams to have strategy sessions so we could get the game finished. I stepped up and outlined a strategy that helped my team win the game. I can do great things with my mind and hopefully I keep growing into someone who regularly uses those skills.
Thomas Jefferson
“These are wise words, enterprising men quote ‘em
Don’t act surprised, you guys, cuz I wrote ‘em”
Thomas Jefferson is cocky and arrogant in Hamilton. He wants his words to be the end all be all. I have these tendencies, too. It is hard for me to be humble when I know I have done something well. I want people to respect me so much that I put on a false boldness (see the Hercules Mulligan section). I feel like my writing is good, and I want people to read my words and quote them. I desire to be respected like Jefferson, but I don’t know if I am there yet.
George Washington
“Even now, I lie awake, knowing history has its eyes on me”
George Washington reveals in “History Has Its Eyes on You” that he is haunted by his past mistakes. He knows people are watching what he does and tries to warn Hamilton of what responsibilities come with advancing in power. When I reminisce, it is rarely my successes that stand out. I often find myself remembering stupid things I said, mistakes I made, or chances I did not take. I, too, am haunted by my past. I hope to be more like Washington and put those mistakes behind me, but I still feel like I have a lot of pressure on me to do the right thing, succeed, and live up to my potential. I am 32, but even now I lie awake knowing history has its eyes on me.
Eliza Hamilton
“I saved every letter you wrote me
From the moment I read them I knew you were mine
You said you were mine
I thought you were mine”
Eliza is the Schuyler sister I struggle to relate to the most. She is content and a source of respite for Hamilton. Eliza encourages her husband to look around and recognize how lucky they are. She has the most level head of everyone in the show. That is not me. But where I relate to her is the hurt she felt following the publication of the Reynolds Pamphlet.
Eliza’s song “Burn” is relatable for me because I have felt betrayed by the one I loved. I had a girl end our relationship and then start dating someone else right away. I don’t know if she ever cheated on me for sure. Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt and say she didn’t. However, by not being honest with me about why our relationship needed to end and moving on so quickly, it certainly felt like she cheated on me. That experience changed the way I look at the song “Burn.” I relate to it more than I did when I first discovered Hamilton.
Angelica Schuyler
“I will never be satisfied”
When we first meet her, Angelica is looking for “a mind at work.” I also find myself drawn to individuals who can think deeply and critically. I would be bored in a relationship if my significant other could not discuss deep things. That is, however, a superficial aspect of Angelica.
She is more than a mind at work seeking another mind at work. She seeks love, specifically love with Alexander Hamilton. However, she sacrifices that love because Eliza also loves Hamilton. Angelica chooses to sacrifice her own feelings for Hamilton in order to show love to her sister. Love is willing the good of the other over oneself. Angelica makes that choice. She sacrifices because she knows it would be cruel to Eliza to keep Alexander for herself. One time, I found myself determined to ask a girl out while at a football game. I was in the eighth grade, and eith graders at my school went to the high school football game but never paid attention to the game. It was a time for socialization. On one particular evening, I made up my mind to ask out this girl. I started wandering around trying to find her. When I finally spotted her, I watched in horror as one of my friends from elementary school put his arm around her. I had to endure watching the two of them together for a long time. I missed out on a romantic opportunity and saw them many times together at school and the few social events I was invited to attend. It was heartbreaking, but I did not want to let this girl out of my life. I enjoyed her too much to let her choosing another guy over me to cause me to forget about her. We remained friends for the rest of high school but never dated.
Because of her great sacrifice, Angelica claims she “will never be satisfied.” She is devoted to Hamilton, but we never see her find fulfillment and happiness. I sometimes find myself in this negative thought swirl, thinking I will never be satisfied and happy. I don’t look around and realize how lucky I am to be alive right now. I need to be more like Eliza and enjoy where I am, but I am more like Angelica in that respect.
Alexander Hamilton
“I have never been satisfied”
Besides the fact that we both have the name Alexander H, there are many aspects of the character of Alexander Hamilton with which I relate.
Hamilton had a tough childhood. His father left, and his mother died. The cousin he went to live with died by suicide. He had to overcome a lot. By the skill of his writing he finds his way to New York where his life really takes off. I had a tough childhood, too. My parents divorced. I struggled socially and felt lonely. I had to fight to get to a relatively good psychological place. I’m hoping my writing can be a tool for advancing in life. Am I there, though? I don’t know.
If I cannot find inner peace, I will never be satisfied. I seem to think writing can get me there. However, Hamilton felt like he was never satisfied. He kept writing and even wrote to his own detriment. “The Reynolds Pamphlet” displays how he hurt his prospects through the written word. It’s easy to say certain things in writing rather than face to face. We never see Alexander Hamilton confess his infidelity to Eliza. Perhaps, he never did. I wonder if he just found it was easier for her to read it in a pamphlet rather than to say it. However, Hamilton should have spoken not written. What he wrote hurt Eliza. I hope to use my writing for good, but I know I have posted the occasional idiotic Facebook post or tweet. I have said things online I never would have said in person.
Lastly, those feelings of being unsatisfied ultimately hurt Alexander and led him to rash action. He should have listened to Eliza and looked around at how lucky he is, but instead he continued to strive for more. I know I am often restless and do not enjoy where I am in life. Yes, we need to grow, but we also need to enjoy what we have. I often wish for this thing or that thing or to be further along in life or career. Yet, I often look back and think I was right where I needed to be when I needed to be there. I hope I can one day be satisfied.
Aaron Burr
“I wanna be in the room where it happens.”
Poor Aaron Burr! He’s not even the title character in the musical about him. (Yes, Burr is the main character of Hamilton.) He is the most tragic character in the show. He is just as capable as Hamilton, but he lacks the courage to carry out his plans in a way that will make him successful.
“Wait for It” gives us a look at Burr’s thought patterns. He tries his best to be patient and not take any unnecessary risks. Sometimes, this backfires and he misses out on opportunities. Washington chooses Hamilton over him when choosing a right hand man. Hamilton has a better political career than him. Hamilton marries early, while Burr has to wait until his lover’s husband dies. Ultimately, he wants to be in the room where it happens, but his hesitancy gets in the way of making progress. Yes, a few things happen that moves him forward, but he is never satisfied (like Angelica). He wants to advance in his career. However, he is often thwarted in his attempts. When he finally takes action, he makes progress, but not at the speed he desires. It is hard for him to cope with this, and eventually, he takes action to the point where he is out of control and ruins his prospects by killing Hamilton.
Similarly, I can be too passive in my efforts to advance, not putting in the work where it is needed or waiting for others to reach out to me. I want great things, but I do not always do what is necessary to get where I want to go. I want success, love, and peace. I don’t know if I’ll get there, though. My instincts tell me to be like Burr, but look at how that turned out for him. Yes, sometimes, we need to be patient in life and wait for it, but I feel like I’m too passive. I want to be bold, but like Burr, I’m plagued by the thought that things just don’t work out for me. I know action is the only way to make things happen, but I fear the consequences of being overly bold like Hamilton. Hopefully, when I finally take action, I don’t end up like Burr. I want to find a middle ground between Burr and Hamilton. That is the type of person I hope to be.