Annie Zhu - Q3 Blog 12 - History has its eyes on you

 

“What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”

The above line is one of the lyrics from Hamilton, a 2016 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical. In this particular song, “The World Was Wide Enough,” time stops for Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda) moments before he is shot by Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom, jr.). As Hamilton “[glimpses]” death, he sings a final goodbye to his loved ones, thankful that America has become “a place where even orphan immigrants / can leave their fingerprints and rise up.” I never got the chance to elaborate on this genius quote during my POAS presentation in March, so this blog is me making up for it :)

The metaphor of a legacy being akin to trees is poignant in many ways. First, it shows that legacies grow, as exemplified by many innovators who only gained recognition posthumously. Vincent van Gogh, for instance, was largely unappreciated during his lifetime, but his art is now displayed in museums around the world. What may start as a small “seed” can have a large impact on society, even if the individual is no longer around to witness it. Second, Hamilton the character is obsessed with reputation, so “planting seeds in a garden you never get to see” could be interpreted as fear: he does not want to lose control over his narrative. Hamilton’s death means that he will no longer know how society views him. In this sense, the bittersweet monologue in this song represents him reluctantly letting go of not only history but also his (own) story.

Alexander Hamilton’s life (both musically and historically) is an important lesson about how worrying about the future can be a double-edged sword. Musical-Hamilton is always “running out of time,” and he often leaves the present behind because of his obsession with building something which outlives him. Protecting his legacy leads him to unintentionally defame himself and even hurt those around him. Of course, the real Hamilton’s life was also full of accomplishments which I can only hope to emulate. “A bastard, orphan” who emigrated from the Caribbean to make it big in a “brand new nation!!” This guy had a crazy good work ethic, and history honors him for it (among other things).

“What is a legacy?” As this quote reminds us, we all have the power to define our legacies in the present. It is easy to worry about the things we have no power over, but a desire to change what we can control is what differentiates immigrant strivers like Hamilton from the masses. Let Lin-Manuel Miranda’s words encourage us to pursue greatness, live authentically, and to take pride in our achievements!

 

 

Lin-Manuel Miranda in "Non-Stop." Produced by RadicalMedia.