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Act 1: You’ll Be Back
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Hamilton, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Collaboration, Disagreement, and Democracy
Stories vs. History
Ambition and Mortality
Immigration and Diversity of Influence
Honor
Summary
Analysis
Thirty-two thousand British troops have arrived in New York Harbor, and all the American colonists are counting on General George Washington to save them. Washington makes his grand entrance here, asking, “are these the men with which I am to defend America?”
This quote, pulled from history, emphasizes the incredible feat Washington was able to pull off. That the general was able to succeed—both in reality and in the show—is a testament to his leadership, to his remarkable ability to rally different kinds of people.
Themes
As Washington figures out how to evade the British attack, Burr offers his help—but Washington declines. Instead, he turns to Hamilton, who initially is reluctant to serve as a secretary. But while Hamilton dreams of martyrdom, Washington pushes back: “dying is easy, young man. Living is harder.”
As Miranda himself has explained, Washington’s distrust of Burr demonstrates his wisdom and good sense. His words to Hamilton become a motif throughout the show: though the young upstart dreams of dying in order to secure his place in history, Washington makes a point that the truly ambitious act is living, with the all the compromise and complexity that entails. Gaining honor, Washington implies, is less important than making a difference.
Themes
