"Hamilton": Lin-Manuel Miranda's modern approach to the American Dream based on equal opportunitiy

Abstract

From the very beginning, the so-called ethos of the American Dream has summoned the concept of America as the land of opportunities, the perfect scenario to achieve a better future. Hamilton (2015) is a musical that has been defined as a show about American history portrayed from a modern perspective. Thus, inspired by that ethos and this musical, my work aims at examining the form in which the theme of the American Dream emerges in the musical with a contemporary approach. For this purpose, a general background is provided, focusing both on Alexander Hamilton himself and on an examination of the impact and development of the American Dream. The American Dream is contextualized detailing how its definition has been subjected to diverse interpretations throughout the years. It is also disclosed how different scholars have reported inequalities surrounding the concept of the American Dream. Taking this data into consideration, an analysis of the musical has been carried out. The findings obtained from the analysis prove that the conventional American Dream is present in the musical, manifesting itself through the character of Hamilton. Nevertheless, it also shows how a renovated and current vision of the dream is reported as well, addressing past mistakes and providing new opportunities for those affected by the prejudices of the American Dream.