The Heart of "Hamilton"

I was once in a theater class in which the teacher expressed the idea that every show has a scene, every musical has a song, that can be called "the heart of the show." My classmates and I didn't get it at first, so he asked us to name that song at the heart of Fiddler on the Roof. We all knew the show, and we named several of the songs: "Tradition," "If I Were A Rich Man," "Mazel Tov," "Sunrise, Sunset," and "Anatevka." None of us were right. The teacher's answer: "Far from the Home I Love." That song, in the teacher's view, captures the central theme of the story. Since then I've enjoyed looking for the heart of every show I encountered, such as Seussical's "Alone in the Universe," or the scene in Our Town where Emily realizes the value of every moment of life.

Tonight, I tried to find the heart of Hamilton. Like every show, it has a lot to say, and many different messages resonate with the different people who see and hear it. If you were to ask me what the heart of Hamilton is, I would say "It's Quite Uptown." Alexander and Eliza have been devastated by awful scandal and terrible loss. The conclusion reached in this song can be heard at 3:40 of the linked video:

Forgiveness, can you imagine?

I believe fewer concepts can be more encouraging. After all that happened to the Hamiltons, forgiveness appeared, and both husband and wife could start to move on with lighter shoulders. I believe that kind of healing is possible because of the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ. How very vital is forgiveness in life, love, and liberty.

I am grateful for what I believe to be the heart of Hamilton the musical.