Theater History and Mysteries

Hamilton -- the full story of the duel (Hamilton 4 of 12 episode 41).

Dr. Jon Bruschke, PhD Season 1 Episode 41

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What’s the one thing you knew about Hamilton before the show?  One thing I remember from elementary school?  It’s the duel.

Isn’t the duel a big deal in the life of Hamilton?

Stop: What does the show have to say about the duel.  What’s the take home point?  What does it mean?

Probably, you like Ham by the end, and it’s sad.

Also probably mad at Burr for killing him.

If you’re like me, a little confused about why he did it.  Why duel at all? Why throw away your shot?  I mean, kinda honor, but had that been the real theme in the show so far?  Hadn’t it all been about a new country, and new ideas, and breaking convention, and rap battles?

There ARE questions about the duel:

Why did it happen in the first place?

Who’s fault was it that they were dueling?  Who challenged who, about what, and why did they have to end it by shooting?

Ham had 11 duels in his life, and most were solved before the dueling.

Why wasn’t this one?

What were they dueling about?

If the 10 duel commandments were that you didn’t really shoot each other, why did they shoot each other?

What do we know for sure really happened at that duel?

Who shot first?

The show ends when he dies…but was there interesting stuff that happened after that?  Yes, there was!  What was it?

Do you wanna know the answers to those questions?  I do!

And WE WILL!  In this episode of THM.

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