Table of ContentsIntroductionChanges of focus in the playConclusionAlexander Hamilton had a difficult childhood growing up on the Caribbean islands of Nevis and St. Croix. His parents were not married, making him an illegitimate child. They did not have enough money to send him to school and so he did not receive a formal education. His father left the family and his mother died when he was only eleven, leaving Hamilton and his brother destitute. As a teenager, he got a job as a clerk with a merchant, which allowed him to display his genius for mathematics and business, and to make important connections that would greatly influence his future. Recognizing his talent, his employers helped him travel to New York where he would finally have access to a formal education. Additionally, Hamilton ultimately formed important relationships that would affect the course of his life. It was there that he became involved in the politics of the time, where resistance to the British monarchy grew. Simultaneously, Hamilton discovered his own passion; he discovered a love for history and philosophy. Over the years at school, he developed a strong ambition to fight for certain rights and formed friendships with like-minded people. This early period of Hamilton's life in New York and the preparations for the Revolutionary War are captured in the first performance of the song "My Shot" in the play Hamilton. In this song, which recurs throughout the play, Lin-Manuel Miranda uses events from Ron Chernow's biography to depict the passion and commitment of the colonists to creating an independent country, and at the same time, shows how the Alexander Hamilton's personal ambitions align with those of the revolution. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayIntroductionIn Act I, Scene II, which corresponds to Chapters 3 to 6 of the biography of Alexander Hamilton, the song is used to introduce important Hamilton associates. and to explain their attitudes and their roles in the revolution. John Laurens and the Marquis de Lafayette are presented as Hamilton's main partners and friends. Aaron Burr, who would become his enemy later in life, is presented as arrogant, acting as if he knew more than Hamilton and his colleagues. Finally, Hercules Mulligan is introduced as Hamilton's first friend and the only one who shares Hamilton's low status in society and his ambition to better himself. Together, these men express the era's passion to seize the opportunity to create an independent nation, expressed metaphorically in the song as "taking their chance." In the first verse, Miranda writes, “I don't throw away my luck; Hey yo, I'm like my country; I am young, scrappy and hungry; And I'm not wasting my shot. These lyrics allude to the fact that Hamilton was not born into a wealthy family, which is different from many other founding fathers according to Chernow. However, that didn't stop him from wanting to be the best he could be and make a difference. The words “young, scrappy and hungry” describe both the ambitious Hamilton and the fledgling new country. The next verse speaks of Hamilton's desire to get an education. He knows he has what it takes to go far. “I’m going to get a scholarship to King’s College; I probably shouldn't boast, but annoy, amaze and amaze; The problem is that I have a lot of brains, but no polish; I have to shout just to be heard; With every word, I drop knowledge. In New York, Hamilton had to attend a prep school before college due to his lack offormal schooling or its “lack of polish”. Hamilton wanted to attend Princeton, but had to settle for King's College in New York. The third verse of the song continues to discuss the challenges of Hamilton's youth and his great potential: "I'm a diamond in the rough, a diamond shining." piece of coal; I try to achieve my goal, my power of speech: impeccable; Only nineteen, but my mind is older. These streets of New York are getting colder, I shoulder; Every burden, every disadvantage, I learned to manage. I have no weapon to brandish; I walk these streets hungry; The plan is to fan this spark into a flame; But damn, it's getting dark, so let me spell my name; I am the. Even from a young age, Hamilton was wise. He worked hard at school and to impress influential people, starting with his boss at Holy Cross and continuing with John Laurens, Hercules Mulligan, and the Marquis di Lafayette. He had a gift and people knew he had something special. Shifts in Focus in the Play While attending King's College, Hamilton's passions shifted from his education to politics. He left school to join the local militia and fight in the American Revolution. He first served as an artillery captain, before becoming one of George Washington's military aides. It was his time to shine. Miranda summarizes the reasons for the revolt and singles out Hamilton as the star in the following verse: “A colony that functions independently; Meanwhile, Britain continues to shit itself on us all the time; Essentially, they tax us relentlessly; Then King George turns around and goes on a spending spree; He will never free his descendants; There will therefore be a revolution during this century; ENTER ME! » Impressed by Hamilton, Washington entrusted him with command of an infantry battalion in New York. Hamilton and his men fought bravely at the Battle of Yorktown in October 1781, where Hamilton raced ahead of his battalion to engage the British, who eventually retreated. The song reflects Hamilton's courage and success with: “Don't be shocked when your history book mentions me; I will give my life if it frees us; Eventually you will see my ascendant. Indeed, less than five years after serving as a clerk at Holy Cross, Hamilton became an aide to George Washington, “the most eminent man in America.” Hamilton's personal ambitions began to align with those of the revolution. Next, attention shifts to the group consisting of Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette and Mulligan who together sing the chorus "I don't throw away my shot." At this stage of the biography, their friendship is consolidated. As Chernow writes, “…Alexander Hamilton, the West Indian foreigner, had a rare capacity for friendship and already attracted a circle of dedicated and well-placed people who were to help propel him to the highest political plateau.” These influential people in Hamilton's life were just as dedicated to the revolution as he was. Lafayette is introduced in the next verse. He was a young aristocrat with ties to the King of France. “I dream of a life without monarchy; unrest in France will lead to “onarchy”; “Onarchy? How do you say, how you are — Oh, anarchy! When I fight, I make the other side panic; With my…” According to Chernow, he was so determined to overthrow the British monarchy that he donated much of his own fortune to finance the war effort. Then Mulligan joins in the song. He was Hamilton's first friend and one of his only trading friends. “Yo, I’m an apprentice tailor; And I have you all.