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Nathan Arana

Mrs. Wold

English 11 Period 1

4 November 2021

Hamilton Act 1 Essay

Hamilton, the musical has achieved its fair share of fame and popularity, being

nominated for a historic 16 Tony Awards and winning 11 of those awards including music.

Hamilton, both written and played by Lin Manuel Miranda, has its success through its rhymes

and rhythm composed by Miranda himself tells the story of one of our founding fathers

Alexander Hamilton. With each song, Hamilton has in Act one each comes with a theme that

represents who Hamilton was and what had motivated him throughout the years as well as those

who had surrounded him and had close connections with Hamilton. In Lin Manuel Miranda’s

musical Hamilton, Miranda develops the idea that opportunity does not come to those who wait

and through taking a stand is what makes all the difference, through allusion, hyperbole, and

repetition from Hamilton and his close companions in his songs “Yorktown, “What Comes

Next?” and “Non-Stop”.

To begin, Lin Manuel Miranda used a series of repetition, hyperbole, and allusions with

his interaction with his characters and their sense of achievement in “Yorktown”. Through

Miranda’s use of repetition we get the recurring line, “I am not throwing away my shot!”

(“Yorktown” 14). This calls back to an earlier idea that Hamilton would take every chance he can

get to prove himself to everyone else that even though he may have been poor and orphaned, he

still had a chance to prove himself. This also shows how Hamilton's every stride to success and

challenge Hamilton has overcome, has brought him his chance and opportunity to prove himself.
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Hamilton’s drive and ambition are what has brought him to the colonies and has finally brought

him to his moment of truth to prove his worth. After the battle was concluded, “ Tens of

thousands of people [flooded] the streets, There [were] screams and church bells ringing. And as

our fallen foes retreat, [he] [heard] the drinking song they're singing.”(“Yorktown” 28 ). This is a

call to the battle of Yorktown, After their victory, Hamilton finally had a sense of

accomplishment in which he can finally be content and satisfied for a while. After all the things

Hamilton had to do he had finally succeeded in proving his worth to both himself and to those

around him with finally being cheered by the people for him and his companions' success. All in

all, this provides that Hamilton had finally proved that he is worth something more than just a

person who was orphaned.

To continue in the song “What Comes Next?” Hamilton is given a new opportunity to

prove himself more with the help in the foraging of the new nation. This challenge that arrives as

they gain their independence from Great Britain is that they will come to the realization of, “how

hard it is to lead?” (“What Comes Next” 13). This obstacle now arrives as the burdening task to

lead and all the hardships and stress to come from it. This new obstacle also comes with the

opportunity that Hamilton will decide on whether or not he is content with his life, or if he

wishes to do something even more. Even though Hamilton had just proven himself he will go on

to face this task along with several companions and rivals. Because much naturally that, the “

Oceans rise Empires fall It’s much harder when it’s all your call” (“What Comes Next” 17- 19).

This shows that King Geroge sees this task as a natural process that once the nation rises the

longevity of the nation depends on those who will hear the call to lead and be the ones to be

remembered and praised for their actions. This will further motivate Hamilton to go and prove

himself to the world no matter the cost because he is an ambitious man who will not wait for an
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opportunity to make its way to him, he will forage his path to his opportunity through his hard

work and drive. This song goes to explain why Hamilton chose to help in the construction of the

United States because he will not wait for the call to come to him, he will go towards it with

every bit of motivation and time he has.

Lastly in the song, “Non-Stop” Hamilton answers his calling and helps in the creation of

a new nation because he sees it as another chance to prove himself. Burr questions Hamilton

because, “ [he] [writes] like {he’s] running out of time? Write day and night like [he’s] running

out of time? Ev’ry day you fight, like [he’s] running out of time” (“Non-Stop” 15). This is an

exaggeration of what Hamilton is doing because he is writing to cause a change in the newborn

nation because he feels that it should have more structure, so he works hard in order to have

someone listen to him and give him another chance to prove himself. This also calls back to why

Hamilton got all his opportunities in the first place by being the one to impress others through his

literature and his intellect. This shows that after Hamiton reached success in his other fields he

went back to his roots and tried to prove himself yet again with his literature and his prowess.

Even as Hamilton finally finds his chance to lead again he takes it because Washington has been

asked to lead and, “ [he] [is] doing the best [he] can get the people that [he] needs [he’s] asking

[Hamilton] to be [his] right hand man” (“Non-Stop” 75). This shows as opportunity opens itself

to Hamilton he takes it, even as Washington tries to warn him of the position he will be getting

himself into, Hamilton only asks to know what position he will be called to. As Washington

appoints Hamilton to the treasury the only thing Hamilton can think about is the job that he now

has because he was no longer satisfied with the life he had and wanted something more.

Hamilton pursues his ambitions and plans, the repetition of, “ [he’s] not throwing’ away my

shot!”( Miranda 23) appears yet again. This line is repeated to signify how important it is to
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Hamilton to be able to take every opportunity that comes to him because he is not willing or

satisfied with the new life he has because he has the need for more. Even as Eliza calls for him

he still sees that it is more important to pursue his ambition than it is to stay with the life he has

with his family.

In conclusion, in the musical Hamilton Lin Manuel Miranda, conveys the idea of

opportunity presenting itself to those who seek it through allusions to past events, repetition of

“my shot” and the exaggeration of Hamilton's actions. Miranda does this to convey the

underlying message that one's talents and ambition can make one achieve great things if one is

willing to answer the call to opportunity and are willing to do what must be done. This is seen

through Hamiltons’ many selfish acts as he swings the door of opportunity because Hamilton is

willing to do what must be done, to meet his goals head-on.