The Hamilton Musical and Its Significance

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Hamilton Musical
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

In 2020, a video version of the acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton was released on Disney+. It was invented by the actor, singer and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and he also played the main role. The plot is based on a real biography of an American politician, reformer and finance minister. The musical turned out not to be pretentious and not outdated, but, on the contrary, lively and driving. Alexander Hamilton can be regarded as a real rock star among historical figures. Although the production is dedicated to the past, the author and artists speak a modern language that is understandable to any viewer. The below discussion will be dedicated to proving Hamiltons success as a visionary fiction referring to its essential elements and peculiarities.

The Hamilton Musical

The musical Hamilton turned out to be a great work, given that the production combines all the factors necessary for success and the incredible talent of the authors. The life of Alexander Hamilton is a vivid reflection of the very American dream. He is an orphan emigrant who came to the United States to study and made his way to the very top of power. It is said, How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a / Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten / Spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor / Grow up to be a hero and a scholar? (Broward Center 1). Before reaching the age of 50, he became a war hero, a prominent politician, the author of many articles, and one of the creators of the US constitution. Plus, sex scandals, duels, and death at the hands of a man he had known for many years. This is not the life of a boring politician but a real rock star.

If such a story were simply invented, the public would certainly accuse the authors of the implausibility of the plot. But the reality is stranger than any fantasy. Of course, the production sacrifices some of the historical accuracies in favor of the drama. The friendship between Burr and Hamilton is shown more vividly here, and some important events are missed; the main character looks like the embodiment of nobility. While working on the production, Miranda consulted with biographer Ron Chernov (Mead). Hence, most of the story is told close to real events.

Despite the fact that Hamilton tells about events that are 250 years old, the authors managed to show them relevant to today. This was achieved not only by music and rap. The main slogan of the musical is America then, as told by America now. Therefore, the characters speak a modern language, often refer to pop culture and, oddly enough, joke a lot. There are a lot of real punches here, which is especially noticeable in the room with the debate between Hamilton and Jefferson. This is a real rap battle judged by George Washington himself. In addition, the musical raises a lot of topical issues: the attitude toward migrants, the rights of black people, and the equality of women. The following words demonstrate this approach, We hold these truths to be self-evident, / That all men are created equal. / And when I meet Thomas Jefferson, / Imma compel him to include women in the sequel (Broward Center 14).

No wonder the creators of Hamilton invited actors of different races to the production. Finding fault with the unrealistic nature of this move is unreasonable musicals, even in their form, do not aim to accurately reflect the story. In addition, the black here and the killer of Hamilton Burr was originally played by Leslie Odom Jr. Although, in the story, he does not act as an absolute villain. There is only one completely negative character in Hamilton King George III. His image was made completely comical, and Jonathan Groff did a great job with the role. All this does not look poster; again, due to the light and often ironic presentation and the correct structure.

Hamilton is presented exactly as a fundamentally new musical with rap and RnB, but it is built according to all the laws of the classics. It immediately attracts attention that a considerable part of the action is presented on behalf of the killer. And even for those who dont know the story, Burr declares at the beginning that it was him to shoot Hamilton. This is reminiscent of the legendary rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, where Judas was made the main character.

Further, each character has its own musical theme, and rap performances are organically interspersed with melodies in the spirit of classical musicals. Recitative allows one to make the text very loaded and informative. But when it comes to a solo release, for example, Elizabeth, it turns out to be a traditional composition in the best traditions of Broadway. There are dance numbers that provide the viewer with the opportunity to take a break from the pressure of action and purely humorous skits. Moreover, the themes of the characters change over time, reflecting the state of the characters themselves. If the Marquis de Lafayette at first reads his text relaxed and easily, then in the middle of the plot, the pressure and pace increase significantly.

Of course, the narrative has a leitmotif throughout the action, Hamiltons communication with Burr and the statement of the protagonist that he will not throw away his shot (Broward Center 7). However, the viewers already know how his life will end. Thus, a costumed historical musical does not tire; it strictly adheres to the main themes and melodies but does not overload the action, allowing one to distract and relax.

The provided arguments reveal that Hamilton is a significant masterpiece in the dimension of musicals. Nevertheless, one might argue that it has been promoted as a historical work as well. From this perspective, Hamilton contains a number of inaccuracies, given that it distorts historical facts to an exact extent. In order to establish a connection with the present, the authors neglect the real atmosphere of the past and the characters true personalities. Still, such an approach seems to be justified Hamilton is a Broadway show, the main purpose of which is to entertain and draw attention to various issues but not to be a documentary.

Conclusion

To conclude, the above discussion was dedicated to the essentials of Hamilton, paying attention to its peculiarities in terms of musicals. It was found that this masterpiece appeals to many modern themes, still referring to a significant personality and events around him. Despite the fact that the musical distorts historical context to an exact degree, it entertains the viewer and reveals many exciting themes to consider and explore.